White paper: Guadalajara as safe, or safer, than many American cities.

In a just-released white paper, Global Delivery Report goes beyond the headlines to examine crime statistics to determine whether Guadalajara is a safe place to live and work. Its findings: the “Silicon Valley of Mexico” is as safe or safer, than similarly-sized cities in Latin America and North America.

The report drew on regional data from government and private sources including FBI Uniform Crime Reports, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Mexico Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the Economist Intelligence Unit, as well as a survey of foreign born professionals living in the area about their perceptions of security.

When it comes to homicide rates, the data show that Guadalajara is on a par with cities such as Houston, and actually has a lower rate than American cities such as Baltimore and New Orleans, all locations where North American businesses would visit or invest in without fear of personal safety. It is also on a par, or reports lower homicide rates, than popular Latin American destinations such as Rio de Janeiro and Bogota.

The data also show that Jalisco, the state of which Guadalajara is the capital, has become much safer over the last 15 years. While the state did see a rise in the number of homicides in 2009, it is important to note that violence tends to be concentrated in specific areas, between specific segments of the population. This is also true of many urban areas, as readers know from experience in their own communities. (From Far Away, Even Boston Looks Dangerous, Too.)

In Chicago, for example, of 379 homicides over the last 365 days, over 47 percent took place in just two concentrated blocks of neighborhoods on the south and west side of the city, between rival gangs.

Just as important as the numbers, of course, is the quality of life – whether an area “feels” safe. Global Delivery Report surveyed foreign-born expatriates, the majority of whom said they considered Guadalajara “as safe or safer” than their original homes. Interestingly, 78 percent of respondents originally from the United States found GDL “as safe or safer.” Not one European found GDL safer than their home city, and only 38 percent found it as safe. This suggests that current personal safety conditions in GDL are somewhere between that of the US and Europe. It is also important to note that for the 40 percent that considered GDL less safe, the point scale difference between all responses averaged only 1.14. This means that while some respondents felt safer back home, the difference in perception didn’t appear extreme.

And when asked to rate Guadalajara on personal safety, most respondents considered it “not at all dangerous.” furthermore, judging from the comments provided by respondents, the general consensus was that, just like in any urban environment, it’s wise to take normal precautions to avoid dangerous situations. Finally, an overwhelming majority said that their personal safety was never threatened during their normal routine.

The report says local government and private sector leaders must ensure that progress continues in education, employment and security to provide the conditions that will lead to ever-greater security. However, the data shows that its stable economy, good quality of life, technologically-savvy labor pool, and relatively labor costs provide room to grow across various high-skilled and lower-skilled industries.

For more information visit: globaldeliveryreport.com/white-paper-guadalajara-as-safe-or-safer-than-many-american-cities

Aeronautical industries searching options in Jalisco

Europe explores purveyance

Guadalajara, Mexico (October 15, 2011).- At least six European aerospace companies will land in Jalisco during the next few days to explore the business benefits offered by the State.

Representatives of Belgium, France and Germany explore the facilities to do business in the state, said Jacobo González, director of Investment Promotion of the Ministry of Economic Development (SEPROE).

"There are some industries very interested in the manufacture of electronic boards used in aerospace, known as avionics and some others that are suppliers of mechanical parts that are looking to settle in Mexico," he said.

As a result of participation of Jalisco’s authorities in July in the Paris International Air Show in Le Bourget visits were scheduled.

However, he acknowledged that the State have not yet auto makers responsible for assembling aeroparts as in Sonora, Chihuahua and Queretaro.

"We've focused a lot to complement the supply chain, to move in the technology in the high added value, and in the engineering careers where we have a better chance," he said.

Companies located in Jalisco like Interlatin, and Soluciones Tecnológicas has developed electronic components in this line.

Luis Valtierra, president of the Jalisco’s Aerospace Council of, complemented by state firms have specialized in embedded software design and engineering services.

"There are several of these disciplines that affect the issue of micro, pico and nano satellites and development of applications for unmanned vehicles," he said.

SMEs will fly to France

to learn about working forms of the European aerospace industry, eight small and medium enterprises from Jalisco, involved in the aviation industry will travel this week to Toulouse, France.

"They are SMEs companies, some are manufacturing, other software," explained Carlos Gomez, president of the Suppliers Development for the Jalisco Electronics Industry (Cadelec), the association that coordinates the tour.

Participants will build relationships with European firms as well as recognize the certification processes required to become strategic partners of the European market.

For more information visit www.mural.com/negocios/articulo/604/1207881/

Jalisco looks for air cargo connection with Latin America

Guadalajara, Jal. Jalisco private initiative works to build a freighter bridge to Latin America through Lima, Peru.

The initiative comes after the land of the new transport route to Asia through cargo air by two direct weekly flights between Guadalajara and Hong Kong, who will perform the same airline Cathay Pacific starting in November.

The goal is to make Jalisco’s capital the largest cargo terminal of Mexico and prevent the export dispatch of state goods from the airports of Cancún and México City.

The president of the National Council of the Maquiladora and Manufacturing Exports (CNIMME), Luis Aguirre Lang reported that companies in this sector keep touch with Peruvian companies to finalize the project and start it during 2012.

The current situation

Currently, imported inputs and export of finished products, mainly in the industries that make up the Silicon Valley of Jalisco, is done through two weekly direct flights to Europe, but from the first two months of 2012 will be three, while with Asia will function through two direct flights to Hong Kong.

"We do have a lot of trade with Latin America, especially with the distribution of finished electronic products, but also in agribusiness both outbound and return. It is a very important market and we believe that, like the flight to Asia, to the extent that we have that option of open cargo the volume will go up ", says the Economist also Vice President of Sanmina-SCI Logistics.

Without specifying the volume of cargo handled, Aguirre Lang indicates that currently exports to the countries of Latin America are made using airlifts of Cancun and Miami.

