Bulletin 408 - Friday, February 13, 2009

Mexico,- The English Company Cadbury Adams will invest US$250 million within the next five years. in Mexico, assured Eric Seiersen, Cadbury's General Director for Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. During the first anniversary of Adams Institute, Seiersen informed that in the last five years Cardbury has invested US$200 million in Mexico in the construction of their Puebla Plant and in their market route. "It is an important and aggressive investment. We have long term confidence in Mexico and the Region (Caribbean and Central America", Seiersen said. Mexico is the fourth most important business for Cadbury all over the world. Trident XtraCare, Trident White and Trident Splash have a 43.6% share of the market. Cadbury's plant in Mexico has been operating in Puebla since 1975 and has received several quality certificates for being a company devoted to manufacturing and packing chewing bum, sweets and candy with international quality systems.

Source: El Semanario

Puebla, Puebla,- Volkswagen de Mexico confirmed that the four brands that make up VW Group had an outstanding performance in January, accounting for 27% of passenger automobiles market and becoming leader in this segment in Mexico. This result places Volkswagen Group 5 percentage points above the second place in sales. As had been previously informed, Volkswagen sold 9 thousand 530 passenger automobiles in January, taking 23.6% share of passenger automobiles market in Mexico. Sales of Gol model stand out; only after a couple of months of being introduced in the Mexican market it became the second model in sales by Volkswagen with 2 thousand 719 units; after Jetta, which with 3 thousand 024 units is leader in sales by Volkswagen in Mexico. Bentley, VW Group's high-end brand sold 2 units in Mexico in January 2009.

Source: VW

Monterrey, Mexico,- Next February 18 the Chinese Firm Lenovo will open its third production plant in Mexico, more precisely in Monterrey. The Company, which manufactures PCs, invested US$40 million and will generate one thousand direct job and one thousand indirect jobs. This Company, which is already producing in Mexico in facilities located in Mexico City and Guadalajara, will increase its production by 5 thousand units per year after their Monterrey premises start operations. According to Lenovo's representative in the Region, Mexico was chosen to establish this plant due to the advantages it offers, both in logistics and labor. Lenovo Group, the largest Chinese computers manufacturer and third in the world, has around 23 thousand 900 employees all over the world and has manufacturing plants, in addition to Mexico, in Beijing, Shanghai, India and Poland.

Source: El Financiero

Coahuila, Mexico,- Recruitment will start late in March in Ramos Arizpe to fill 550 positions for the new companies Ceva Logistics and Whitetath, which will provide some relief to the labor market which is depressed due to the crisis that is starting to worsen in Coahuila's Southeast Region. This was informed by Ivan Guerra Lara, Minister of Economic Foster in this Municipality, who said that "coming operations' kickoff no doubt brings hope to many workers who lost their jobs and others who had not found an employment yet". Mr. Guerra Lara explained that Ceva - a logistics company - will hire 400 people for their operations, in addition to the 150 jobs in Whitetath, the automotive supplier which will establish in Zapaliname Industrial Park in Ramos Arizpe. He said that Whirlpool, Bic, GBM and Fargo have all just finished with their recruitment, while Lennox International and LaZboy are still recruiting though the State's Employment Institute and, according to a report by the employment bureau, 200 people were hired in January.

Source: Vanguardia

Mexico City,- The Spaniard Group Aernnova Aerospace inaugurated yesterday the first stage of a factory, located in Queretaro, Mexico, where they will manufacture aeronautics components and will provide structure mounting services to the main airplanes and helicopter manufacturers in the world. This first stage of the plant located 133 miles northeast of Mexico City required a US$14 million investment out of a total investment for US$100 million, which will generate 1,300 jobs. Jose Luis Osoro, Aernnova's CEO, said that structures are being mounted in aircrafts assembled by Embraer, Bombardier and Sikorsky. The Spaniard company has production and services centers in Spain, Brazil, United States and now Mexico. Aernnova invoices €396 million every year (US$506 million) and has a labor force of more than 3,140 employees. This Company is joining other aeronautics companies in Queretaro, such as Bombardier, Aerospace and ITR.

Source: El Semanario

Coahuila, Mexico,- Production kickoff and formal inauguration of Freightliner-Daimler Plant in Saltillo, scheduled for February 27, has expedited several commercial and services programs in the area, which works have a larger dynamism now. This is the case of Hotel One, where more than 150 workers have reached a 40% advance in its construction, with the collaboration of several service purveyors, all of them working on the construction of the building located between the new assembler and Providencia Common-land. Construction of several warehouse-type buildings has also started, some in Zacatecas Highway, close to Derramadero. Also, some restaurants will be opened in the area because executives and employees of the companies established here require a proper place for their business lunches or dinners.

Source: Vanguardia