VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHME #0308/01 0292057
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 292056Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0255
INFO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO

UNCLAS MEXICO 000308 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/EPSC 
STATE FOR EEB 
USDOC FOR 4320/ITA/MAC/WH/ONAFTA/GWORD 
TREASURY FOR IA 
ENERGY FOR WARD, LOCKWOOD AND DAVIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD ENRG ELTN EAIR PGOV SENV MX
SUBJECT: Mexico Economic Weekly - Jan 29, 2010 
 
¶1.  (U) The Mexico Economic Weekly supplements reporting from 
Mission Mexico Consulates and the Embassy Mexico Economic Section 
to provide a sense of ongoing trends.  Please contact Adam Shub 
(shubam@state.gov) or Sigrid Emrich (emrichs@state.gov) for 
questions or comments about this report. 
 
 
 
¶2.  (U) Table of Contents: 
 
 
 
 
 
ECONOMY AND FINANCE: 
 
-------------------- 
 
 
 
REMITTANCES TO MEXICO DOWN 15.7 PERCENT IN 2009 - Mexico City 
 
 
 
LOSS OF 50,000 JOBS IN NUEVO LEON PREDICTED FOR 2010- Monterrey 
 
 
 
WAGES FALL IN NUEVO LEON - Monterrey 
 
 
 
 
 
TRADE AND INVESTMENT: 
 
--------------------- 
 
 
 
EXPERTS EXPECT CEMEX TO REPORT LOSSES - Monterrey 
 
 
 
MEXICANS DOWNLOAD 50% OF ILLEGAL MUSIC IN LATIN AMERICA - Mexico 
City 
 
 
 
MAQUILA ORGANIZATION NAMES BAJA CALIFORNIA THIRD MOST COMPETITIVE 
STATE IN MEXICO - Tijuana 
 
 
 
XIGNUX INVESTS US$23 MILLION IN PIIT - Monterrey 
 
 
 
TEXAS BORDER UNIVERSITY HOLDS BUSINESS FACILITATION SEMINAR IN 
JANUARY, ANOTHER TO BE HELD IN MARCH NEAR MATAMOROS - Matamoros 
 
 
 
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE MAQUILA INDUSTRY AND EXPORT MANUFACTURERS 
(CNIMME) SWEARS IN FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT - Matamoros 
 
 
 
MATAMOROS EXPO 2010 TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 24-25 - Matamoros 
 
 
 
FONAES OFFERING FUNDS TO SMALL BUSINESSES - Monterrey 
 
 
 
 
 
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
 
MEXICO REJECTS OPEN SKIES - Mexico City 
 
 
 
RAILROAD COMPANIES INVEST US$895 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE - 
Monterrey 
 
 
 
 
 
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT: 
 
----------------------- 
 
 
 
BP SOLAR REACHES AGREEMENT TO ASSEMBLE SOLAR PANEL IN CHIHUAHUA - 
 
Ciudad Juarez 
 
 
 
WATER SHORTAGE WOES IN HERMOSILLO - Hermosillo 
 
 
 
CONAGUA AND 80 COMPANIES INVEST IN SAVING WATER -Monterrey 
 
 
 
CANADIAN POTASH CORP ANALYZE ZACATECAS RESERVOIR - Monterrey 
 
 
 
 
 
------------------- 
 
ECONOMY AND FINANCE 
 
------------------- 
 
 
 
¶3.  (U) REMITTANCES TO MEXICO DOWN 15.7 PERCENT IN 2009: 
Remittances from Mexicans living overseas totalled 21.28 billion 
dollars last year, a 15.7% decline from the previous year, the Bank 
of Mexico (BOM) reported yesterday.  These are the country's 
second-largest source of foreign exchange, after oil exports, and 
represent nearly 27% of income for rural - and 19% for urban - 
households.  The recession in the U.S. has hit hard many Mexican 
migrants working in volatile sectors such as construction and 
manufacturing.  Nonetheless, BOM Governor Agustin Carstens has 
stated that remittances increased 1.3% month-on-month in December, 
which may be an incipient sign of recovery.  Remittances will 
recover further, particularly towards the end of this year, though 
volatility in sectors in which Mexicans are employed in the United 
States, combined with a tougher approach to illegal migration, mean 
this will be a slow and halting process.  Lacklustre remittances 
will contribute to continuing sluggish domestic demand, which will 
act as a brake on Mexican economic recovery.  (Mexico City) 
 
