MEXICO CITY, Feb 16 (Reuters) - A top executive for Japanese tech firm NTT Data said recent "nearshoring" trends are encouraging companies to move to Latin America, particularly Mexico, but noted concerns by NTT and its clients over currency risks and upcoming elections.

The consulting firm, which pioneered mobile emojis in the 1990s and operates across 50 countries, provide information technology (IT) and business advice to the wave of firms expanding to the region from Asia or Europe, among others.

NTT's Latin America and Europe CEO Chieri Kimura told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that while North American nearshoring - moving production to countries closer to the intended market - was encouraging firms to move to Latin America, there remained concerns over volatile currencies and policy-making.

He pointed to presidential elections this year in the United States, Mexico and other countries across the region.

"This year, the biggest risk we need to monitor is the U.S. election," Kimura said, adding that it would have a "big impact on the entire geopolitical situation" without elaborating further. The election is widely expected to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.

Mexico has emerged as one of the main beneficiaries of a "dramatic" shift in the global supply chain, he said, which was embraced by a Trump administration that sought to move production away from China.

In both Mexico and the United States, voters will this year choose between the current party in power or a shift to the right.

For NTT Data, Kimura said Mexico "is a very attractive market" and "one of the most important countries in which to grow our business." (Reporting by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Bill Berkrot)