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Energy
Pemex Loses Multimillion Dollar Lawsuit
January 12, 2010
U.S. engineering and construction firm KBR Inc. won a USD 350 million award in its dispute with Mexico's Pemex oil
company, dating back to 1997, for payment of platforms off the coast of Campeche. This is the third arbitration
recently won by the Mexican subsidiaries of KBR against Pemex Exploration and Production (PEP), all related to
work performed off the coast of Campeche.
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Mining
Grupo Mexico Said To Be Hiring Workers At Cananea
January 14, 2010
Mexico's national mining union has received information that Grupo México has been hiring workers in Sonora to
send to its Cananea copper mine, which has been halted for about 2.5 years due to a strike. If the company is indeed
hiring workers with the aim of replacing ones on strike, it would be a violation of a legally approved work stoppage,
according to the report.
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Banking, Insurance & Finance
18.6% Increase In Afores Resources
January 16, 2010
At the end of 2009, the portfolio managed by pension fund administrators (Afores) recorded an increase of 18.6% in
real terms year on year, according to the industry's regulator (Consar). In December 2008, the amount of resources,
including Pensionissste, amounted to MXN 937.442 billion, while in December 2009, totaled MXN 115.1185 trillion.
Citi Names Latin America CEO To Head Americas Consumer Banking
January 11, 2010
Citigroup has appointed Manuel Medina-Mora as CEO of Citi consumer banking for the Americas and chairman of
Citi's global consumer council. In his new role, he will oversee Citi's retail branch network, branded cards business
and local commercial banking in the Americas. Medina-Mora will also maintain his role as chairman and CEO of Citi
Latin America and Mexico.
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Automotive
Automobile Production Drops 28.3% During 2009, Strong Upswing Begins
January 12, 2010
The Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA) announced that vehicle production during 2009 fell 28.3% for a
total of 1,507,527 units assembled. Exports also sank 26.4% for a total of 1,223,333 units exported. Nevertheless,
production of vehicles rose 25.4% and exports grew 26.8% in December.
Nissan Snatches GM's Throne In Mexico
January 13, 2010
Nissan Mexicana ended 2009 as a leader in sales in the automotive industry, displacing General Motors to second place. During the year, Nissan sold 156,186 units, allotting them a 20.7% share of the market, with a 17,000-unit gap
from its nearest competitor (GM).
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Housing, Real Estate & Mortgaging
Infonavit Issues Nearly 450,000 Loans Worth Over USD 11 Billion In 2009
January 14, 2010
Mexico's largest mortgage lender Infonavit issued 447,481 loans worth MXN 144 billion (USD 11.3 billion) in 2009,
the state-run institution said in a statement. In 2008, Infonavit issued a record 494,073 loans worth MXN 152 billion. In
December 2009 alone, Infonavit issued 61,893 loans, its highest ever in a month, signaling a reactivation of the
market, the statement said.
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Retail
ANTAD Says Sales Grow 0.8 % In 2009
January 14th, 2010
Same-store retail sales affiliated with the ANTAD grew 6% in December 2009 and 11.5% for total store sales, thus
accumulating year-end figures of 0.8% and 7.4%, respectively. These latest figures represent the worst performance
in sales for a year since at least 2006, due mostly to the economic recession and job losses.
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Transportation
Aeromexico—Mexicana Merger Will Happen Only If Certain Conditions Are Met
January 14, 2010
A possible merger of Aeromexico and Mexicana airlines, seen by some as desirable in order to strengthen the
industry, would require that their respective unions abide by competitiveness laws in order to avoid monopolistic
practices, according to airline executives and specialists. The new airline would be created in order to compete in
international routes.
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Telecommunications & Technology
América Móvil Seeks To Take Control Of Sister Companies
January 14, 2010
Mexican mobile phone giant América Móvil launched a USD 21 billion offer to take control of its sister companies
Telmex and Telmex Internacional (Telint), both controlled by billionaire Carlos Slim. The move is designed to allow
América Móvil to offer converged telecom services of voice data and video across the 18 markets in which it
operates.
US Standard Chosen For Digital Radio
January 13, 2010
Mexico will be transitioning to digital radio using the in-band on-channel (IBOC) system, which will allow AM and FM
stations to substantially improve their sound quality while keeping their same frequencies, and in the case of FM,
freeing up space for additional new signals.
Internet Privacy At Risk, According To Senate
January 13, 2010
Senators warn that the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which they might soon be asked to ratify in
order to combat piracy, and which Mexico's government is negotiating with other countries, might severely restrict the
freedom to send information over the Internet and upset the use of this technological tool. The Senate's Science and
Technology Committee will request the Minister of Economy and the head of the Mexican Institute of Industrial
Property (IMPI) to appear before the Committee to provide a report of the contents of the draft of the agreement.
