Bulletin 567 - Friday, May 4, 2012

Mexico City.- At least in the short term, the Japanese company Toyota does not have plans to install another plant in Mexico, they are focusing now on consolidating their position as 6th in vehicles sales in Mexico and stay as first in customer satisfaction to reach sales of around 57,000 units by the end of 2012. For Jose Manuel del Barrio, Toyota Mexico's President since last February 1st, what is important is consolidating the brand's position and keep customers' preference in sales and service. Toyota celebrated their 10th anniversary in Mexico, "We have 400,000 customers in Mexico, of which 170,000 received vehicles financing through our credit division", Ana Mria Vallarino, Marketing Director, declared.

Source: T21

Mexico City.- For the first time Mexico registers reforms in 100% of the states in the country, which translates into improved regulations that encourage doing business, according to the study Doing Business 2012 prepared by the World Bank. The report points out that for the first time since 2006, when this study started, there were regulation changes in 100% of the entities. The State of Mexico stands out for the greatest progress, advancing 10 positions. The study evaluates four performance indicators in regulations that affect the business environment: opening companies, construction permits, ownership registration and agreements observance. The report mentions Colima, Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Guanajuato and San Luis Potosi as the states where doing business is easiest in Mexico. "Colima introduce improvements in all four areas measured by the study and jumped to the first position", Doing Business points out.

Source: El Universal

Sonora, Mexico Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, is to open a new supply chain office in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. This new office will strengthen collaboration with key suppliers in a region that is widely recognized as the leading aerospace industry cluster in Mexico. Beverly J. Gaskin, Rolls-Royce, Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Management - North America said: "Nearly a third of advanced manufacturing companies in the Mexican aerospace industry are based in the state of Sonora. Locating staff in the centre of this cluster will help us improve supplier relationships and performance. Delivering excellence in our supply chain is critical in helping us meet our commitments to customers." Guillermo Padres, Sonora State Governor said: "The State of Sonora is proud that Rolls-Royce has chosen to locate one of its global network of purchasing offices in the state. It confirms that Mexico is an increasingly important player in the aerospace manufacturing industry and that the State of Sonora is the Mexican hub for aero-engine components manufacturing. The presence of a Rolls-Royce supply management office in Sonora is a significant tribute and will make a contribution to our aero-engine cluster." The new office will be located in the Parque Industrial Roca Fuerte which is near several key suppliers to Rolls-Royce. The office will be staffed with six Rolls-Royce employees. 1.Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy. 2.As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in more than 80 countries. 3.Annual underlying revenue was $17.5 billion* in 2011, of which more than half came from the sale of aftermarket services. The firm and announced order book stood at $96.4 billion* at December 31, 2011, providing visibility of future growth. 4.In North America, Rolls-Royce employs more than 9,300 people in 66 locations in 26 states and seven sites in six Canadian provinces. In the United States, Rolls-Royce employs more than 7,700 people in 26 states. Additional Rolls-Royce Operations in Mexico 5.Rolls-Royce Marine currently operates two facilities in Mexico to support the offshore oil and gas industry with a staff of trained service engineers and technicians. ?Its main office for Marine is in Veracruz, Mexico. It includes field service and administrative functions. Located near the Port of Veracruz and local shipyards, this office supports customers in the Gulf and Pacific Coasts of Mexico. ?Rolls-Royce Marine also operates a modular workshop supporting diesel and small thruster overhauls in Ciudad del Carmen in the Mexican state of Campeche. 6.Sonora is a north-western state in Mexico bordering the United States, with a highly evolved infrastructure and skilled workforce. It is accessible to the U.S. and has well developed transportation routes. * Assumed exchange rate: £1.00= $1.55

Source: www.rolls-royce.com

San Luis Potosi, Mexico.- Ground was broken for the construction Keihin de México, S.A., de C.V., a Japanese capital company and the first that will operate at Colinas de San Luis Industrial Park. Keihin, a manufacturing company in the automotive sector, will invest MXP$500 million in this plant, generating 860 direct jobs to produce auto parts; one of their main customers is Honda. The breaking ground event was headed by Tatsuo Kawamura, Operations Manager for Keihin de Mexico, in addition to Miguel Angel Barreda, Business Director and Roberto Burgos, Regional Director, Center Zone representing Colinas de San Luis Industrial Park. Jobs generation will be gradual, being the goal to reach 860 direct jobs by 2016, Keihin de Mexico's executive officers informed.

Source: Yahoo! News

Coahuila, Saltillo.-In the fourth quarter of 2011, 30 states in Mexico posted progress in the Quarterly Indicator of State Economic Activity, Indicador Trimestral de la Actividad Economica Estatal (ITAEE). Fifty percent of those states surpassed the country's average, according to the Mexican Statistics Agency, Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI). According to INEGI, in such term the states that posted the largest growth in their economic activity were: Sonora 8.2%, Queretaro 8.0%, San Luis Potosi 7.1%, Baja California Sur 6.4%, Baja California 5.9%, Coahuila 5.5% and Aguascalientes and Quintana Roo 5.3% each. The states of Nuevo Leon and Jalisco also exceeded the domestic rate, by increasing their economic activity 5.1% and 5.0%, respectively; as well as Mexico City with 4.5%. Total national growth in the above mentioned term was 3.7% per annum. The states that provided the greatest contribution to total increase in ITAEE were Mexico City, Nuevo Leon, State of Mexico and Jalisco, as a result of the increase posted in secondary and tertiary activities.

Source: Zocalo

Guanajuato, Mexico.- Producing 30 million of corrugated ducts for the automotive sector, as well as for home appliances industry, to reach the goal of selling US$3 million in April 2013, is the challenge undertaken by 25 employees working Fränkische plant installed in Las Colinas Industrial Park, in Silao. Fränkische is a German company globally consolidated as one of the leading companies in production of industrial tubes and auto parts; the company has 11 plants in the world and its experience goes back to 1906, Guido Wey, CEO, shared. Their main customers include Delphi, Continental, Bosch, Bowles and Volkswagen. "Our production will be meant for domestic distribution, to provide better service to our customers' plants that in turn distribute in Mexico and abroad". Fränkische has 11 plants throughout the world, 5 of them in Germany, employing 2,200 people. They produce from 3 to 4 million pieces of corrugated duct per day. Source: www.am.com.mx

Source:www.am.com.mx

Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas.- Before making a decision on Delphi's plant in Victoria, the investors visited 16 cities in Mexico looking for incentives and competitive advantages to invest their capital. Miguel Sanchez Espinoza, Human Resources Manager, said that Victoria has advantages not found elsewhere in Mexico, such as government support through the Ministry of Labor. He explained that the support given by the State Administration was decisive, which included land in Nuevo Santander Industrial Park, a scholarship program and employment fairs. "The State Administration takes advantage of companies' production infrastructure for training, in a scheme that promotes training at companies' premises, while the company makes a commitment to hire trainees when training is over, which is being done in Delphi", he said

Source:hoytamaulipas.net