Great opportunities despite the distance
H.E. Ms. Ana Berenice Diaz Ceballos Parada, Ambassador of Mexico
Text: Martina Hošková and M.Zisso; Photo: Archive
Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Sure. I was born in Mexico City. I hold a degree in International Relations from the Universidad Iberoamericana. My Bachelor’s thesis was awarded the Prize for the Best Thesis on Human Rights by the National Human Rights Commission in 1994.
I have worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico for over 30 years in areas as diverse as multilateral and regional forums, bilateral relations, and consular affairs. I think this diversity has enriched my career and broadened my perspective. I became a member of the Mexican Foreign Service in 1998.
I have had the honour of serving as Ambassador of Mexico to the Czech Republic since April of this year. Before that, I had the privilege to serve as Consul General of Mexico in Vancouver, Canada, for almost 8 years (July 2016 to March 2024), and as Head of the Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, California (May 2013 to July 2016).
My husband is an industrial engineer, and we have two adorable Mexican Golden Retrievers, Milly and Lizzy, whom we love and have brought with us to Prague.
Over 30 years of work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico must have put you in quite a range of different roles. Can you name some?
In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, between July 2005 and April 2013, I held the position of Chief of Staff of the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, overseeing bilateral Mexican relations with Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, and also served as Sous-sherpa of the President of Mexico in the Group of 20, which brings together the world’s leading economies – Mexico chaired and hosted the G20 World Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico in 2012.
I also served as Deputy Director General for Global Issues (July 2002 to June 2005), and held various positions within the Office for the United Nations System (June 1993 to June 2002). During this period, I specialized in political, economic, financial, social, environmental, migration, transnational organized crime, corruption, and human rights issues.
What made you become a diplomat?
I think that, in my case, there was a combination of professional and personal reasons to become a diplomat. There was also the constant search to channel some of my concerns and passions that started at an early age while studying, learning languages, travelling with my family throughout Mexico and abroad, attending a yearly summer camp, and being involved in altruistic or philanthropic projects in Mexico and abroad.
Through the years I developed my passion for national politics, policy-making, international relations, and global issues; a desire to make a difference; the need to advance my career and have personal and professional growth; advocating for gender equality, human rights, and non-discrimination; and the great privilege of becoming a member of the Mexican Foreign Service to promote my country’s interests and values abroad.
Diplomats live and work in constant touch with other people. Who were some of the inspiring personalities you met on your career path?
I was very lucky to have found great people in life – teachers, bosses, and friends who became my mentors and role models and taught me important values, skills, and qualities that I think have contributed significantly to enriching and broadening my professional and personal life.
The first one that comes to my mind is Mr. Gilberto Rincón Gallardo (1939-2008), who was a notable Mexican politician, social activist, and advocate for human rights. I had the privilege to work on and jointly present with him, back in 2001, the initiative to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to elaborate the “United Nations International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. This was a legally binding human rights instrument that has reached, after 10 years of adoption, almost universal ratification, with 191 ratifications and accessions by member countries.
Mexico is soon going to welcome its first female president. Do you think having more female politicians and diplomats can make the world better?
Absolutely, female politicians and diplomats can make the world different and better. This is because we like to think out of the box, and look for different and creative solutions that incorporate the gender perspective in policy-making and budgets in critical areas such as poverty, education and training, health, the fight against violence, armed conflicts, economy, power and decision-making, institutional mechanisms, human rights, media, environment, and the rights of girls and young women.
For many years we have fought for gender equality, empowerment, and more opportunities. I think our leadership helps create more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable societies, benefiting everyone.
In the 21st century, we are still facing systemic barriers that need to be removed so that women can participate on equal terms in all areas of life, whether public or private. Despite some progress, real change has been agonizingly slow for the majority of women and girls in the world. Today, not a single country can claim to have achieved gender equality. Multiple obstacles remain unchanged. As a result, women remain undervalued. They continue to work more, earn less, have fewer choices, and experience multiple forms of violence at home and in public spaces.
H.E. Ms. Ana Berenice Diaz Ceballos Parada, Ambassador of Mexico
Do you expect some changes in this regard after the new Mexican president takes office?
I am confident that with the new President of Mexico, Mrs. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo – whose presidency starts on October 1st – a new era for the empowerment of women and girls will be inaugurated in Mexico and be materialized in laws, decisions, and policy-making for the advancement of women and girls, and to comply with the goals of the 2030 UN Agenda on Sustainable Development.
