TSX Group Co-CEO Richard Nesbitt today called on securities officials from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to “do for securities what NAFTA has done for trade.”

Nesbitt is among the headline speakers at the 15th Securities Market Convention in Mexico City. The theme of the even, is “Innovating for a better market.”

Nesbitt’s remarks built a case for treating securities markets on the same scale as continental trade. “NAFTA has worked for all three markets but at the stock exchanges level, we are still working as three separate marketplaces.”

His speech is part of the broader TSX Group strategy of expanding into international markets, while staying focused on the domestic and U.S. markets.

“Certainly we are very interested in increasing listings from markets such as Mexico,” added Nesbitt.

Nesbitt joins other high profile speakers at the event including Licenciado Vicente Fox Quesada, President of Mexico, Francisco Gil Diaz, Minister of Finance, and John Thain, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange.

TSX has had an initial dialogue with Mexican officials this year. In September, three senior officials with the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores were in Toronto and met with TSX officials to learn more about the operation of Canada’s equity markets.