 
 
¶4.  (U) LOSS OF 50,000 JOBS IN NUEVO LEON PREDICTED FOR 2010: 
Coparmex, the Mexican Employers' Association, estimates that Nuevo 
Leon's private sector will lose 50,000 jobs in 2010 due to the lack 
of public security.  On January 21, the president of Coparmex, 
Marcelo Canales Clariond, warned that unless measures are taken to 
decrease the incidence of crime, industry will refrain from 
investing in Nuevo Leon.  (any sign of this happening yet?  Have 
firms failed to invest strictly on security grounds?) (Monterrey) 
 
¶5.  (U) WAGES FALL IN NUEVO LEON:  Total income for workers of all 
pay scales in Nuevo Leon fell 8.57 percent in real terms in 2009 as 
a result of fewer jobs and lower wages.  Salaries for low-income 
workers increased 4.95 percent, while salaries for high-income 
workers dropped 17.75 percent.  Sergio Tapia, a private-industry 
labor specialist noted that when companies restructure, higher paid 
workers are often terminated to reduce personnel expenses. 
(Monterrey) 
 
 
 
--------------------- 
 
TRADE AND INVESTMENT 
 
--------------------- 
 
 
 
¶6.  (U) EXPERTS EXPECT CEMEX TO REPORT LOSSES:  During the fourth 
quarter of 2009, analysts predict Monterrey-based Cemex, the 
world's third largest cement maker, will report a loss of USD 519 
million for the October-to-December 2009 period, only its second 
net loss in more than a decade.  Analysts polled expect Cemex to 
show a 21 percent fall in its total sales and 34 percent slide in 
its earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization 
(EBITDA).  Cemex is struggling with slumping cement sales in its 
key Mexican, U.S., and European markets as the global economic 
downturn has stemmed construction activity.  Included in the fourth 
quarter 2009 figures will be a loss of USD 446 million resulting 
from the sale of Cemex's Australian assets for less than their book 
value.  The loss is likely to be less than in the fourth quarter of 
2008, when Cemex reported a USD 707 million loss, its first in at 
least a decade.  (Monterrey) 
 
 
 
¶7.  (U) MEXICANS DOWNLOAD 50% OF ILLEGAL MUSIC IN LATIN AMERICA: 
IFPI reported that every year, Mexicans download approximately 4 
billion illegal songs of the 7 billion songs downloaded illegally 
in Latin America.  Mexico leads the list because of internet 
service providers' unwillingness to take responsibility for their 
clients' violations.  The music and entertainment industry has been 
unable to convince the ISPs and the government to take similar 
measures to those implemented in Europe.  In France, for example, 
internet services are suspended to clients that are found to have 
illegally downloaded music.  The Communications and Transportation 
Secretariat has implemented a working group with the music industry 
and ISPs to address this problem, but has made little progress 
after more than a year.  (Mexico City) 
 
 
 
¶8.  (U) MAQUILA ORGANIZATION NAMES BAJA CALIFORNIA THIRD MOST 
COMPETITIVE STATE IN MEXICO:  Monica Gonzalez Garcia, president of 
the Consejo Nacional de la Industria Maquiladora de Exportacion, 
cited Baja Govenor Osuna Millan as a positive factor in maintaining 
the state's competitiveness in the eyes of foreign investors.  In 
the state's largest city, Tijuana, the net balance of industrial 
space being used was negative in the last two quarters of 2008 and 
the first two quarters of 2009, but began a positive trend in the 
third quarter of last year.  Post's business sector contacts 
indicate they believe foreign investment is on the increase so far 
in 2010.  While Asian investment is taking a larger role, U.S. and 
Mexican investors still dominate.  (Tijuana) 
 
 
 
¶9.  (U) XIGNUX INVESTS US$23 MILLION IN PIIT:  On January 21, 
Xignux, a Monterrey-based industrial conglomerate, announced plans 
to invest USD 23 million in the next two years in the Technological 
Investigation and Innovation Park (PIIT) at Monterrey Tec.  The 
conglomerate will open three development centers - one each for 
cables, transformers, and food.  The centers will employ 180 people 
and construction should begin in late-February.  (Monterrey) 
 
