Bulletin 422 - Friday, May 29, 2009

Mexico City,- For Newell Rubbermaid, which has several business divisions, such as office supplies, tools and containers, Mexico means the most important operation in Latin America, and therefore considers it an essential pillar. Newell Rubbermaid, a company owner of brands such as Berol, Prismacolor and Paper Mate, has three important challenges in Mexico: completing its integration, growing 10% and bringing new brands to this market. Purposes that, in spite of the crisis, Julio Rangel, the Company's Director, considers within reach. The changes this multinational company is making in Mexico, according to Mr. Rangel, correspond to a new integration strategy, because this firm previously had independent subsidiaries devoted to the production of office supplies, tools and household products, which they are now working on bringing under one sole administration.

Source: Oportunidades de Negocio

Mexico City,- Grace Lieblein assures that services, spare parts and new products are guaranteed in Mexico; "We will survive under any scenario", she emphasizes. "In Mexico, we foresee a company with a new dimension, flexible, profitable, with much better products, a competitive company", Grace Lieblein, General Motors de Mexico's Chairwoman said during the launch of Chevrolet's Camaro, offered as proof of the brand's strength. "Also, Mexico will not be included in the restructure process in courts terms; though we will continue operating hand in hand in terms of manufacturing and new projects, because Mexico is very competitive", she pointed-out. GM is facing a "life or death" moment; however, executives such as Ernesto Hernandez, Sales, Service and Marketing Executive Director stay calm.

Source: Vanguardia

Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua,- The Chairwoman of Maquiladoras Association in Ciudad Juarez (AMAC), Maria Soledad Maynez and El Paso authorities informed today about the joint work both are making to attract to this border city a cars assembler. Soledad Maynez informed that this could happen in the medium term, depending on how negotiations advance; a possible date could be late in 2012 or in 2013. She said that the purpose of this project is to have a cars assembler and not being limited to manufacturing auto parts only. Also, Robert Andrade, Executive Assistant of El Paso Mayor, John Cook, said that the alliance is due to the fact that Juarez and El Paso must be joined not only in the cultural or social spheres, but also in the economic arena, especially in the promotion of both cities. He underlined that "Ciudad Juarez is prepared to compete against the world and with a good effort there is no reason for unemployment". He said that the assembler itself could generate more than 35 thousand jobs, which would mean a multi-millionaire investment.

Source: México Webcast

Saltillo, Coahuila,- With an initial investment of US$200 thousand, as well as the generation of 19 jobs, next September Recubrimientos Electro Estaticos de Saltillo will start operating, and will be able to offer attractive prices to customers, because its competitors, large industries, cannot avoid overhead. Our goal, Rodrigo Castañeda Romo, General Manager, said, is to have 30 workers in two shifts and "what we offer as incentive is to achieve customer satisfaction through continuous processes improvement and costs cut-down". Mr. Castañeda Romo pointed-out that, after eight years experience in Aguascalientes, they decided to start working in Saltillo to offer their services mainly to the automotive cluster established here, and therefore Sergio Francisco Valdez was appointed Operations Manager in Saltillo. "We want to install a subsidiary, we are already working with Nissan and we are considering Ramos Arizpe or Derramadero; we are already working for the automotive industry, Donaldson and Johnson Controls", Castañeda Romo said.

Source: Zocalo

Mexico, Distrito Federal,- Mazda Motor de Mexico announced investments for over. US$150 million in Mexico to expand their dealerships network here. In a press release, the Japanese assembler informed that by opening four new dealerships around 200 new direct jobs will be generated. Two of the new dealerships started operating in May - Mazda Tijuana and Mazda San Luis Potosi - and two more will open within the next 60 days - Mazda Cancun and Mazda Oaxaca -, to reach a 28 dealerships network in Mexico.

Source: El Financiero

Guanajuato, Mexico,- It will be in March 2010 when Procter & Gamble starts operating the plant they are building in Irapuato, Guanajuato, to manufacture Gillete products. Last Thursday, President Felipe Calderon set the cornerstone for the construction of the plant, which will generate investments for US$250 million. "Gillette is one of the most important brands for the Company, with sales for around US$4.9 billion all over the world", Carlos Paz Soldan, President for Procter & Gamble Mexico, assured. In Mexico, Procter & Gamble has eight production plants operating, both for domestic consumption and for export.

Source: El Financiero