She has recently announced the cabinet that will accompany her in the next six years, and has been careful enough to maintain parity between men and women. That is a positive sign. I hope this will also be the case in the legislative and judicial systems.
You arrived in Prague a few months ago to take up your ambassadorial position. Can you share your impressions so far?
The Czech Republic is a wonderful country, where everywhere you go you can appreciate the details of its rich history and culture. Since my arrival, I have been very impressed by its beautiful landscapes, incredible architecture, and, above all, by its modern and vibrant society. The Czech people have welcomed me, and, in these months, I have been able to notice that there is enormous interest in Mexico, whether for its culture, attractiveness for doing business, varied tourist destinations, world-famous gastronomy, or even icons of popular culture.
I have had the fortune of talking with the highest-rank authorities of the Czech Republic: I presented my credentials to President Pavel in a beautiful ceremony at Prague Castle, greeted Prime Minister Petr Fiala at one of the biggest events of the year, and have spoken at length with Minister Jan Lipavský about the bilateral relationship, among other meetings in different ministries and public agencies. At the same time, I have been able to lead cultural activities in which we got to share with the Czech people the richness of Mexican painting, music, cinema, and literature.
I think this is a great start, and it makes me extremely excited about future projects.
Can you briefly sum up the current status of Czechia-Mexico relations?
This year we celebrate 102 years of diplomatic relations. This is a longstanding friendship that is based on mutual respect, shared values, and many coincidences in foreign policy priorities. This translates into open and constant political dialogue at all levels: an increasingly large economic exchange with very promising prospects, great coordination in multilateral forums – particularly within the United Nations, and new links between academic and research institutions.
Mexico is the Czech Republic’s main trading partner in Latin America – it is a gateway to North America, as well as a reliable interlocutor on the whole continent. At the same time, the Czech Republic is a country that plays a very relevant role in the context of the European Union and at the regional level in Central Europe, in addition to being involved in the most pressing causes of the international system.
How would you like to bring both countries even closer?
In Mexico, just like in the Czech Republic, we are projecting the place we want to occupy in an increasingly dynamic and complex international system.
With our Czech counterparts, we want to strengthen high-level political dialogue as these meetings encourage the advancement of joint projects, as well as provide a space for contacts between companies, universities, government agencies, and other partners.
We also want Czechs to know more about Mexico, and, despite the distance, be able to appreciate the great opportunities it offers. We are the 12th largest economy in the world, with a market of more than 120 million people. We also have a robust industrial sector that is deeply integrated into North America, and a network of free trade agreements that give us access to more than 50 countries, including the European Union. That, combined with our strategic position in America, between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, makes us one of the most open and dynamic economies in the world. We also have a young and highly trained population, and we find ourselves in a very interesting moment of profound transformation.
As you can imagine, one of my top priorities is to contact companies and explore new opportunities for trade and investment.
I also want to focus on programs for the exchange of academics and scientists. The Czech Republic distinguishes itself for the excellence of its universities and research institutes, and has very clear goals for R&D, innovation, and sustainable development. This works perfectly with our shared vision of technology as a catalyst of development – with a focus on sustainability and resilience – and we want that to reflect on our economies for sure.
You mentioned trade and investment as one of your top priorities. What are you planning to focus on?
We will work to maintain the growing trend of bilateral trade, which is largely due to our complementarity in strategic sectors such as automotive, ICT, and electronics. In 2023 alone, total trade exceeded $2.3 billion, which registered an increase of 13% year-on-year, and consolidated the Czech Republic as our 10th largest trading partner in the EU.
While we rely largely on our champion industries, we will work on creating new opportunities for the biotechnology, nanotechnology, medical devices, new materials, infrastructure, and renewable energy sectors.
I can assure you that we have closely followed the Czech Republic’s trade diversification efforts, and fully agree on the need to find reliable partners in supply chains, from energy sources to the provision of critical materials. In this regard, Mexico stands out not only for its vast natural resources but also for its robust logistics and manufacturing platforms. This dual capacity offers a unique opportunity to deepen our collaboration.
Can you highlight any specific opportunities in Mexico that might attract Czech businesses?