The procedure for this project will be the same as was followed with Hong Kong, where first meetings held to discuss business interests, their capabilities and volumes of cargo to be handled between the two regions. Based on this, the decision will be made, he narrows.

eleconomista.com.mx/estados/2011/10/11/jalisco-busca-conexion-aerea-carga

Mexican scientific evolves robotic language

Mexican scientist Eduardo Bayro Corrochano, professor at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of IPN (CINVESTAV), Guadalajara Unit, introduced a new concept of computer algorithms optimization by implementing geometric algebra that helps to improve robots cognitive language.

Creator of MexOne humanoid robot, one of the most outstanding robots in the world for its ability to generate an independent cognitive environment, Dr. Eduardo Bayro unveiled how such optimization of computational algorithms based on geometric algebra to speed up the machines responses to stimuli gathered by its receiving system from its environment.

In a report published on 8 September in Mexico City, kpor El Universal´s national newspaper rotative, stated that the objective of the researchers proposal has been documented in an editorial extract for the electrical engineering science field, is developing graphics engineering, virtual reality, modeling and rendering graphics for medical purposes, robotics, control of satellite systems and submarines for the military, to name a few.

In his statement to the media, Bayro Corrochano explained that the algorithms that incorporate the systematic language of robots can be improved by implementing his proposal.

Eduardo Bayro Corrochano, professor of Cinvestav Guadalajara. (Photo: Universal-Flickr.)

The name of the book is "Geometric Computing for Wavelet Transforms, Robot Vision, Learning, Control and Action" in which is provided the detail of his initiative structure.

During the research and development stage in this field, the scientist found that the mechanical movements made by robotic systems such as moving a limb, follow an object with its eyes or respond to any stimulus such as touch or verbal command, can be subjected to a real-time optimization to achieve better results by those who work mainly in the robotics field.

In its report, the newspaper described content of the book as "new" and catalogs it as "pioneer in the international scientific community" because the use of algebraic-geometric resources follows from Clifford algebras, where the real numbers are used as scalars in a vectorial space and as a result also produced multi-vector results.

Productive investments click with México

Mexico is in an ideal geographical position for international trade, is in the group of the ten strongest exporting nations of the world, with 12 Free Trade Agreements with 44 countries and generates more exports than all the Latin American countries together, including Brazil.

Mexico has stability, a very attractive exchanging rate and a market of more than 102 million people, of whom 70 million have average purchasing power. Luis Olivé, head of the Investment Promotion and International Business Unit ProMéxico, points out that we are also a manufacturing country for excellence, with very competitive manpower costs, very close to those of China and better than Brazil or the United States. We are also distinguished ourselves by offering skilled labor, generating about 90 000 engineers each year, a figure similar to that of the American Union and three times more than any Latin American nation. These characteristics have placed the Mexican territory as one of the most attractive in the world to attract productive investment, which is translated into higher paying jobs.

"The current financial and economic uncertainty in the world has had a positive impact on our country, because many investors have left Europe and the United States and are looking for countries with macroeconomic stability, and also give added value to its products, as in the case of Mexico, "said Olivé.

Since its creation three and a half years ago, the agency has attracted an investment of 29 000 593 million dollars, distributed among 169 projects.

About 50 percent of foreign investment coming to Mexico through ProMéxico comes from EU, which gives priority to the automotive sector, but their investments are very versatile. Followed by Spain, with resources invested in energy and infrastructure projects, Germany, totally involved in the automotive industry, Brazil, also with infrastructure and energy projects, and Japan, with investments in the automotive and electrical-electronics.

According to figures from the Ministry of Economy, during the first half of 2011, Mexico attracted ten thousand 601.4 million dollars of foreign direct investment (FDI), the amount is 13.4 percent lower than originally reported in the same period previous year, because in 2010 there was an atypical transaction which represented 67.6 percent of FDI for that period (the acquisition of FEMSA Cerveza by the Dutch Heineken). Without this event, FDI recorded in the first half of 2011 was 36 percent higher than that observed a year ago.

For more information visit: www.prncloud.com/ajax/noticiaopen_new.php?tipo=0&ID=7238850&lan=esp¶metro=&nosintesis=1&cl=1686

Jalisco attracts Japanese capital

Installation prevent of two automotive parts manufacturing plants

Guadalajara, Mexico (September 28, 2011).- With a total investment over $ 90 million dollars in Jalisco will start the construction of two Japanese plants engaged in manufacturing of automotive components.

These two projects, which will start to build in the first quarter of 2012, could generate a total of 850 direct jobs and 2500 indirect.

Although Jalisco recently lost the Japanese investment for a new plant of Honda automotive — the firm chose to Celaya, Guanajuato— the authorities are turning now to strengthen the automotive cluster for suppliers.

Alonso Ulloa Vélez, Secretary for Economic Development, explained that one of the companies involved is Daido Metal Company, which manufactures bearings for the automotive industry and has a 30 percent in the global market.

Its new manufacturing facility will be located in Jalisco Logistic Centre, in the towns of Acatlán de Juarez and Zacoalco de Torres. The expectation is that over the next five years the capital injection reaches 70 million dollars.

Meanwhile, the Japanese company Alpha Corporation will be installed in the municipality of Tala this factory is dedicated to producing the car handles.

These products will be distributed to their customers, such as Nissan, Mazda and Honda.

"It's a great company that started by Japanese tradition making locks and now makes automotive safety systems, and has taken the decision to go to Jalisco to make handles for the doors of cars," said in a telephone interview from Japan.

The official highlighted that, although the firm has installed for more than a decade in Queretaro, it decided to land the expansion of components in the state.

The attraction of both projects took shape during the trade mission that launched to the Asian nation since Sept. 23 with officials and businessmen from the state.

Among those invited are the President of the Association of Industrial Parks of the State of Jalisco (APIEJ), Gilberto Gonzalez Caballero, and the director of the Logistics Center Jalisco, Mauricio Garza.

This Committee presented to 60 representatives of 40 Japanese firms opportunities for a business seminar given at Mexico’s Embassy in Japan.

"In the case of Jalisco, is particularly attractive the link between the universities, industry and the government, and how the high tech industry has developed," said Ulloa Vélez.

