Parkway Products opens new facility in Mexico

Parkway Products (Florence, Ky.), a molder of high-performance polymers, announced on March 24 the formation of a comprehensive aerospace molding campus in Mexico. The campus will support the growing demand for aerospace composite structures and assemblies, as well as molded aircraft engine components.

Parkway has been active in the aerospace industry since the 1950s, producing various civil and military aircraft components. Parkway expanded its operations internationally by establishing a molding and assembly facility in Saltillo, Mexico, in 2001. This facility will continue in operation, focusing exclusively on the production of aircraft engine components and assemblies. A second facility, located adjacent to Parkway’s existing location, has been acquired for the purpose of molding composite airframe components. Polymer-based composites are expected to capture a major presence in aerostructures, with composites taking the place of traditionally metal based materials.

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Parkway Products, a molder of high-performance polymers used in the aerospace industry, has announced that they will be constructing an aerospace molding campus in Mexico.

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GDP: Panama Best, Mexico Worst

Panama will continue to have Latin America's highest economic growth, while Mexico will have the lowest, according to a Latin Business Chronicle analysis of new data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

All in all, Latin America is expected to increase its GDP this year by 4.4 percent, the fund said in its latest World Economic Outlook released last week. That's a slight revision upwards from the 4.3 percent GDP growth the IMF had forecast earlier. It's also better than the IMF's forecast for global growth (3.7 percent) and economic growth in the United States (0.5 percent), the European Union (1.8 percent) and newly industrialized Asian economies (3.9 percent). However, Latin America will lag areas like developing Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States when it comes to GDP growth this year.

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According to a Latin business chronicle analysis, Panama will continue to have the highest level of economic growth and Mexico will have the least amount out of all the Latin American countries. Overall, Latin America is America is projected to raise its GDP this year by 4.4 percent.

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Mexico Congress oil row deepens

Leftist politicians in Mexico who last week stormed both houses of Congress have vowed to remain in protest at planned reform of the state oil giant.

The government says the Pemex oil company needs outside investment to boost falling production and increase exploration for new reserves.

But the protesting deputies and senators argue that this will lead to a creeping privatisation of Pemex.

The protesters want a broad debate on Pemex, in state hands for 70 years.

Leftist deputies and senators have been camped out on the floors of the upper and lower houses since they took over the Congress building last week.

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A group of politicians in Mexico are standing strong with their protests over the planned reform of an oil giant. The protestors are going on a hunger strike and have been camped out since last week.

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Mexico plans water supply boost

President Felipe Calderon said the government would invest $21bn (£10.6bn) to expand supply networks and to improve drainage and water treatment.

The aim was to work for the sustainable development of Mexico, he said.

A key challenge is Mexico City, home to 20 million people, which suffers both water shortages and flash floods.

"There is an imbalance between the availability of water, population growth and economic development," said President Calderon as he unveiled the investment programme during a visit to the state of Hidalgo.

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President Calderon wants to invest 21 billion dollars to improve drainage and water treatment throughout Mexico. Water drainage and water treatment are two of the bigget problems facing Mexico at this time due to poor water availability and flooding.

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Mexico's Ruling Party Delays Proposal for Energy Bill

March 24 (Bloomberg) -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon's National Action Party delayed plans to unveil a bill that would open up the state oil industry to private or foreign investment.

Calderon's government or allied lawmakers will present an energy bill in 10 to 15 days, said Hector Larios, leader of the party in the lower house of Congress. The reform proposal had been planned for release by the end of March.

The delay has allowed opposition politicians, led by former presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, more time to criticize the government's plan by calling it a sale of the nation's oil riches. That resistance, as well as objections by some members of the Institutional Revolution Party, or PRI, may be pushing Calderon's party to soften its proposal.

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President Calderon delayed plans for a bill that would open the Mexican oil industry to private or foreign investment. Calderon and his lawmakers will present a new energy plan in the next ten to fifteen days.

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Mexico, China May Extend Tariffs on Chinese Textiles

March 10 (Bloomberg) -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon said his government is in talks with China to reach a settlement over tariffs on Chinese textiles and other products currently as high as 1,000 percent.