We want Czech companies to know about Mexico’s attractiveness for nearshoring, the new trend to tackle the challenges of global commerce. Right now, we are working in particular on creating opportunities in electromobility, for example in the Bajío region, (Queretaro, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosí). Just in the first quarter of 2024, the electromobility sector accounted for 62% of total foreign investment in Mexico, including assembly plants for hybrid and electric vehicles, battery components, and aluminium auto parts, to name a few examples.
There are other investment opportunities in strategic projects to create circular economy models. The Sonora plan provides the framework for the construction of five solar power plants, one of which will be the biggest in Latin America, aiming to provide electric energy for industrial parks. It also has a focus on the extraction of critical materials, such as zinc, copper, gold, and lithium, to produce batteries and semiconductors.
For infrastructure and logistics, we are developing an interoceanic corridor, which will facilitate the crossing of goods and materials by connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans through the narrowest part of Mexico’s territory.
It will promote the development of the mining, petrochemical, electronics, and automotive industries (with a focus on electromobility), as well as machinery, ICT, semi-conductors, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, among others.
We shouldn’t forget the fact that Mexico is also a big holiday destination for Czech people. Do you agree?
Yes, and I must say that Mexico has it all: It is a powerhouse for artistic creation, a mega-diverse country, and has a great variety of climates and landscapes. It has cultures dating back millennia, and a unique gastronomic tradition. But, above all, the attractiveness of Mexico lies in the warmth of its people, and in the different experiences they can provide to our foreign visitors to discover all of the above.
Mexico is a world-class tourist destination, the sixth in the world, with around 42 million visitors per year. In my home country, you can appreciate vestiges of pre-Hispanic cultures on 45,000 archaeological sites, and we have the largest number of sites declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In Mexico, you can visit parks and natural reserves, which are home to 10% of the biodiversity in the world, and practice ecotourism activities such as diving in the second-largest coral reef in the world. You can also rest on wonderful beaches, either in quiet traditional towns or in cities with large resorts and luxury hotels. Mexico is a great destination for lovers of history, photography, and crafts, who can spend days touring colonial towns and enjoying our immense offer of museums, galleries, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and the list goes on.
What is the latest news on Mexican tourism?
Currently, we are very happy to promote the first direct flight between Prague and Puerto Vallarta, starting October 2024. It is a charter operated by Fischer and EximTours that will connect both cities, offering all-inclusive packages with top-level suppliers. We hope that Czechs can take the opportunity to get to know this beach destination, which maintains a traditional atmosphere while not skimping on offering a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and clubs, as well as tourism, recreation, and nature activities. Without a doubt, this is an excellent opportunity for those who want to get to know Mexico, and have a break during wintertime.
As an ambassador, you proudly represent your country. What makes you proud to be Mexican?
There are many reasons why I feel proud to be Mexican. One of the foremost is our rich cultural heritage. Mexico is home to a tapestry of traditions, languages, and customs that reflect a deep and diverse history that covers ancient civilizations like the Aztecs and Mayans. It is traditional colonial cities like Zacatecas or Mérida, or our modern and industrial cities like Monterrey and Guadalajara, that make Mexico a great multicultural, diverse country, and a great destination.
Mexican gastronomy is another significant source of pride, and has been designated as an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. Mexican food is recognized worldwide for its rich flavours and variety. From tacos and tamales to mole and pozole, our food is a delicious combination of creativity, fresh local ingredients, and traditional cooking methods.
Mexico is also world-known for its great archaeological sites throughout the country such as Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, and Chichén Itzá. These ancient civilizations made significant contributions to the cultural, scientific, and social development of Mesoamerica in diverse fields like architecture, astronomy, mathematics, agriculture, and more. Their lasting legacy continues to be studied and admired today.
Mexico has, as well, a proud legacy in arts, culture, and sciences. Figures like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera have left an indelible mark on the art world, while Octavio Paz and Carlos Fuentes have enriched literature. In science, individuals like Mario Molina, who won a Nobel Prize for his work on the ozone layer, showcase our country’s intellectual contributions. These achievements highlight the talent and ingenuity of our people.
This interview is done on the occasion of your National Day. Would you like to conclude with a message to both Mexicans and Czechs?
On this National Day, I want to celebrate the spirit and resilience of the Mexican people. We have a rich history and a vibrant culture that we should be immensely proud of. Let’s continue to cherish our heritage, support one another, and strive for a brighter future.
To the Czech people, I extend an invitation to experience the warmth, beauty, and richness of Mexico. ¡Viva México!