Impact Jalisco’s economy in times of slowdown

Jalisco’s economy in the last decade 2001 -2011

State Information System Jalisco (SEIJAL) reports that in the last decade, during the international economic uncertainty Jalisco has been presenting generally stable behavior, affected in some periods like the terrorist attacks in 2001 and the economic crisis in 2008.

Given to the huge dependence of Mexico from the U.S. economy, the effects of the crisis in the United States soon disrupt our country's economy, the "domino effect" presented in different economic sectors reflected only a few months later.84 percent of Mexicos total exports are destined for the neighboring country, while foreign direct investment picked up, just over 50 percent comes from the United States. Under a U.S. slowdown, these variables significantly affected causing an economic crisis in Mexico.

In the case of Jalisco the picture is very different because of all the state's exports, 78 percent are destined to the United States and foreign direct investment is made in some years over the last decade 50 percent of the neighboring country.

Jalisco has positioned itself in 3rd. place, talking of national generation of work from 2001 to July 2011 with 282.669 new jobs, just below the Federal District and Nuevo Leon, while in third place in trade and services, an increase of 38.7 percent and 37.7 cent respectively, has also strengthened its economy by diversifying export markets, reducing their dependence on the United States, 2001 from 83 percent to 73 percent for January-June 2011, simultaneously domestic private investment has increased its share in total investment contributing from 60 percent in 2011 to 82 percent the first half of 2011, removing dependence on foreign investment flows.

On the other hand, in a scenario of international volatility there are more vulnerable sectors like the transformation industry of the entity, as reflected in the moderate employment growth from 2001 to July 2011 by 7.9 percent, while exports of the electronic industry falls were displayed in the years 2003 and 2009 with declines of 21 percent and 17 percent respectively for the year 2010 takes a path of moderate growth of 19 percent.

Facing a scenario of international uncertainty, Jalisco as the fourth largest economy of our country should play a strategic role to boost domestic economic activity and compensate less dynamic external sector to come.

www.seijal.gob.mx/modulos/Descargas/10anosEconomicaJal_19Sep11.pdf

Connection Asia-Guadalajara moving foward

Starting from November 15, the new route between Hong Kong and Guadalajara cargo flights represents a logistical advantage that will maximize the growing trade flows between Mexico and the most dynamic economic region in the world.

By two round flights per week on Boeing 747-400 with a capacity of 110 tons, owned by Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific will be the delivered agricultural products to the far away country such as blackberries, mangoes, meat, flowers and dairy products and seafood , clothing, jewelry and footwear.

Back to Guadalajara, will move parts, components and supplies highly demanded by the Mexican technological industry and in particular the high-tech cluster in Jalisco, such as memories and integrated circuits.

"This connectivity will allow us to have the products imported within 24 hours directly in manufacturing plants," said Luis Aguirre Lang, president of the National Council of the Maquiladora and Manufacturing Industry Exports (CNIMME).

From January to July of 2011, Mexican imports from Asia amounted to 58.886 million dollars, an annual increase of 14% are mostly intermediate goods.

"This will give us tremendous flexibility to manage inventory and especially in order to meet increased demand from our customers," Aguirre said Lang.

It is right to

Carlos Palencia, director of CNIMME, mentioned that it was originally scheduled one flight a week, but added a second before the demand for Mexican entrepreneurs Colima, Michoacan, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Sinaloa and Jalisco.

Currently, for Mexican companies takes between three to six weeks to transport products by sea from Asia to Manzanillo, depending on the destination, or between three and five days by air shipments triangulating U.S. airports.

For some industries, time is a crucial factor because in some cases, there is little availability of components, so their sale is made to order.

Investment Forum Highlights Sparkling Performance of Guadalajara

Nearshore Americas hosted a standing-room only outsourcing forum yesterday in New York City, featuring a deep look at investment opportunities and the robust tech ecosystem emerging out of Guadalajara and the Jalisco State region.

Special guest Carlos Sada, Mexico’s Consul General for New York, kicked off the event by remarking that countries like the US and Mexico have to continue to find ways to establish complimentary ties – and those partnerships are exactly what is fueling Guadalajara’s IT exports.

The western Mexican state of Jalisco, home to “Mexico’s Silicon Valley,” provides not only low-cost IT and business process outsourcing but highly innovative experts in areas from chip design to multimedia.

But in choosing what to outsource to Jalisco, customers should do true “apples to apples” comparisons of the costs of Jalisco compared to more well-known destinations such as India. That comparison needs to include the full package of costs related to the engagement, and not just salaries.

Those were the key messages from outsourcing analysts, vendors and Mexican state and federal officials at the half-day executive briefing, “Mexico’s Silicon Valley: Getting the Real Story.” The program was sponsored by Secretariat of Economic Development Jalisco State Government, MexicoIT, CANIETI and ProMexico.

Among the reasons for choosing Jalisco and its capital (and high-tech center) Guadalajara is to diversify some of a company’s outsourced work from India, which is experiencing high inflation and attrition due to the rapid growth of its outsourcing industry, said Tony Mataya, partner with ThinkSolutions, who keynoted the program. “Having 70% of my development staff in India, with a 30% attrition rate, is kind of a scary thought” for customers, he said.

Innovation is a major strength in Jalisco, said Francisco Medina, general director of the Jalisco State Council of Science and Technology. He said local developers focus on “value-added” areas such the development of code for embedded systems and in semiconductor design. Chip giant Intel, for example, has nearly 700 employees in Guadalajara developing advanced products, and that workers in Guadalajara can perform advanced R&D at costs one-sixth those in the US Multimedia is an area where Jalisco developers can perform work equivalent in quality to the US at less than half the cost.

Unlike other governments that offer future tax incentives, government aid in Jalisco took the more attractive form of direct funding that of 50 percent of the capital costs of moving to the area.

To see full article //nearshoreamericas.com/mexico-bpo-investment-forum/

Taco Master, world's most downloaded iPad app

Mexico City: Taco Master, the creation of Mexican company Kaxan Games, is the world's most downloaded iPad application and among the most purchased software for use on other Apple devices at the iTunes store.

