offering a helping hand to those who follow the American dream along Interstate 30 and Interstate 40 into Arkansas. I also was reminded of the global impact our small state and the companies based here have had. I was traveling with our delegation along a dusty road in the state of Hidalgo when we suddenly came upon a new Wal-Mart Supercenter. There are almost 150 Arkansas companies now exporting $250 million worth of goods annually to Mexico. Arkansas' exports to Mexico have almost tripled since before the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in 1994. Wal-Mart entered into a joint venture with Cifra with the opening of a Sam's Club in Mexico City in 1991. Mexico became the first country in the company's international division. Wal-Mart acquired a majority position in Cifra in 1997. In February 2000, the name of the company was changed to Wal-Mart de Mexico. Wal-Mart now operates more than 600 units with annual sales of $10.1 billion. The Wal-Mart stock is the second most traded stock on the Mexican stock exchange. The Bentonville Company is represented in 31 of the 36 Mexican states. Tyson Foods of Springdale, meanwhile, began operating in Mexico in 1994 through a joint venture.- Tyson now processes millions of chickens and turkeys annually in the country. The company has almost 4,900 employees in Mexico and has invested more than $50 million there during the past three years.

Companies such as Wal-Mart and Tyson Foods cause Mexicans and others around the world to realize Arkansas truly is the Land of Opportunity. These companies began in small Arkansas towns and became global leaders in changing how people shop, eat and live. I also had a chance to spend time with representatives from a number of smaller Arkansas-based businesses that sell their products and services in Mexico. We're doing everything possible to expand the market for Arkansas products in other countries.

Until next week, this is Gov. Mike Huckabee.