Nov. 8--EL PASO -- The recession has forced organizers of the biggest maquiladora trade show in Juarez to dump most of the event's usual activities.

Expo Maquila this week won't have company booths and it won't have hundreds of show visitors. Instead, the annual event has been reduced to 17 invited ma quila operators meeting with about 75 invited suppliers from Mexico and the United States in one-on-one business sessions, reported Felipe Galan Uribe, director of Juarez Economic Development, a private economic development agency which organizes the show.

"Because of the (economic) downturn, we didn't have enough companies interested in spending $1,700 for a booth," Galan said. "So, we decided to have the business (sessions) part, which we think is the core of the event."

This is the first time in Expo Maquila's 22-year history that the full trade show won't be held, Galan said.

The recession, coupled with violence in Juarez, also hurt the show last year when it had 84 exhibitors and about 2,500 visitors. By contrast, in 2006, it drew 150 exhibitors and about 3,500 visitors, Galan said.

The Borderland Trade-show for maquiladora suppliers, held each year in El Paso, was the slowest in its 23-year history when it was held in March at the El Paso convention center, the show's organizer reported then.

Jerry Pacheco, executive director of the International Business Accelerator at Santa Teresa, said his organization recruited seven companies from Santa Teresa and Albuquerque to

attend the Expo Maquila business sessions this week. Those sessions will give suppliers a shot at trying to win business from maquilas.

"Sometimes the best time to make business contacts, and go after opportunities is when things look bleak economically," Pacheco said. "Two years ago, to get a maquila manager to give you the time of day was difficult. Now that the economy is tougher, they are more apt to look at costs and ways to diversify."

Jose Luis Borja Romero, materials coordinator at a Toro plant in Juarez, said his company will take part in the Expo Maquila one-on-one sessions this week because the company wants to reduce its supply costs.

"We're trying to find local suppliers, better suppliers, and we're trying to get better prices" to help during the recession, Borja said.

Production at the plant, which makes lawnmowers, trimmers and snowblowers, has picked up, Borja said. The plant, which employs more than 300, is hiring, he said.

Galan said the one-on-one sessions' appointments are booked, and unlike the regular Expo Maquila, walk-ins aren't welcome. The sessions will be Wednesday through Friday at the Tec no logico de Monterrey campus in Juarez.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; 546-6421.

For more information: www.desarrolloeconomico.org.

Trade show --The Borderland Tradeshow, normally in February or March, will be in September next year, according to the show's Web site.

--The convention center is booked for much of 2010 with a national bowling tournament.

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