Players take on the role of street vendors and try to make the highest-quality taco they can in the least amount of time, the president of Kaxan Media Group, Ricardo Gomez, told EFE.

"It's very engaging and addictive and has received millions of downloads in more than 50 countries," Gomez said, adding that the game became the most downloaded application for the iPad just a week after it was released Aug 4.

It also ranks among the top 10 most-downloaded applications for other Apple devices such as the iPhone and iPod.

Despite its low cost of 12 pesos (97 cents), a pirated version of the application is already available and can be downloaded for free from some Web portals. "It's what always happens with the good games," Gomez said. "The kid who uploaded it even tweeted it on his account like some achievement. It's infuriating because they don't charge anything; they do it for the pure pleasure of 'hacking'," the company's president said, adding that the crime has already been reported to the authorities and is being investigated.

"This action won't affect our sales that much because those who are used to downloading pirated software are going to keep doing it and those who aren't will keep (downloading games) legally," he said.

Gomez said his company currently is making 15 video games for mobile devices and one for the home video game console Wii.

Kaxan Media Group invested $4 million last year and has 120 game designers, according to Gomez, who said the interactive media company is Latin America's largest creator of intellectual property in the video game area.

Jalisco develops 50 new projects for the automotive industry

Guadalajara, Mexico (August 2, 2011).- Continental, an electronics company, is supplier to the automotive industry, expects to close this year with sales over $ 900 million from its operations in Jalisco, 32 percent more than 2010.

According to the chief executive officer of this company in Jalisco, Alejandro Sauter, this year’s first half balance is favorable, so it expects to exceed the 680 billion dollars sold in 2010.

Innovation has been a key for this company focused on the automotive electronics area to recover after the 2009 economic disaster.

Sauter said that this center has a decade of operation, currently counts over 550 engineers working on the development of 50 new projects in the automotive industry.

However, the executive does not dismiss difficulties in the future caused by United States economic uncertainty.

Sauter said the company has demonstrated effectiveness in development processes in the manufacturing area, the next step is generating research to create new products.

Evidence of this new stage were 32 patents filed in 2010 and the goal of applying this year at least 38 records.

“We are moving with that spirit to increasing year after year the number of patents created in Mexico,” said Sauter.

The projects being developed in this company should be promoted at least two years early, which is the time it takes to realize an automotive innovation.

Jalisco’s Continental center has the advantage to develop designs at the same level of the United States and Germany, but at least 50 percent cheaper.

"Engineers really want to prove to the world that we are capable of technological developments at the same level as Germany, the United States," mentioned the executive.

In addition, nearly 90 percent of Continental's production in Jalisco goes to the U.S. the rest is sent to Japan and European countries.

http://www.mural.com/negocios/articulo/595/1188721/

Cinvestav starts national EMC laboratory development

Guadalajara Unit of Research and Advanced Studies of IPN (CINVESTAV) will host the new National Laboratory for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), the first of its kind in México and Latin America. It expects to invest approximately 160 million pesos for its construction.

The Guadalajara´s Unit, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV), Guadalajara Unit will harbor the new National Laboratory for Electromagnetic Compatibility (LANCE) for which is expected medium-term investment of approximately $ 160 million pesos. The official inauguration of the construction of the first stage of laboratory development took place June 23, 2011 at the Guadalajara Unit CINVESTAV facilities.

According to statement released by the research center, the lab aims to be one of a kind in Mexico and Latin America for industrial service activities and scientific research, will provide outsourcing services at lower cost and enhance scientific research in the field of Electromagnetism in Mexico.

The laboratory facilities, are to be developed in 5 phases over a period of 3 years and will share space with the existing buildings of the CINVESTAV Guadalajara based in the city of Zapopan, Jalisco (México), will go to industrial services and scientific research nationwide.

The project LANCE started as a bilateral proposal between the german company Continental Automotive México and Cinvestav Guadalajara Unit, which currently is supported by the Mexico´s government through the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT), Jalisco´s state goverment by State Council for Science and Technology of Jalisco (COECYTJAL) and economic incentives of various entities within the electronics industry in the state.

The responsible team of the development of this project consists in engineers, researchers and executives of Continental Automotive Mexico, transactional and researchers and developers from CINVESTAV Guadalajara with extensive experience in the electronics industry nationwide.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing (EMC) for various electronic systems and integrated circuits are crucial in the process of validation and product testing of electronics sector companies in the region.

The Cinvestav points that the EMC center emerges from the requirement of dozens of companies that compose the industrial research and development corridor, México´s most important sector, located in the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara (ZMG).

http://www.electronicosonline.com/2011/06/24/inicia-cinvestav-desarrollo-de-laboratorio-nacional-de-emc/

Aeroméxico announces heavy maintenance services for its Embraer fleet

Aeroméxico announced during the fair and air show that takes place in the city of Paris, France, that will provide major maintenance service, from August for the Embraer 145 regional jets in its modern maintenance base located in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Chile. Aeroméxico announced during the fair and air show that takes place in the city of Paris, France, from August, will provide major maintenance service for the Embraer 145 regional jets in its modern maintenance base located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, which already provides service to the Boeing 767, 757, 737 and MD80.

The new service is part of the airline's growth strategy as a provider of aircraft heavy maintenance, thanks to the strategic geographical position of Mexico, the certified quality of services provided at competitive prices and delivery time according to the needs customers, resulting in a totally reliable operation of the aircraft after the service.

Miguel Angel Uribe, Aeroméxico MRO divisions Chief Executive Officer, said during the announcement: “In Aeroméxico we have our management and staff committed with our customers and a highly trained team, which works 7x24 according to the international standards FAA; FAR part 145 and NOM.145, and under a strict quality system and periodic audits by aviation authorities, quality assurance, business partners and customers.”

Furthermore, this project is supported by the Incentives for Research Program, Technological Development and Innovation of CONACYT and the Ministry of Economic Development of the State of Jalisco, so the Eagle Knight airline has established itself as the largest airline in Mexico and a leader in Latin America.