 
¶10.  (U) TEXAS BORDER UNIVERSITY HOLDS BUSINESS FACILITATION 
SEMINARS:  The International Trade Center of the University of 
Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College (UTB/TSC) held a 
business facilitation seminar:  "How to do Business in the U.S. and 
Mexico" on January 21st.  More than 100 people and 60 companies 
attended the event.  The Consul General opened the conference along 
with the Mexican Consul of Brownsville, Texas, and Dr. Abraham 
Greenspan, Program Director of the International Trade Center. 
Seminar topics included how to establish a business in the U.S. or 
Mexico, legal issues in both countries, and business opportunities 
in the region.  The Matamoros Consulate General also offered 
presentations on business visas and commercial services on behalf 
of the U.S. Commercial Service.  The Small Business Development 
Center at the University of Texas, Pan American plans to have a 
similar event at their facilities in Edinburg, Texas on March 
11-12, 2010.  (Matamoros) 
 
 
 
¶11.  (U) NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE MAQUILA INDUSTRY AND EXPORT 
MANUFACTURERS (CNIMME) SWEARS IN FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT:  This 
month, Monica Gonzalez Greer became the first female president of 
the National Council of the Maquila Industry and Export 
Manufacturers in Mexico (CNIMME).  Gonzales is the operations 
director of Porta-Systems, a telecommunications firm located in 
Matamoros.  She is also a past president of the Matamoros 
Maquiladora Association.  In local news reports, Gonzales stressed 
increasing the competitiveness of Mexican maquilas as her goal. 
CNIMME represents 1,200 member corporations and about 1.3 million 
employees throughout Mexico.  (Matamoros) 
 
 
 
¶12.  (U) MATAMOROS EXPO 2010 TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 24-25:  The 
Matamoros Maquila Association will hold their annual suppliers expo 
February 24-25, 2010, in Matamoros, Mexico.  Anticipated attendees 
include purchasing representatives, engineers, plant managers and 
key decision makers from more than 100 plants located in Matamoros 
and the state of Tamaulipas.  Some of the companies seeking 
suppliers and schedule to attend include:  Delphi, HIlti, Tyco 
Electronics, TRW automotive, Kidde, PEMEX, and Black & Decker. 
More information can be found at:  http://expoproveedores2010.com/, 
or contact Matamoros EconOff (palazzoloaj@state.gov).  (Matamoros) 
 
 
 
¶13.  (U) FONAES OFFERING FUNDS TO SMALL BUSINESSES:  On January 19, 
the National Support Fund for Social Enterprises (Fonaes), 
announced plans to offer financing up to USD 77,000 to 
entrepreneurs with limited resources.  Fonaes signed an agreement 
with the Monterrey city government to help channel support for 
business incubator programs to encourage job and new business 
creation as a means to improve economic conditions.  The smallest 
grants are for individuals in the amount of USD 3,860 while the 
largest grants are for social enterprises or cooperatives up to USD 
77,000.  Fonaes will also provide business training to grant 
recipients.  (Monterrey) 
 
 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶14.  (U) MEXICO REJECTS OPEN SKIES:  The Communications and 
Transportation Secretariat (SCT) maintains its position of 
rejecting open skies, despite the fact that the governors of 
Nayarit, Quintana Roo and Guanajuato believe it would greatly 
benefit tourism.  Gilberto Lopez Meyer, Director of Airports and 
Auxiliary Services (ASA), said that an open skies policy would hurt 
national airlines.  Currently, only three U.S. airlines are allowed 
to operate in Mexico and vice-versa.  Labor Secretary Javier Lozano 
defended SCT's position by saying that Mexico should first 
strengthen competition domestically.  He emphasized that Mexico 
should continue to sign bilateral agreements with other countries 
 
based on reciprocity.  (Mexico City) 
 
 
 