The negotiations were disclosed by Calderon today at a gathering of textile industry executives in Mexico City.

In December, Mexico announced a plan to keep duties on Chinese textiles, toys and shoes while it reviews the imports for possible unfair trade practices. The tariffs, in place since 1993, don't meet World Trade Organization rules. Mexico said last year that it is allowed to keep the import duties while it completes the review.

``We have a very positive expectations that we will reach a satisfactory agreement with China,'' Calderon said.

An agreement that keeps some duties on Chinese imports would boost the industry and save jobs, said Rafael Zaga, former president of the National Chamber of the Textile Industry, at the same event.

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Mexico is currently trying to negotiate tariff agreements with China over textile imports. This would boost the Mexican job industry and save jobs.

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Mexico's new justice

The Mexican Congress has approved an overhaul of the country's judicial system, which is so rife with corruption, caprice and ineptitude that many doubted such a day would ever come. The reforms require a constitutional amendment to take effect, meaning they must be ratified by 17 of Mexico's 31 states. If the overwhelming support of legislators is an indicator, they should pass with ease.

Under the current system, based on Roman and Napoleonic codes, lawyers submit their cases in writing, and judges come to their decisions in secret. Under the new system, defendants would be granted the presumption of innocence, trials would be open to the public and lawyers would present oral arguments, among other welcome changes. Another provision, however, would permit organized crime suspects to be held for up to 80 days without being charged. This is particularly worrisome because Mexico's definition of organized crime is an illegal undertaking by three or more people. And trials for such suspects would still be conducted in secret. The potential for abuses and for a two-tiered justice system to emerge is enormous.

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An overhaul of the corrupted Mexican judcial system has recently been approved. This new change states that in order to make a constitutional ammendment, 17 of the 31 Mexican states must approve.

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Mexican Worker Money Transfers Drop at a Record Pace

March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Mexicans working abroad, mostly in the U.S., reduced money transfers to their families at home at a record pace in January as a U.S. housing slump squeezed construction employment.

Remittances, the second-biggest source of dollar flows into Mexico after oil exports, fell 5.9 percent in January to $1.65 billion from a year earlier, the central bank said today. It was the biggest decline since Banco de Mexico began records in 1995.

The drop may crimp spending by Mexican families and reflects weakness in U.S. construction, the biggest employer of Mexico's migrants. Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB, the nation's largest retailer, fell for the first time in three days in Mexico City trading.

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The amount of money transfers from the United States to Mexico is in its biggest decline since 1995. Many Mexican families with members working in America will be hurt by this decline in money transfers.

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Mexico peso soars as investors eye Fed; stocks fall

MEXICO CITY, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Mexico's peso surged to a 23-month high on Thursday and bonds jumped as signs the U.S. economy may be slipping into a recession led investors to bet the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates.

The peso MEX01 gained 0.67 percent to 10.668 per dollar at the official central bank close.

In equities trading, weak U.S. data helped push the benchmark stock IPC stock index .MXX down 0.97 percent to 30,130.47 points, snapping a six-session rally.

"It's all about expectations of a rate cut," said Vicente Gonzalez, who heads currency trading at ABN AMRO in Mexico City.

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Mexico's peso reached its highest value in 23 months while the U.S. economy is in a decline. The peso went up 0.67 percent to 10.668 per dollar.

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Two laws target smokers in Mexico City

MEXICO CITY -- The news for smokers was bad. The question was how bad.

Smokers and restaurateurs and other business owners in Mexico City on Wednesday were debating the ramifications of not one but two groundbreaking laws seeking to curb smoking. Some were scratching their heads over which they would have to obey, and many others expressed skepticism that either would be effectively enforced.

"I'm sure that neither . . . is going to succeed," said Andres Romero Olivares, a 47-year-old accountant, who saw the restrictions as the wrong solution to the nation's health woes.

On Tuesday, the Mexican Senate passed nationwide restrictions on smoking in workplaces, restaurants, bars and other public enclosures, requiring stiff fines for violations and possible 36-hour jail stints for smokers who refuse to comply. That measure, already passed by Congress' lower house, is expected to be signed into law by President Felipe Calderon.