AméricaEconomía.com

The 2010 Global Best to Invest Rankings

The Site Selection editors are pleased to present the third annual Global Best to Invest rankings. The national and regional Investment Promotion Agencies recognized here were particularly successful in 2010 at attracting capital investment projects — both expansions of existing facilities and new projects — from investors at home and abroad.

Site Selection publisher Conway Data Inc. has been tracking project data for more than five decades. It manages the New Plant Database, which is the basis of much of Site Selection's editorial content throughout the year. It is the foundation of such prestigious honors as the Governor's Cup (March issue), the Competitiveness Award, Top Economic Development Groups and Top Deals (May), Canada's Top Locations (September) and Top State Business Climates (November).

Projects resident in the New Plant Database meet one or more of these criteria: a minimum investment of US$1 million, creation of 50 or more new jobs or new construction of at least 20,000 sq. ft. (1,860 sq. m.).

For the Global Best to Invest rankings, areas were evaluated according to projects announced, capital invested and jobs created in total and per capita. Areas were scored according to their performance in these categories, and the corresponding IPAs and metros were recognized based on overall performance. We salute this year's winning national investment agencies and the regions and metro areas globally that in 2010 could not be beat.

Kaxan prepares Wii Videogame

What started as a virtual reality project, in December will be presented in the United States and Canada as the first game developed by a Mexican company for the Wii console from Nintendo.

Although not reveal the title by a confidentiality agreement, the animation signature in Jalisco Kaxan Media Group announced that it is designed by local talent and the expectation of release is at least 50 000 units.

"We had never done a game, from start to end, in Mexico", Ricardo Gomez Quinones, executive director of the company said.

This project involved the investment of almost one million dollars from this venture and the support of the State Council for Science and Technology in Jalisco, and the Ministry of Economy, through the Prosoft program.

They obtained the license to develop games for Nintendo in June 2010.

"Basically what is evaluated is that you can produce, have a level of artistic and technical quality, and of course the ability to design games", Jesus Cochegrus Jaime, Director of Kaxan, Said.

He added that games designed in the future will be for the whole family.

Specifically, he said, the Nintendo game is made up of 30 mini-games which combine traditional elements of Mexico, for example, piñatas or fairs.

Kaxan also reach in March, the approval to create games for the PlayStation 3, initially available to be downloaded thru Internet.

For Gomez Quinones, one of its greatest achievements is that big game companies have taken creative Mexican´s for the development of games.

The challenge of this company, he said, is to strengthen intellectual property on the market that lasts more than 30 years.

One of the main threats to this sector, according to the manager, is the lack of interested investors and the development of specialized talent in video games.

Kaxan - word in Maya means "forward" - so far counted 115 employees, including engineers, designers and innovators working in Jalisco.

Born two years ago on the occasion of the Bicentennial of Independence and the Centennial of the Revolution, under the name “Batallon 52”, then switched to Kaxan Media Group.

Tlajomulco will have Biotechnology park

The Secretariat of Economic Development of Jalisco, Alonso Ulloa Velez, announced that it will build an industrial park to house biotech firms in Tlajomulco.

"We want to doa biotech industrial park in Tlajomulco, we want high-tech industries in the biological, pharmaceutical, medical services." he said at the official on the part of the inauguration of the first Job Fair 2011 in the Municipality.

"And for that we have all the conditions for national and global companies come here to Tlajomulco to generate those good paying jobs, high level, generating technology. " But did not specify details on the extent or the number of companies to be located in the complex, predicted to be at the end of the year when it could start building it.

It is recalled that by 2011, the SEPROE allocated 35 million pesos for the development of industrial parks in the state, focused on the development of biotechnology, aerospace and green industries.

In addition, 5 million will be repealed for the promotion of incubators in this field.

Thus, the total stock that the Secretariat will perform this year for industrial development amounts to 40 million pesos.

Mexico advances in IT services

Mexico was the fourth largest vendor in the world of services in the information technology industry in 2010, according to experts, behind India, the Philippines and China, and would advance to third place in 2 years, because its growth and exceed that of China to the Philippines.

Last year, the sector accounted for 3 thousand 500 million dollars for the country, while in India the profit was 70 billion, Philippines, 5 000 500 million, and China, 4 000 400 000 000.

According to Gartner, Mexico stands in services "nearshore" SAP implementation and software development, geographical and cultural proximity of Nuevo Leon with the United States is a competitive advantage to grow further in the coming years. For this reason, Neoris created a professional development program for students and recent graduates with degrees related to the industry.

College students have a perception of the work environment very different from a graduate 15 years ago, Mauricio Davila said, director of human resources Neoris in Mexico, and a greater need to know your professional development opportunities in a company.

"The kids need to know where they are, where they can be, what skills can generate, " he said.

"When you join with us can be viewed in a career structure according to their abilities, " added Martin Fischetti, vice president of human resources Neoris globally. The career development plan, called NeorisONE-is based on performance and results, not tied to a specific time, and involving all departments of the company.

NeorisONE originated in Monterrey 2 years ago and has already spread to the offices in the 20 countries where it operates the company. By the program have spent a thousand 600 students and 60 percent have been said Fischetti.

The company has agreements with UR and soon the UdeM in Monterrey, in addition to the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and the TecMilenio at its offices in Culiacan, an additional benefit for educational institutions is to better understand the skills needed in the sector consulting, management highlighted.

Even careers and education pedagogy have a market in the IT sector, considered Fischetti, since there is demand for projects and learning and training for which content generators need to implement teaching methodologies to an electronic platform.

Jalisco's government publishes security benchmark report

The government of Jalisco along with leading industry organisms such as Canieti, Cadelec and AIMMO recently published Guadalajara's latest security highlights report, which benchmarks the city in specific indexes such as crime rates and other security metrics. The report clearly shows how Guadalajara keeps its favorable position as a leading global city for foreign investment and safe trade. Download the report here.

Mexico is the sixth in IT services

Mexico City (23 February 2011) .- Mexico was the sixth among the 50 most attractive countries for the provision of Information Technology (IT) and outsourcing, driven by quality, availability of human resources and attractive costs, according to the Index of Global Services Location 2011.

