HANK, CARLOS GONZALEZ - MEXICO

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00418488
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: May 16, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-01761
• Publication Date: August 13, 1991

MIMINIMMENNIMINIMMINIIIMINMENApproved for Release: 2019/04/19 C00418488
Carlos HANK Gonzalez
Secretary of Agriculture and Hydraulic
Resources (since January 1990)
Addressed as: Mr. Secretary
Wealthy businessman and political power
broker Carlos Hank has a reputation as a strong,
aggressive leader. President Carlos Salinas has
tasked him with modernizing and restructuring
Mexico's depressed agricultural sector as the
country heads toward a free trade agreement with
the United States and Canada. Salinas probably
believes that Hank's considerable influence in the
ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PR!) and
his wide-ranging business connections will provide
the leverage needed for him to implement
agricultural reforms. Hank is not a Salinas insider,
however, and is closely associated with the PRI's o14 guar
MEXICO
Hank faces an uphill battle in reforming the agricultural sector which is so inefficient
h
that Mexico has become an importer of basic foodstuffs. Hank's most
pressing problem is revamping Mexico's land tenure system, w includes privately owned
property and commune-style farms known as ejidos. Because of the ejidos' inefficiency,
Salinas probably favors their privatization, but they have a historical and cultural
significance that would make that course of action politically risky. As a compromise, Hank
is promoting reforms that are designed to encourage entrep�rsiijpaxd greater private-
sector participation in ejido production and management.
Hank was born on 28 August 1927. After graduating from the Normal School of
Toluca in Mexico State, he taught primary and secondary education for several years. He
later went into business and acquired several enterprises, including trucking and heavy
equipment manufacturing plants and real estate. He served as mayor of Toluca (1955-57)
and as federal deputy from Mexico State (1958-61), as well as assistant manager of sales
(1961-64) and director (1964-65) of CONASUPO, the government agency that controls the
price and distribution of basic commodities. He was Governor of Mexico State (1969-75)
before being named mayor of Mexico City in 1976. He returned to the private sector in
1982, where he worked until his appointment as Secreta of ourism in December 1988.
He held that post until assuming his current duties
Hank speaks some English.
children.
Married to the former Maria Guadeloupe Rohn, he has six
LDA M 91-13770
13 August 1991
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Approved for Release: 2019/04/19 000418488