Mexico’s business environment has become very attractive for investments; the country’s economic stability and constant growth have strengthened its competitiveness. According to JP Morgan, Mexico’s risk index reached its lowest point over the past year. Therefore, Mexico is an attractive destination for investors looking for business opportunities.

The Mexican government has made several changes in order to provide competitive conditions for long-term investment strategies. With Mexico’s simplified regulatory and legal framework, entrepreneurs will have easy access to the relevant resources to help start up their businesses.

Further investments are being made in education to improve Mexico’s competitiveness and workforce, with an average age of 27 years old. Additionally, Mexico’s dependency index is at its lowest.

The government has implemented a strong industrial policy to support development in several regions of the country. As an example, the ‘Marginal Areas Employment Program’ encourages companies to settle in low-income and highly populated geographical areas.

With its strong promotion strategies and stable economy, Mexico has become an important foreign direct investment recipient. In 2007, the country attracted US$24.7 billion in FDI. Mexico’s geographic location makes investment opportunities particularly attractive, providing access to both North and South America. The country shares a 3,152km border with the United States and the ports provide access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, where goods can be easily shipped to Asia, Europe or South America, and by road or railroad to the United States; collectively elevating Mexico to become the largest trader in Latin America.

Companies established in Mexico can take advantage of its Free Trade Agreements, which give preferential access to 44 countries, which adds up to 75% of the world’s GDP, as customers. Mexico looks at markets in Asia and Europe with great enthusiasm in order to diversify its markets.

In 2007, Mexico achieved outstanding trade results: Exports to Europe reached US$272,084 million, representing an increase of 33%. As for Asia and South America, exports grew 20% and 37% respectively.

Its strong economic stability has been strengthened by a solid monetary policy that had been implemented by the government. During 2007, Mexico registered an inflation rate of 3.76% which was the lowest in the continent together with Canada, and lower than China, Brazil, India and Russia.

ProMéxico
ProMéxico opened its doors one year ago. It is the first agency specialised on promoting exports and investment between Mexico and the rest of the world. Currently, ProMéxico has over 30 offices around the world and is constantly expanding its network.

ProMéxico is the one stop shop that helps companies do business in Mexico. It coordinates actions from different agencies in the Mexican government in order to attract and facilitate doing business in and with Mexico. ProMéxico operates with four important units within its organisation:

• Intelligence Unit: It is in charge of gathering and analysing information, and providing it to whoever needs it, whether its customers or anyone at ProMéxico.
• International Promotion Unit: It is in charge of all the offices around the world, looking for new possible investors, promoting exports and assisting companies who want to do business with Mexico.
• Investor Relations Unit: It is in charge of coordinating any effort with the state governments, other organisations and assisting foreign companies establish in Mexico.
• Exports Development Unit: It is in charge of determining what products Mexico can export and promote them with the international offices.

The organisation provides a ‘One Stop Shop’ for investors, ‘Soft-Landing’ services, government procedures advisory, an Ombudsman and Investor aftercare. It’s a good time to explore opportunities in Mexico. Mexico has an infrastructure programme worth over US$226 billion and is expected to be fully completed by 2012. With its stable economy, low inflation, steady growth, low risk, strong qualified labor force and unprecedented joint investment participation of public and private sectors, Mexico makes an exceptional opportunity for investment.

“We want to have more of the world in Mexico, and more Mexico around the world.”