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Media & Entertainment
Vivendi-Televisa To Make Joint Bid For Spectrum
January 12, 2010
French telecommunications and entertainment group Vivendi and Mexican media group Televisa are in negotiations
in order to launch a joint bid for a mobile license in Mexico. Mexico's telecom regulator Cofetel said that 93
companies acquired bidding rules for an auction for spectrum in the 1.7GHz-1.9GHz bands that went on sale from
January 6-8. Winners are expected to be announced by midyear.
Betting On More Gambling Sites
January 16, 2010
The formal games and raffles industry in Mexico will invest this year nearly USD 200 million in the opening of 20
betting centers in the country, during a year of economic recovery, according to the President of the Association of
Gambling and Raffles Permit Holders (APJSAC).
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Hospitality & Tourism
Lower Income From Tourism In Mexico
January 15, 2010
The Central Bank (Banxico) reported that revenue from tourism in Mexico decreased 7.9% in November when
compared to last year's same month, and was below analyst projections.
States Call For Greater Airline Competition
January 16, 2010
State Tourism Ministers requested an open skies policy in order to promote competition in air transport and lower
fees, by allowing the entry of international companies to service the Mexican market. The Communications and
Transport Ministry has ruled out an open skies policy, but claims it is promoting greater competition among operators
in Mexico.
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Economy
Calderón's Economic Prospects Are Risky: CEESP
January 11, 2010
The Center for Private Sector Economic Studies (CEESP) considered it "risky" to claim that this year will see an
economic recovery, as President Felipe Calderón said in his address to the nation last week. In that message,
President Calderón claimed that 2010 will be the year of economic recovery, "because this was a crisis that came
from abroad and around the world today there are signs of improvement." CEESP's weekly economic analysis notes
that the production system was "significantly" beaten, and estimates that it will take until 2012 before reaching 2008
growth levels.
Coparmex Foresees Economic Growth Of 3.3% In 2010
January 12, 2010
The Mexican Employers' Confederation (Coparmex) indicated that the national economy will reactivate during the
current year, pointing however to the highest growth expectation levels of 3.3% as insufficient, given Mexico's current
needs. It also blamed cost increases in January errors of the past, such as lack of changes in the tax system and the
energy sector, among others.
Mexico Holds Third Place In Terms Of Inflation
January 12, 2010
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report on food price index
compiled by the agency among members and nonmembers, Mexico (5.6%) in food prices, surpassed only by Iceland
(9.3%) and Turkey (7.4%).
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Border & Migration
Calderón Opens Anzaldúas International Bridge - Mexico
January 13, 2010
Mexican President Felipe Calderón has officially opened the 5km Anzaldúas international bridge, which links the city
of Reynosa in the state of Tamaulipas to Mission County in Texas. The bridge's Mexican side was built by local firm
Marhnos, which was awarded a 30-year concession to build and operate the structure by Mexico's Transport and
Communications Ministry (SCT) in 2007. Construction cost MXN 846million (USD 66.3 million), of which MXN 388
million was provided by the company.
Mexico And U.S. Discuss Border Security Strategy
January 15, 2010
U.S. and Mexican authorities held a two-day meeting in the city of El Paso focusing on border security and analyzing
a joint strategy to combat organized crime. It is the first meeting of this kind conducted since 2008 and takes place
amid a sharp escalation of killings, kidnappings and extortion in Ciudad Juarez, which borders El Paso. Juarez is
Mexico's most violent city, with about 2,600 deaths last year, despite the massive deployment of army and federal
police.
15 Mexican Shipwreck Survivors Rescued Off California Coast
January 17, 2010
The U.S. Coast Guard and the San Diego fire brigade rescued 15 undocumented Mexicans and recovered one body
in the wake of a Pacific Ocean shipwreck close to the Mexican border. The shipwreck of a 35-foot boat occurred near
the coast of La Jolla, when the El Nino weather system produced 6-foot waves.
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Politics
IFE Decides To Deny Support For New Identity Card
January 13th, 2010
The Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) decided not to support the issuance of the new identity cards and maintain the
voting registration cards as the only citizenship identity document. The Ministry of Interior indicated that the
government will issue identity cards for minors and citizens residing abroad. The electoral database will be
maintained by the IFE only.
PAN And PRD Considering Electoral Alliances In Three States
January 16, 2010
Opposing political parties PAN and PRD have decided to consider coalitions in order to jointly contend in upcoming
elections for governorship in the states of Sinaloa, Oaxaca and Puebla, in order to compete against the Institutional
Revolutionary Party (PRI). Possible additional alliances, considering alternate coalitions, are possible in 4 other states
for a total of 7 of the 12 states where elections for governor will take place in July.