According to this study, by AT Kearney for the National Chamber of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology (Canieti), Mexico passed from the 11 place , which was in 2009, to sixth place last year.

The index ranks the top 50 countries in terms of financial attractiveness, human resources and business environment focused on technology services, contact centers and administrative support.

"Mexico is in sixth place, at a rate which leads India, followed by China, Malaysia, Egypt and Indonesia, which is in fifth place in the world ranking," said the partner at the consulting firm, Ricardo Haneine.

However, he explained, there are some levers which can act to boost the competitiveness of Mexican industry, such as ensuring that the supply of human resources as demand grows and train them in issues of value added.

Also focus efforts to promote and develop business in niche priority, to ensure adequate facilities for the establishment of new businesses and promote a dynamic cluster of companies in which small firms participate.

On the other hand, Santiago Gutierrez, president of Canieti said that organized crime in Mexico does not impact the investment and growth plans of companies involved in the sectors of electronics, telecommunications and Information Technology (IT).

Interviewed at the presentation of the Service Location of Global Index , said that organized crime has not impacted the growth plans of companies that are installed in Mexico, as in the economic crisis in 2008 and 2009.

Jalisco's High Tech Industry Rely to grow

For businesses related to high technology in Jalisco, the 2011 is a good year.

According to a survey by the Electronics Production Chain (Cadelec), 95 percent of companies surveyed firms -21, totaling nearly 60 thousand employees, ie, 68 percent of the total-wait growth.

Carlos Gomez Michel, president of the private association, said that this is attributed to a global economic recovery and competitiveness of the sector.

In the study entitled "Economic Situation Survey 2011", 86 percent of companies reported having achieved a growth in 2010 compared with 2009, and only 14 percent remained unchanged.

For 2011, the investment plans of these companies raised a total of $ 111 million dollars.

"The interest is in software development, hardware, multimedia, aerospace and the new niche that we are going tu push for this year is the one of green technology". She said.

Cadelec figures indicate that more than 600 high technology companies in Jalisco made exports for worth over U.S. $ 18 billion in 2010.

The goal for 2012, Michel Gomez concluded, is to reach 100 thousand jobs in the industry, as well as 20 billion dollars in exports.

Moreover, despite the criminal events that have occurred in the state, the holder of the Cadelec denied that sector activity has been affected.

"We are not exempt from crime, but crime has a problem between them, we are not mixed with them, " he said.

High Qualified Supply Chain

Guadalajara, Mexico ( February, 17, 2011) .- Global Vantage, an electronic parts company specializing in the aerospace industry, can boast that its mechanical engineering design software and equipment fly on firms like Boeing and Bombardier.

During 2009 the firm acquired Competitive Global de Mexico (CGM), and through it makes the manufacturing of parts, the design and development is carried out by Global Vantage.

"The idea is to sell the full service, on one hand we designed the piece and then we produce in CGM, " Jorge Rodriguez, said, director of Operations.

The company, based in Technology Park ITESO, is a supplier of Boeing by making small structures of the fuselage, and in the case of Bombardier, they do so indirectly.

"We design and manufacture mechanical parts with a partner that we have already and then we delivered to Bombardier, "he said.

Last year, Global Vantage remained stagnant because this sector is still affected by the economic crisis of 2009.

"The crisis has hit us all and although we have new customers, the existing customers have lowered their demands, we close with good expectations, but the aerospace sector is much slower, "he said.

However, the expectation is that this 2011 we will have a growth record.

Currently this sector generates about 80 jobs at its two divisions and they have presence in Guadalajara and in Phoenix, Arizona at the United States.

Among the company's plans for this year are to reach Europe, but it all depends on the negotiations that we currently are having with a couple of customers.

"We hope that 2011 is a year of recovery in the aerospace industry, in general, this industry is much slower than the others, when other industries are beginning to improve, the consequence is that aerospace is starting to improve gradually, "he said.

GPPS 2011

MexicoIT, along with the Mexican Information Technology Industry Association (AMITI) and the National Chamber of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies Industries (CANIETI), welcomes you to the WITSA Global Public Policy Summit 2011, to be held from November 6th to 8th in the beautiful city of Guadalajara, Mexico. Join 500 ICT executives, government officials and policy makers from more than 30 countries to share and learn how to promote the use of ICTs in public policies to overcome social exclusion and improve economic performance, employment opportunities, quality of life, social participation and cohesion. The WITSA Global Public Policy Summit 2001 is the right place to understand how ICTs, properly used, can be a valuable tool to extract economic and environmental benefit from the increased demands in the new society.

Juegos Panamericanos 2011

Guadalajara began a far reaching, large scale urban transformation that will result in a great social and economic transformation. Renowned worldwide as the birthplace of the most important Mexican symbols, Guadalajara proudly and enthusiastically welcomes the challenge of organizing the best Pan American Games in history by revitalizing the entire city, primarily its downtown historic center. In Guadalajara, the past and the present co-exist in perfect harmony. Its residents enjoy the icons of Mexican folklore while recognizing their hometown as one of the cities with the most economic, cultural, and educational potential in all of Mexico. In all, the Guadalajara we want is modern and keeps its eyes toward the future. With the celebration of the Pan American Games, we have the opportunity to re-energize the city's transformation to become a place that meets the new needs of its citizens. This way Guadalajara reaffirms its position in the world as a place that sees itself, not only at the core of the Mexican culture but, as a cosmopolitan city offering a higher quality of life to its residents and visitors. The Pan American Games are a great opportunity and an unprecedented challenge that we can take on to go even further. That's why today, we have a new Guadalajara; a city that is transforming itself to give you the warmest welcome. We want to share a city that is not just complete but also, full of life and enthusiasm

Honda accelerates in “El Salto”

Guadalajara, Mexico (February 9, 2011) .- In an environment of economic recovery in Mexico Honda resumed its investment plans for the plant that is in El Salto.

