In a luncheon speech to about 500 Utah business and civic leaders, Fox said his nation's economy had strengthened during his six-year term in office, thus offering more opportunities for trade with businesses in Utah and the rest of the United States.

"Today, entrepreneurs, investors and and citizens in general enjoy unprecedented legal security in Mexico," Fox said. "No democracy can fully flourish unless it provides economic freedom. It encourages entrepreneurship and allows the social advancement of its people."

He also noted that Mexico is the United State's second largest trading partner after Canada, buying more products and services from the United States than Italy, France, Germany and England combined.

That partnership speaks to the similarities in Utah and Mexico's agendas, adding breadth and heft to their common economic, educational and cultural ties so that business on both sides can draw even closer together, he said.

Fox did not mention the divisive issue of immigration, although some in the audience viewed his presence in Utah as representing an unspoken call for increased civil dialogue and less hostility on that issue.

"It certainly can be looked upon as sending a message that people need to keep cooler heads and attempt to find common ground to discuss ways to solve that problem," said Wayne Holland Jr., chairman of the Utah Democratic Party.

Fox kept to business and found a receptive audience. He pointed to a wide range of statistics that show Mexico's economy is growing and indicated there are great opportunities in Mexico in tourism, investment in infrastructure, energy, mining as well as food production and agriculture.

Utah entrepreneur and venture capitalist Dinesh Patel agreed.

"Everyone focuses on the growing economies in India and China, but many forget that Mexico is on that same upward growth trend," he said. "The market for consumer products is growing tremendously and that means there are a lot of opportunities for Utah businesses."