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Two new laws were passed in Mexico nation-wide banning smoking in public enclosures. Violations of this law coould require large fines or possible jail time and many citizens don't agree with it.

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Two laws target smokers in Mexico City

MEXICO CITY -- The news for smokers was bad.

The question was how bad.Smokers and restaurateurs and other business owners in Mexico City on Wednesday were debating the ramifications of not one but two groundbreaking laws seeking to curb smoking. Some were scratching their heads over which they would have to obey, and many others expressed skepticism that either would be effectively enforced.

"I'm sure that neither . . . is going to succeed," said Andres Romero Olivares, a 47-year-old accountant, who saw the restrictions as the wrong solution to the nation's health woes.

On Tuesday, the Mexican Senate passed nationwide restrictions on smoking in workplaces, restaurants, bars and other public enclosures, requiring stiff fines for violations and possible 36-hour jail stints for smokers who refuse to comply. That measure, already passed by Congress' lower house, is expected to be signed into law by President Felipe Calderon.

NCR inks deal for kiosks in Mexico International Airport

NCR Corp. is expanding its presence at Mexico International Airport, the company announced Tuesday.

AeroMexico purchased 32 self-check-in kiosks in its new terminal at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City. The Mexican airline currently uses NCR self-check kiosks at seven additional locations throughout Mexico which include Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"As Mexico continues to grow into one of the world's top destinations for travel and tourism, airlines in the region must increasingly differentiate themselves by offering time savings and convenience to their customers," said Michael O'Laughlin, vice president for the Caribbean and Latin America for NCR.

The kiosks feature an integrated bar code imager to help enable easy customer identification as well as an integrated passport reader to cater to international travelers.

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Mexico is growing as one of the most popular destinations in the world, so they have decided to make it easier for their customers in some of their most popular airports.

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Mexico's human rights commission investigates border shooting

MEXICO CITY — Mexico's human rights commission on Wednesday said it was investigating allegations that soldiers opened fire on a car at a checkpoint south of the Texas border, killing a man and wounding a U.S. citizen.

Jose Antonio Barbosa Ramirez solicited the National Human Rights Commission's help after the Mexican army opened fire on a car he was traveling in with his brother-in-law, Sergio Meza Varela, early Saturday morning in the border city of Reynosa in Tamaulipas state, the commission said in a statement.

The statement said the men had been drinking and doing drugs and decided to drive around the city. At about 4 a.m. Saturday, they were chased by a military-style Jeep and ended up at an army checkpoint where they attempted to flee by putting the car in reverse.

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There is an ongoing investigation involving allegations that soldiers opened fire on a car on the Texas-Mexico border, killing a man and injuring another. The men driving the car had supposedly been drinking and doing drugs.

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AOL Launches Mexico Site

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Time Warner Inc.'s AOL said Thursday that it launched a Web site for users in Mexico that combines its free e-mail and instant messaging features with local content in Spanish.

AOL partnered with fixed-line company Alestra for distribution and Mexican magazine company Grupo Editorial Expansion for content. Grupo Editorial Expansion is owned by Time Warner's magazine publishing unit, Time Inc.

AOL said it will also use its global distribution partnership with Hewlett-Packard Co. to offer a cobranded local language portal and search functions to the Mexican market.

The site is located at AOL.com.mx.

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America Online opened a new site in spanish that includes free e-mail, instant messaging, and local content updates. AOL has partnered with a Mexican magazine company for the content updates.

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Deadly Bomb in Mexico Was Meant for the Police

MEXICO CITY — Investigators have determined that a man linked to drug traffickers was trying to plant a bomb in a police official’s car when it blew up and killed him on a busy avenue here last week, the city’s attorney general said.

The attorney general, Rodolfo Félix Cárdenas, said Wednesday that six more people were being sought in connection with the explosion on Friday.

The blast unsettled the residents of the capital, which had so far escaped much of the drug violence that has racked other parts of the country.

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A man supposedly linked with drug trafficking in Mexico tried to plant a bomb in a police car when it exploded and killed him. Six other people are being linked with this attack.

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