¶15.  (U) RAILROAD COMPANIES INVEST US$895 MILLION IN 
INFRASTRUCTURE:  At the 2010 Expo-Rail conference, held in 
Monterrey on January 25, railroad industry representatives 
discussed strategies for increasing shipment volumes by 10 percent 
in 2010, methods for protecting shipments, and ways to invigorate 
stalled suburban train projects that were suspended in 2007 due to 
lack of government funding.  The federal government will invest USD 
466 million in infrastructure projects while the railroad 
companies, including Ferromex, Ferrosur, Kansas City Southern 
Mexico, Ferrovalle, Ferroistmo, and Metrorrey, agreed to invest USD 
429 million.  Monterrey-based Metrorrey will invest USD 116.6 
million.  (Monterrey) 
 
 
 
---------------------- 
 
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT 
 
---------------------- 
 
 
 
¶16.  (U) BP SOLAR REACHES AGREEMENT TO ASSEMBLE SOLAR PANEL IN 
CHIHUAHUA:  BP Solar, a unit of oil company British Petroleum, 
announced an agreement with Jabil Circuit, Inc. on January 26 to 
assemble solar panels for its North American market in Jabil's 
Chihuahua City plant.  The agreement calls for Jabil to produce 45 
megawatt (MW) panels.  "Mexico is strategic in improving module 
time-to-market for our North American customers, and we expect 
Jabil will become a cornerstone of our fulfillment strategy," said 
CEO of BP Solar, Reyad Fezzani.  Production will begin in the 
second quarter of this year.  Jabil's partnership with BP Solar 
follows its June 2009 agreement with SunPower, a solar panel 
manufacturer, to assemble solar modules in Chihuahua City. 
Combined, these investments are expected to create more than 1,000 
jobs, according to Jabil's vice president of strategic development. 
(Ciudad Juarez) 
 
 
 
¶17.  (U) WATER SHORTAGE WOES IN HERMOSILLO:  Due to an extended 
period of lower-than-average rainfall in Hermosillo, the local 
reservoir responsible for one-quarter of the municipality's water 
is closed and underground aquifers providing the other 
three-quarters are being rapidly depleted.  To prevent a more 
serious crisis during the dry spring and early summer months, the 
PAN municipal government has implemented water rationing, with only 
8 hours of public access to water each day.  While local residents 
complain of low water pressure, poor water quality and far less 
than 8 hours of service, manufacturers report a cut back in 
production due to short water supplies.  Governor Guillermo Padres 
(PAN) is expected to present a long term water resources plan by no 
later than March.  Two rumored solutions are the construction of an 
aqueduct from eastern Sonora's El Novillo reservoir and/or a 
desalination plant on the coast of the Sea of Cortez.  While 
financially more feasible, the El Novillo project faces strong 
opposition from agricultural and tribal interests that control 
water rights in that area.  Until local governments come up with a 
comprehensive solution and secure financing, water rationing, 
conservation measures, government subsidies for water tanks and 
repair of existing infrastructure will likely continue. 
(Hermosillo) 
 
 
 
¶18.  (U) CONAGUA AND 80 COMPANIES INVEST IN SAVING WATER:  On 
January 21, the National Commission of Water (Conagua) and 80 
companies, including Monterrey-based firms such as Cemex, Femsa, 
and Lamosa, signed on to a USD 78 million initiative aimed at 
saving and efficiently using water.  The companies plan to 
implement a program that will conserve water in their facilities 
and in the homes of 600,000 of their direct employees (which will 
indirectly impact an estimated 2.4 million people).  The companies 
will replace bathroom fixtures, showers, and high water consumption 
 
valves for water-saving accessories and mechanisms available on the 
market.  (Monterrey) 
 
 
 
¶19.  (U) CANADIAN POTASH CORP ANALYZE ZACATECAS RESERVOIR:  On 
January 20, the world's largest potassium company, Potash Corp, a 
Canadian potash, nitrogen, and phosphate producer, visited the a 
large lithium and potassium reservoir in Zacatecas to analyze the 
potential for investment in the newly discovered reservoir.  If the 
company decides to proceed, initial investments to jump-start the 
project would be around USD 500 million.  A production plant for 
the project envisioned for San Luis Potosi would generate between 
2,000-3,000 jobs.  Industry watchers expect demand for lithium, a 
key battery component, to increase as automobile companies gear up 
to produce more electric "green" automobiles worldwide. (Monterrey) 
FEELEY