This year, the Japanese owners plan to invest between 20 and 25 million dollars for its automobiles, auto parts divisions, and motorcycles.

Precisely in this last area, the company's goal is to triple the production, said Ruben Resendiz Perez, director of government relations for Honda of Mexico.

Last year produced about 400 thousand motorcycles and for this year they intended to arm 4, 400 , mainly from the of 125 cubic centimeters model.

"The market that is moving is the one of motorcycles of work, and we are looking to reactivate a little production that we had fallen in 2008 and 2009, "he said.

With respect to the model Big Red, a multipurpose vehicle used for both freight and for recreation and is exported to the United States, Honda will also increase production.

"Last year, we nearly manufacture 4 thousand units , what happens is that in 2009 we fell completely, so we stop the manufacture of this model because of the economic crisis that was worldwide but last year we began to revive, " said the manager.

"The U.S. market started to move, which is where it goes, and this year we hope to increase production."

Resendiz Perez added that another objective is build at least 53 000 units of the CR-V SUV.

"We have a plan to build 53 000 units, slightly lower compared with 55 000 units last year, " he said.

Currently, they manufacture around 200 units per day at their plant in El Salto.

Last week some media went beyond that Honda Japan would eliminate the export of its CR-V utility truck to the U.S. market, given the high parity of the yen against the dollar, so because of this the plant in El Salto become an option to supply EU.

However, the manager said that so far nothing is confirmed and that sales will continue to conduct their normal way into the American Union, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay, among others, which sent 80 percent of production.

Jabil opens another plant

Guadalajara, Mexico (February 9 ,2011) With an investment of $ 7 million dollars, the electronics company, Jabil, opened its third plant in Zapopan, where 250 jobs were created directly.

The company's director, Oscar Acosta, said that in this new factory located in the Industrial Park "Technology Park", located on the freeway to Nogales, it will manufactured harnesses and other metal parts for industry.

He said that in this way, in the three plants that Jabil have in Zapopan, are about 11 thousand jobs which were generated directly and 5, 000 more jobs indirectly.

"The corporate trust on one of the most innovative and successful production center to Guadalajara, " Acosta said in his speech.

For his part, Governor of the State, Emilio Gonzalez Marquez, said that the opening of the third factory of the electronics company Jabil affirms confidence in the state, and the model that is being developed here will be replicated in other plants company in the world.

"Jalisco Jaibil is growing not only in facilities, also in the exportation of operational and administrative knowledge", said the Governor.

Pounce will open a new plant They Hope to produce tablets and medical Kiosks.

Guadalajara, Mexico (February 1, 2011) .- In six weeks is planned to open the first floor of fully automated electronic assembly, under the name of Pounce Consulting Technology Center.

The new electronic company has an investment of one million dollars and will generate 80 direct jobs, detailed the company director, Roger Viera.

This electronics assembly plant, he said, will produce specialty low volume prototypes, ie from a thousand to 50 thousand units per year.

"There are going to produce medical kiosks, the tablets, it will be producing products with reference to the technological area of video and music to American customers, " he said.

Unlike other electronic plants, Viera advanced , now jointly design, engineering and production in one place.

"In Mexico there is no single company that has design, engineering, prototyping, certification and production, is the first company committed to this investment, " he said.

Most firms in the electronics industry, designed in one place, but the costs have to send produce to another country, like China.

The great advantage of the plant and the people that we hire, is that we are the only company that can do everything in Guadalajara and Mexico, "he concluded.

In this sense, Mauricio Gomez, director of Pounce Electronics said that this new plant, its customers will save time and money on repairs clarifications and between design and manufacturing.

"This means our products will be more specialized, they have more value added to a product that is massive, " said Gomez.

The medical, industrial and consumer specialty products are best served by this Mexican company.

Intend to beat the exporting record.

Guadalajara, Mexico (January 27, 2011) In 2011, exports of the electronics industry could exceed the record level registered in 2008, when they were 17 thousand 700 million dollars.

According to Octavio Parga, president of the National Chamber of the Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology (Canieti) based West this year, foreign sales exceed 18 billion dollars.

This would by the moment of electronics manufacturing, software and services, and design and animation, in addition, the agency's strategy for 2012 aims at strategic niche positioning.

"The majority of our people work in the five areas that are innovative, but we call them traditional, manufacturing, software, services, design and animation, but we are developing other five as green technologies, Biosalud, aerospace, aviation and creative media ", she said.

Until November 2010, the electronics industry reached a level of 17 thousand 400 million dollars on its exports and currently generates over 80,000 jobs, and this year expects growth of up to 8000 jobs, Parga said.

By 2012, within the above strategy, the goal is to generate a similar increase to reach 100 thousand workers in this sector. This will be achieved by generating human capital through links with academic institutions.

The industry leader hoped that increasing the weight on the U.S. dollar will not be a factor of concern for their sector, and considered that there should be controls on the value of the currency.

"We are Mexicans, and if the weight is in a free market and if it is appreciating, it is good for Mexicans, " he said. About the fourth consultative forum of the Mexican Space Agency (AEXA) conducted in Puerto Vallarta, said that it represents an opportunity to give a position to the State, especially the electronics industry in aerospace.

"We believe that it is a very good complement that the results of the four forums that have been adversely something to Jalisco, we believe that we have the human talent, the industry, experience and everything you need to be a good venue for the Mexican Space Agency "he said.

Jalisco gets second Intel plant; they are now after AEXA.

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.

IBM invested US$20 million in Jalisco

Guadalajara, Mexico,- Jalisco electronics industry attracted an investment from Oracle and is. fighting to bring a second Intel plant to the State, both of them big firms in the sector at a global scale.

The arrival of the new Oracle plant, a software development company, is expected to be announced within three weeks; this will mean an investment of around US$20 million and the generation of 150 to 200 jobs.

Ricardo Gomez, Chairman of the Mexican Chamber of Electronic, Telecommunications and Informatics Industry, Camara Nacional de la Industria de la Electronica, Telecomunicaciones e Informatica (Canieti), pointed out that Oracle's arrival and Intel's expansion are proof of the sector's importance in Jalisco.

