Borderland Tradeshow * USA - In recession, a slow one: Loss of 50 booths reflects economy

The slowest in years

El Paso,TX,USA -El Paso Times, by Vic Kolenc -18 March 2009: -- That's how the Borderland Tradeshow for maquiladora suppliers was Tuesday, and that's how the maquila-related industry in El Paso and Juárez has been doing the last several months... Larry Stelley, president of the trade show, said, "I've been doing this 23 years, and this is the slowest it's been."... The show drew only 60 companies with 100 booths. That's down from 150 booths last year, and down from its 2000 peak with more than 400 booths and more than 10,000 people... Sergio Manzanares, sales manager for Southwest Freightlines, an El Paso trucking company, said he's attended the show every year since 1995 to find new clients... The trucking industry has been hurt by the slowdown in manufacturing production in Juárez, Manzanares said... (Photo by Victor Calzada / El Paso Times - Borderland Tradeshow exhibitors greeted attendees Tuesday at El Paso Convention Center )