Bulletin 467 - Friday, April 30, 2010

MONTERREY, Nuevo Leon.- ProLogis (NYSE: PLD), a leading global provider of distribution facilities, announced today it has signed a lease agreement with Haldex for building 2 in Monterrey. "We are very pleased Haldex has selected one of our buildings at ProLogis Park Apodaca to expand its actuator operations in Mexico," said Silvano Solis, ProLogis managing director and head of Mexico operations. "It's extremely gratifying that they have decided to partner with ProLogis to support this important business initiative." Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems is a part of Haldex Group, a provider of proprietary and innovative solutions to the global vehicle industry, with focus on products in vehicles that enhance safety, environment and vehicle dynamics. Building 2 at ProLogis Park Apodaca will provide more space for Haldex's Commercial Vehicle Systems Actuator operations, whereby it will expand its in-house manufacturing capabilities, update the Quality Assurance testing laboratory, streamline production lines and optimize the flow of material within the plant. The lease agreement between Haldex and ProLogis highlights ProLogis' position as the leading provider of industrial and distribution space with an 18.6-million-square-foot portfolio in 11 markets throughout Mexico. Additional ProLogis customers in Mexico include Bose Corporation, Black & Decker and Whirlpool.

Source: Prologis

Mexico City,- Panasonic Plant in Tijuana is one of the first factories in the world to assemble TV sets with 3D technology, to be distributed throughout the American Continent. "Plasma panels production is concentrated in Japan, but assembly and distribution in the American Continent will be made from Tijuana", Kent Sutsumi, Sales and Systems Director, explained. There is a great opportunity for the reconversion of bases installed for plants that manufacture screens and consumer electronics in general, said Saul de los Santos, Head of Axis Strategic Intelligence Center.

Source: Agencia Reforma

Tijuana, Baja California,- Baja California is currently eighth among the states with the largest development in franchises sector, by going from holding 2% to 14% of total franchises in Mexico in the last three years. Alberto Valdez Quiñonez, Partner in Business Clon Firm, said that the Region has a great potential in franchises and it has been wasted. He added that according to studies from the Mexican Franchises Association, Mexicali and Tijuana have the potential to be up to par with Puebla, Veracruz and Monterrey, and may even outdo Guadalajara within a few years.

Source: El Financiero

Mexico City,- Tyson, the transnational poultry company, invested MXP$12 million in an animal oil and protein plant in the State of Durango. This plant - the largest plant of its kind in Mexico - was inaugurated yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Mayorga, the Ministry informed in a press release. Jose Manuel Arana Escobar, Tyson Mexico CEO, informed they will invest over MXP$200 million this year in Mexican agriculture and food sector. "This plant will increase poultry sub-products processing capacity by 40%, because all the raw material from three slaughter houses will be transformed here into meat flour and chicken oil, which are used as pet food", the Ministry of Agriculture pointed-out in a press release. Tyson has more than 10 million consumers in Mexico; they are the first supplier in the market of products with high value added and third poultry raiser. Tyson has two Federal Inspection type plants. In the last five years they have invested more than 1 billion Mexican Pesos and employ five thousand 400 people.

Source: El Norte

Mexico City,- After reaching agreements for the construction of Intel's second plant in Jalisco, which represents the generation of 300 high quality jobs and support to small and medium companies in the area; Jalisco Governor, Emilio Gonzalez Marquez, presented to President Felipe Calderon a request to have Mexican Space Agency (AEXA) headquarters in this State. In a visit to Los Pinos Presidential House in Mexico City, Paul Otellini, Intel President and CEO, informed that the investment amounts to MXP$2.3 billion, which will be spent in the next three years in the construction of their second design center in Jalisco. Jalisco State Government will participate in the investment with incentives granted by the Ministry of Economic Promotion through the State Council for Economic Promotion (Consejo Estatal de Promocion Economica - CEPE) for MXP$40 million and through the State Council for Science and Technology - Coecytjal) for MXP$54 million more.

Source: El Informador

Guadalajara, Mexico,- Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the India-based software development company, announced expansion plans for their operations in a third center in Jalisco, to reach one thousand jobs upon closing 2010 and doubling their labor force by 2013. Ankur Prakash, one of the company's executive officers, informed that in 2009 TCS grew 8% in the world, while in Mexico sales went up 29%. As far as employment is concerned, the Firm grew between 20% and 25%, reaching one thousand 200 jobs in their offices in Mexico City, two software development centers in Guadalajara and another one in Queretaro. Tata has 700 employees in Jalisco and this year they could reach one thousand to achieve their goals focused on software development for financial, telecommunications, retail, manufacturing and government sectors.

Source: El Norte

Mexico City,- The Alliance between Fiat and Chrysler in Mexico will benefit Chrysler's plants in Mexico, especially the plant located in Toluca. In addition to assembling Fiat 500 in Toluca Plant, Fiat's plans for the next 5 years consider assembling a new SUV, based on Dodge Journey's platform. Chrysler sources who asked their names were not disclosed, confirmed that this new van will be assembled in Toluca.

Source: Zocalo