Bulletin 397 - Friday, November 28, 2008

Guadalajara- Both, Plant 6 of Sanmina SCI an electronics company, which will be inaugurated by President Calderon in 2009 and the second Jabil factory have been finished. Luis Aguirre Lang, Chairman of Maquiladoras and Manufacturing Companies Association, Asociación de Industrias Maquiladoras y Manufactureras de Occidente (AIMMO) and CEO for Sanmina Global Services, informed that the plant concentrates labor for configured products to supply telecommunications industry. "Plant 6 has been finished this year and we are waiting for the confirmation of the inauguration date. We had been suggested a date next week; however, the President's Office decided to reschedule it and they will let us know the date in January". As far as Jabil's second plant is concerned, it represents a 100% growth for this manufacturing company. In 2007 this sector made sales abroad for US$10 billion. Unlike other crises, this time electronics industry is better prepared, because there is growth in electronics design sector and there is opening to other sectors, such as healthcare or aerospace, according to Jacobo Gonzalez, Director of Electronics Production Chain (Cadena Productiva de la Electrónica [Cadelec]).

Source: El Mural

One of the plants John Deere closed in Canada will come to Ramos Arizpe to manufacture agriculture machines, Mayor Ricardo Aguirre Guiterrez informed, and also confirmed the arrival of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Mc Donald's to this City. "I cannot give any further information for the time being, nor the amount of the investment or the number of jobs, but I can tell you that John Deere is coming for sure", Aguirre Gutierrez said when speaking about industrial, commercial and services growth in Ramos Arizpe. He said that as far as trade is concerned, "in addition to Planigrupo, who is investing MEP$220 million in Plaza Bella, in 2008 we have received investment for MEP$150 million by the new businesses established in the City".

Source: Vanguardia

Giant Motors inaugurated. With a US$1 million investment and generating 20 new direct jobs, a new dealing agency to sell Giant Motors light and heavy trucks will be inaugurated today: Rodamotors Saltillo will be located in Isidro López Zertuche Boulevard. Giant Motors is 100% Mexican Company that assembles trucks and is technologically allied to the Chinese Company FAW (First Automobile Works), the largest heavy trucks manufacturer in the world. This agency is the twenty-sixth in Mexico and is arriving to a City with significant industrial and business growth. Giant Motors' purpose is closing this year with 30 dealing agencies all over Mexico, in addition to increasing production from 623 units assembled last year to 3 thousand 130 by the end of 2008. Elias Massri, Giant Motors Latin America CEO and President; Bernardo Kanarek, CEO and Commercial Vice-president; Victor Arreola, Commercial Director and Eduardo Pinet, Regional Sales Manager will all attend the inauguration, in addition to local Rodamotors' officers.

Source: Vanguardia

Eduardo Serrano is now leading Ford Mexico Since 2006, the Company has been under financial restructure all over the world, which guidelines include the conversion of the Company's products portfolio. Mexico is a key country within this process, according to Ford Mexico's new CEO and President. "There is an important plan for Mexico. For our Corporation, Mexico is a key piece, because we have the spearhead car for this portfolio conversion; this car will be assembled in Cuautitlan Plant as of September 2010: the new Fiesta. This vehicle will be assembled for the entire world, and it will be shipped from here to the whole North America market", he said in an interview. Regarding the six-week technical stoppage in Hermosillo factory, he said that this is due to low sales in the United States during October, and to the fact that 2009 will be rather complicated for this market. However, he explained that traditionally every year end they stop for two weeks, and the remaining four weeks there will be a stoppage to adjust offer to demand expected in the next few months. During 2009 and half of 2010, Ford Mexico will only produce in Hermosillo Plant. Cuautitlan will start producing in September 2010, which will be a milestone for the Company. Investments for US$3 billion will continue, Eduardo Serrano assured.

Source: El Universal

Siemens, the German company, announced last July a personnel cut-down of 16 thousand 750 jobs all over the world -4.2% of their labor force- but in Mexico they have generated around 800 new jobs, according to Hans-Joachim Kohlsdorf. These layoffs include the announcement made last Tuesday by Siemens, informing they will eliminate 434 jobs in Bellefontaine in January 2009 to reduce costs; these jobs will be transferred to their plant in Santa Catarina. Mr. Kohlsdor, CEO for Siemens Mesoamerica, said that up to September the Company had accrued a 15% increase in sales when compared to 2007. He further said that the increase is due to a new plant opened in Queretaro, the fifth there, and impulse given to engineering. "We opened a services center for steel industry in Monclova and in Mexico City we opened an Engineering Center to automate electric generation plants.

Source: Vanguardia

Merida, Yuc,- Yucatan Governor, Ivonne Ortega Pacheco inaugurated this morning the factory . Engineered Flooring Solution Mex, that will produce wood floors. This Company will export 100% of its production, mainly to the Western Coast and Central US. US$4 million were invested in this new factory, which in the first stage offers 100 direct jobs; in a second stage they are planning to have 200 employees, until they reach 300 jobs. The Company's forecasted sales in the first term amount to three containers per month, with an approximate value of US$210 thousand; they are planning gradually increase their exports until they reach nine containers and US$630 thousand per month.

Source: Grupo SIPSE