The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, begins a five-day official visit to Mexico tomorrow, which will include meetings with the country's President, Mr Vicente Fox.
Mr Ahern, accompanied by a large group of business interests, including the Dairy Board and software companies, will arrive in Mexico tonight.
During talks, the two leaders are expected to review progress on strengthening contacts between the two countries, which have been boosted by the agreement of a trade deal between Mexico and the EU as a whole.
The discussions between the Taoiseach and President Fox will help to lay the groundwork for the 2004 meeting between Latin American countries and the EU, which will take place during the Irish EU presidency.
Later tomorrow, Mr Andrés Manuel López Obrador, head of government of Mexico City Federal District, and a succession of other local leaders will greet Mr Ahern in City Hall.
From there, he will travel to the Mexican parliament, the House of Deputies - which is not in session at present - where he is expected to be greeted by Deputy Eric Villanueva Mukul.
The Taoiseach will travel to the Altar a la Patria for a wreath-laying ceremony to mark Mexico's 1846-48 war with the United States, when Irishmen fought on both sides.
On Wednesday, Mr Ahern will throw his political weight behind Enterprise Ireland attempts to boost trade links, which are being spearheaded by the agency's chief executive, Mr Dan Flinter, and the Irish Ambassador, Mr Art Agnew.