Fighting 'tooth and nail' for Intel project

Guadalajara, Mexico,- With incentives that go from fiscal advantages to land donation, Zapopan and Tlajomulco are fighting for what will be Intel's second plant in Jalisco.
Due to the fact that both municipalities and even the State Government entered confidentiality agreements to prevent disclosure of the firm's projects, due to the supports Intel is negotiating with state and federal governments, City Councils have only mentioned the importance of the investment.
"Intel is undoubtedly among the most renowned companies in the world, due to the type of technology they manage, the impact on the type of jobs they will offer is of great significance; it is not blue collar, but medium to high level, engineers and technicians, people with a Ph.D.", said Antonio Salazar Gomez, Head of Tlajomulco Economic Promotion Department.

Oracle Project coming to Jalisco

Guadalajara, Mexico,- Jalisco electronics industry attracted an investment from Oracle and is. fighting to bring a second Intel plant to the State, both of them big firms in the sector at a global scale.

The arrival of the new Oracle plant, a software development company, is expected to be announced within three weeks; this will mean an investment of around US$20 million and the generation of 150 to 200 jobs.

Ricardo Gomez, Chairman of the Mexican Chamber of Electronic, Telecommunications and Informatics Industry, Camara Nacional de la Industria de la Electronica, Telecomunicaciones e Informatica (Canieti), pointed out that Oracle's arrival and Intel's expansion are proof of the sector's importance in Jalisco.

Investment goal raised

Guadalajara, Mexico,- Jalisco Ministry of Economic Promotion raised their expectations for this. year and are planning to attract US$2.318 billion in investment to the State, US$67 million more than in 2009.

"Our goal is definitively exceeding this amount, US$2.3 billion; right now we have projects, more than 140, which are in different stages and which may materialize to reach this goal", said Jacobo Gonzalez, Head of Investment Promotion.

In 2009 the State of Jalisco received investments for US$2.132 billion – the goal was US$2.251 – 41% less than the capital received the previous year, when a record figure of US$3.611 billion was reached.

Only electronics industry is expecting investments for US$300 million this year, above the US$101 million invested by the sector last year.

More companies coming

Jalisco, Mexico,- Jalisco electronics industry is expecting the arrival this year of two of the most important Information Technologies firms in the world: Microsoft and Oracle. Executives from both companies have visited Jalisco to inspect industrial parks and were in touch with officers from the Ministry of Economic Promotion.

This year, Electronics Productive Chain, Cadena Productiva de la Electronica (Cadelec), is expecting investments over US$100 million, while Canieti considers investment could even be over US$300 million, generating more than 3 thousand jobs.

Ricardo Gomez, Chairman, Canieti, pointed-out that this year investment in industry will be higher than that in 2008. In 2009 investments in electronics industry were over US$100 million.

Jalisco fosters aerospace industry

Guadalajara, Mexico,- Even if Jalisco is joining late the race for the development of Mexican aerospace industry, led by Baja California, Sonora, Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Queretaro and Tamaulipas, the State of Jalisco is planning to multiply this year the number of companies that provide solutions for this sector. According to the document "Aerospace Industry in Mexico" published by ProMexico, aerospace sector in Mexico is made up by 187 companies, of which 147 are devoted to manufacturing, 26 provide aircraft maintenance services and 14 create engineering and design solutions.

Eight of these companies are currently established in Jalisco, of which five are manufacturing companies and three provide engineering and design services; even if there is a total of 15 companies in Jalisco linked in some way to aerospace sector.

Ricardo Gomez, Chairman, National Chamber of Electronic, Telecommunications and Information Technologies Industry, (CANIETI), West Region, said in an interview that the purpose this year is to increase by 22 the number of companies in Jalisco as certified for the development and manufacturing of products for aerospace sector. To this purpose, Jalisco will work on bringing more investments in this industry through the business encounter Aerospace Meeting Guadalajara 2010.

Electronics industry announces investment

Guadalajara, Mexico,- Encouraged by international projects recovered, Sanmina SCI and HP, companies in the electronics industry, are individually planning to make investments in Jalisco, which will add to US$15 million and will generate up to 2 thousand 500 jobs.

Marco Gonzalez Hagelsieb, Operations Vice-president for Sanmina SCI in Mexico, said that investment scheduled for this year in Jalisco is US$10 million, which will be channeled to the purchase of machinery and equipment; which will also provide for the generation of one thousand to 2 thousand new jobs.

"In late 2008 we cut down our labor force, but the currency exchange rate and lower costs helped us do well in 2009 and I am forecasting an increase between one thousand and two thousand people in our labor force with coming projects", said Mr. González Hagelsieb.

Jalisco posts positive employment figures

Guadalajara, Mexico,- Even if the economic crisis caused the loss of thousands of jobs in Jalisco, the balance in 2009 in jobs generation is positive, closing the year with one thousand 968 more jobs than in 2008.

According to figures from the Mexican social Security Institute, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), to December 31, 2009 there were one million 196 thousand 219 workers registered in Jalisco, including both permanent and temporary jobs, compared to one million 194 thousand 423 upon closing 2008.

On the other hand, country-wide there was an annual loss of 181 thousand 271 formal jobs, closing 2009 with 13 million 881 thousand 281 jobs, against 14 million 62 thousand 552 jobs in December 2008. According to IMSS figures, permanent employment grew by 28 thousand jobs in communal and social services and 5 thousand 310 jobs in services for companies and individuals.

Perot will augment labor force

Guadalajara, Mexico,- Perot Systems will not change their plans to increase their labor force in Zapopan, Jalisco, form 300 to 500 jobs this year, after Dell announced yesterday the purchase of this IT services firm.

Enrique Cortes-Rello, Perot Latin America Director, affirmed there is no change of plans. "Our customers are the same and what really happens is that in the future we will of course have access to Dell's customers; so it is quite the opposite, markets open for us in IT services", he said in a phone interview.

The Company did not provide invoicing figures or business prospects, they only said that at the beginning of 2009 they had 300 employees and they will close the year with 500.