Mass At Metropolitan Cathedral Joins Churches Against Gay Marriage
January 11, 2010
The Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday joined representatives of the Orthodox, Evangelical and Catholic churches in
order to present their united stance to oppose reforms that allow same-sex unions and their possibility of adopting. A
recent poll in Mexico City favors approval of gay marriages by 49.9%, but opposes adoption for the said couples by
73.5%.
Supreme Court Validates Electoral Changes In Guerrero
January 12, 2010
The Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) validated an electoral reform that had been challenged by the National Action
Party (PAN), by which the Governor's election in Guerrero will take place in January 2011 instead of July 2010 as
originally scheduled. The reform took effect on September 15 of last year, in order to standardize the local elections
calendar with federal midterm elections in 2015. With the change, the next governor's term will last four and a half
years instead of six. The Supreme Court also invalidated an electoral constraint in the State of Quintana Roo that
established different residence requirements for individuals born out of the State.
Calderón Will Visit Japan At The End Of January
January 12, 2010
President Calderón will travel to Tokyo on January 31 for a three-day official visit, during which he will meet with
Emperor Akihito and his wife and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. During 2009 and 2010 Mexico and Japan
celebrate the 400th anniversary of bilateral relations.
SFP Promises To Eliminate 15,000 Rules By Midyear
January 13, 2010
In order to avoid corruption, opacity, "paralysis," inefficiencies and waste in the federal civil service, 15,000
government regulations will be eliminated by the end of next June and replaced by a "Single Operation Manual,"
which is being prepared by the Ministry of Public Function.
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Justice, Safety & Crime
Mexican Drug Lord Arrested In Baja California
January 13, 2010
Federal troops stormed a seaside vacation home and captured one of the country's most brutal drug lords, the
second time in less than a month that Mexico has taken down one of its most powerful traffickers. The arrest was
considered another victory for enhanced electronic surveillance techniques that are being cultivated with the assistance of the United States. U.S. antidrug officials had been helping Mexican authorities track Teodoro Garcia
Simental ("El Teo"), who is said to be responsible for over 300 deaths, for more than five months.
860 Mexican Soldiers Deployed To Tijuana, 2,000 To Juarez
January 16, 2010
The Mexican government is stepping up its fight against drug cartels in Tijuana, sending 860 more soldiers to the
border city, where violence has been rising in recent months. The deployment follows an announcement on Friday
that 2,000 federal police are being sent to Ciudad Juarez to lead the fight against drug traffickers there. Those officers
will coordinate the efforts of local police and 6,000 soldiers already charged with maintaining security in Juarez.
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Health & Science
Affiliation To Seguro Popular Accelerates
January 19, 2010
According to Salomon Chertorivski, the Seguro Popular will seek to incorporate one million people per month
throughout 2010 and by the first half of 2011, a recruitment effort of some 18 million people, in order to achieve
universal health coverage of 49 million Mexicans. Heart attacks, dialysis and renal failure are among the medical
problems and treatments that are under review for inclusion under this program.
Extension Of Patents Granted
January 15, 2010
One in five drugs contained in the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) Gazette has been granted a patent
extension period as the result of a resolution by the Supreme Court of Justice based on protecting active ingredients
in pharmaceutical medication formulations.
Arts & Culture
London Will Display Latin American Independence Documents
January 12, 2010
The British Library is preparing an exhibit of documents relating to the independence movements of Latin America,
uprisings that the United Kingdom contributed to for both political and commercial reasons. The British institution
keeps important materials and documents from the independence process of the continent, including books,
manuscripts, letters from insurgent leaders, political pamphlets, and collections of journals.
Other
President Calderon Calls On Mexicans To Help Haiti
January 14 through 18, 2010
President Calderon called on the Mexican people to support assistance to earthquake-ravaged Haiti, calling the
situation the worst natural disaster experienced by any country in the region, with a death toll that surpasses any
estimate. Mexican military planes loaded with aid supplies and rescue workers have landed in Port-au-Prince, and a
Navy hospital ship has been sent. The Foreign Ministry said it was intensifying efforts to search for 38 Mexicans who
went missing after the 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Tuesday. The quake brought back memories of the 1985
Mexico City earthquake that killed at least 10,000 people.
Crash Kills Mexican Tycoon Moises Saba
January 11, 2010
A helicopter crash killed 46-year-old Mexican tycoon Moises Saba, his wife, his eldest son and his daughter-in-law,
along with the vessel's captain. The helicopter went down in a forested area in Cuajimalpa on the western outskirts of
the capital shortly after 8 p.m. on Sunday. Pharmaceutical distribution firm Grupo Casa Saba is one of the family's
business interests, which also include real estate, communications, and media.
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