Bulletin 466 - Friday, April 23, 2010

Mexico City.- The House of Representatives approved sending to the Senate the draft of the Act creating the Mexican Space Agency, which purpose will be fostering scientific and technological research and space-related studies, as well as encouraging specialists training. 280 votes in favor (two votes against and four abstentions) approved the creation of the Mexican Space Agency (AEXA), which will create a public organization in Mexico, decentralized from Communications and Transportation Ministry, to prepare general guidelines for Mexico's Space Policy and the National Program of Space Activities. Moises Jimenez Sanchez, Chairman of Science and Technology Commission, said that the budget for this project will be MXP$10 million and will provide for Mexico's participation in national and international projects for the construction of spaceships, satellites and launching services, as well as the creation of high technology companies and will promote research in universities and scientific institutions in Mexico. He explained that creating AEXA will have a great impact on the generation of knowledge, as well as in technicians' and researchers' training, in addition to the development of space systems and the means, technology and infrastructure for the consolidation and autonomy of this sector in Mexico. Representative Reyes Tamez Guerra said that AEXA is a fundamental step to achieve knowledge generation goals, as well as in training human capital in every level. This will have a direct impact on industries generation and will also strengthen aerospace companies already operating in Mexico.

Source: El Sol de Mexico

Mexico.- ProMexico's General Director, Bruno Ferrari, assured that merging this organization with the Mexican Foreign Trade Bank, Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior (Bancomext) would be a step back that would leave foreign direct investment attraction out "it would be a serious mistake". He explained that development bank must be separated from promotion because these are two completely different activities. Bruno Ferrari said that trade can only grow through investment, which would also generate more jobs. Bruno Ferrari also informed that in the first quarter of 2010 ProMexico was confirmed eleven investment projects for a total amount of US$3.354 billion, which will generate five thousand direct jobs.

Source: El Norte

Colombia.- Last March 18 an investment for US$320 million was announced for the production of Renault Duster mini-compact crossover in Renault-Sofasa Plant. The assembly of this vehicle will include local suppliers in Colombia, but Mexican auto parts manufacturers have also been called to supply several components for this unit, which will be sold in Mexico as Dacia Duster. Patrick Pelata, CEO, Renault France, recently came to Mexico and informed that a new Renault vehicle will be assembled in Nissan Mexicana's Aguascalientes Plant. However, he did not mention that a day later he would meet in Colombia with President Alvaro Uribe to announce an investment in Renault-Sofasa Plant, located in Envigado, to produce between 25,000 and 45,000 Duster units.

Source: Al Volante

Monterrey, Mexico.- The American Chamber in Mexico is forecasting its members will invest US$2.5 billion in Mexico, mainly to expand production. Jose Zozaya, Chairman, said that this investment is only by the Chamber's members here in Mexico, after recovering orders from the US market. "This year, American Chamber members will invest US$2.5 billion to expand their businesses; and we are only speaking about members of this organization", he said. At the end of his participation in an event organized by the American Chamber in Monterrey, Zozaya said he did not know the amount of the investment made last year, but assured this year it will be a lot larger. Also, Carlos Pascual, United States Ambassador in Mexico, said that in spite of lack of safety, Mexico is still an attractive country to invest. He said that he even knows that some companies established here will soon announce investments to expand their operations.

Source: El Norte

Cuernavaca.- Unilever, the transnational company manufacturer of personal care products, announced the construction of what will be the largest aerosols factory in Mexico and fifth in the world. Upon presenting the project to the State Government, David Suarez Rodriguez, Chief Manufacturing Officer, said that this aerosols plant will be located in Jiutepec Municipality. Total investment will amount to 60 million; and they are expecting to generate 100 direct jobs at the beginning. He said that in spite of the lack of safety crisis in the State of Morelos, Unilever chose it as the best site for their investment. The project, he said, will go after Leeds certification to guarantee operations as an environment friendly factory. Governor Marco Adame offered all facilities from his Administration to materialize the investment, and instructed his Minister of Economic Development, Rafael Tamayo Flores, to create a support scheme for every company willing to invest in Morelos. David Suarez expressed his appreciation for the support by the State Government to build the new aerosols factory, which construction has already started and is expected to start operating by May 15, 2011.

Source: El Financiero

Ciudad Juarez.- Due to the fact that the economic crisis persisted in 2009, employees in maquilador sector will receive this year a smaller amount than last year's for Workers' Share in Profits, Soledad Maynez Bibriescas, Chairwoman of Maquiladoras Assocation (AMAC) informed. The Local Labor Board informed that the deadline to observe this obligation is next May 30, and as of the first day of May companies will start observing such obligation stated in the Federal Labor Act. Such Act states that every May companies must share 10% of profits from the previous fiscal year with their employees. Maynez Bibriescas said that maquiladora industry has always observed such obligation and this year they will do as well. However, she warned that the drop in production in 2009, as well as bad financial results posted by many corporations, will influence the amount in profits distributed by maquilas in Ciudad Juarez.

Source: El Diario

Chihuahua.- Executive officers from Hawker Industries and State of Chihuahua authorities broke ground yesterday on the Company's second industrial building in Chihuahua City, where US$108.2 million will be invested and 600 people will be employed. The new plant will be built on 188,000 square feet and when operations start large assemblies and subassemblies for commercial aircraft structures will be manufactured there. Hawker Beechcraft started operations in Chihuahua City in October 2007; to date investment amounts to US$2.2 million and currently has a 220 people labor force. During the interview Martha Lara, Minister of Industrial Development, informed that the State of Chihuahua has 26 plants now in the aerospace sector currently operating and two more soon to be inaugurated. Ms. Lara said that Chihuahua faces strong competition to attract new investments from the aerospace sector, because in every trade show they fight for projects with promoters from India, Brazil, Asian countries and some Central America countries, even if they seem to have fewer possibilities to get the operations.

Source: El Diario