Happy New Year 2009
My very best wishes for a new year
filled with health, prosperity and happiness
Great success with your challenges and new projects
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Showing posts with label Lee Iwan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lee Iwan. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Automotive manufacturing moving to Mexico
More good news for Leon, Guanajuato Mexico.
Geely Automotive is going to set up operations, including 2000 direct jobs and initial investment of USD $ 130 M over three years. Link
The first and second tier suppliers are expected to bring the total investment of the plant and industrial park into the USD $ 250 M range.
Not only is there opportunity in Mexico for Geely, but this location provides easy access to the USA and Latin American markets.
Edmunds Inside Line
Geely Automotive Holdings Limited
Monday, August 18, 2008
Mexico goes back to "normal" today
Today most private and public schools begin the new 2008 - 2009 year in Mexico.
This means chaos returns to city streets during the rush hours of 7-9 AM and 2-4 PM as families begin the daily commute.
Learning the route, timing of the stop lights, finding the drop off zones, sleepy kids, new Mom's and Dad's unaccustomed to the new routine...it's all crazy, frustrating, full of excitement...and lasts about a week.
Bit of advice. If working in Mexico during this week, modify your commute and travel hours to miss all this. Spend a bit more time at breakfast, or work out of the hotel business center.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
The 3 tequila lunch is dying in Mexico
Remember the 3 martini lunch from the 1960's?
According to this article from Reuters, Power Omeletes kill Mexico's boozy business lunch. Mexico's mid-day business dinner with cocktails is evolving into a more efficient, non-alcoholic breakfast.
I've seen a move to more breakfast meetings in Mexico.
They are more efficient and focused, much shorter,less expensive, no alcohol is involved and it's a great way to start the business day.
Related Links
Power Omeletes kill Mexico's boozy business lunch
Lunches and Dinners
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Industrial development in Mexico, opportunities in Guanajuato and Sonora
Guanajuato and Sonora are two states in Mexico singled out by Expansion Management as areas of opportunity for industrial development.
A quote from the article:
"Two states, Guanajuato and Sonora, capture, if not the breadth of diversity between the states, the contrasts between them. Guanajuato is using its educational resources and location to position itself as a logistics center in Mexico, while Sonora uses its automotive base to expand into aerospace." David Hendricks
Related Links
States in Mexico offer expanding companies a wealth of advantages
Expansion Management
Need to know about Leon, Guanajuato
Industrial and Business Parks in Mexico
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Economic development in Mexico - social network site
I was invited to a new social networking site on the Ning network, Build Bridges Not Walls!.
The idea behind the site:
"People that want economic development in Mexico will trade together. This site is to put people together for electric handshakes, trade, new business ideas or just old friends finding each other again."
Members can add photos, videos, blog entries, comments and meet others with similar interests about business and economic issues related to Mexico.
Looks like it will be an interesting site.
Related Links
Build Bridges Not Walls!
Ning, create your own social network
Members can add photos, videos, blog entries, comments and meet others with similar interests about business and economic issues related to Mexico.
Looks like it will be an interesting site.
Related Links
Build Bridges Not Walls!
Ning, create your own social network
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Investment Protection Agreement signed - Mexico, India
Mexico has signed a 10 year bilateral investment promotion and protection program (BIPA) with India on May 21, 2007.
This is significant for several reasons.
- Allows investment protection to foreign investors in both countries
- Free repatriation of funds to investors
- Allows Indian companies access to the USA and European market through manufacturing in Mexico
- Offers protection of Intellectual Property (IP)
- Opens the door for Preferential or Free Trade Agreement negotiations in the future
India’s government and private industry sees Mexico as a “trampoline” to the US market, and also entrance into Mexico and Central America.
I have no doubt we will begin to see some Indian investment in Mexico and India-Mexico joint ventures in the very near future.
I strongly recommend that Mexico review, simplify and speedup the time and reduce the costs related to obtaining a travel visa for Indian business people.
Related Links
India, Mexico sign investment protection agreement
India looks for key to NAFTA in Mexico
India eyes free trade with Mexico for better access to NAFTA
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
How to write numbers in Spanish
A great link brought to my attention by Brett Grossman about writing numbers in Spanish.
At first glance the site is in Spanish and may frighten you....keep going it's quite easy to understand.
The page provides the correct spelling in Spanish and is a must have if you're going to be working with written numbers, writing checks or just want to improve your knowledge of Spanish.
He says "It is a link that might be helpful for new-to-Mexico business people...the finer points of writing numbers in Spanish...it drove me crazy when I first got to Tampico...I can't tell you how many checks were rejected because of the smallest error and the cost of a bounced check at Serfin is upwards of $800 pesos + IVA".
If you're new in Mexico and don't understand Spanish make sure to go here Nombres de los numeros en Español (Names of the Numbers in Spanish) and make a copy for your office, wallet or checkbook....you'll be glad you did.
Related Links
Nombres de los numeros en Español (Names of the numbers in Spanish)
Spanish Language: Counting the Cardinal Numbers
donQuijote: Numbers 1 to 100
donQuixote: Larger Spanish Numbers
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Mexico Investment Portal
Aaron Burda and I have begun work on a very interesting (and hopefully useful) project. Providing information and online links, in English, for foreign investors and businesses wishing to examine, analyze and evaluate Mexico for business operations.
The Mexico Investment Information Project (link)
We are a Creative Commons licensed project (i.e. not for profit) whose mission is to provide the best online resource to foreign businesses looking to invest in Mexico. Currently online is a very rough "mock up" of a website that we are planning to build over the next several months.
If you would like to participate in the project and feel you have some valuable expertise to contribute please apply for a userid.
Project History
The Investment Portal is a combination of two projects. Lee Iwan's Accumulated Experience Blog and Aaron Burda's UC Davis Graduate School of Management Mexico Research Project. Both Lee and Aaron were convinced that the quality of the information available on the Internet about doing Business in Mexico could be substantially improved.
Project Future
We hope to organize the existing Internet English language resources about doing business in Mexico and add to it through having select volunteers write succinct articles on relevant business topics.
If you are a Banker, Lawyer, Accountant, Environmental Expert, HR Manager, Logistics Manager or other qualified and experienced individual with business expertise about Mexico and would like to provide information, advice, or website links to this project, don't hesitate to contact us.
Related Information
Monday, March 26, 2007
Determine cultural conflicts between Mexico and your home country
This is a great site to help determine possible cultural conflicts between your culture and Mexico.
It compares 4 dimensions of cultural differences; Power Distance, Individuality, UncertaintyAvoidance and Masculinity.
From the site: "Welcome to the Intercultural Business Communication tool. This simple online tool offers a great resource for people wanting to get some intercultural business communication tips when working with people from different cultures. All you do is choose your own country and another country and we produce a graph that shows the the major differences between the two cultures. You then get some insightful intercultural business communication tips for working in or with that culture."
Intercultural Business Communication Tool
It provides a comparison between the countries, and then provides tips in order to reduce or manage this cultural gap.
Very interesting.
Related Links
Intercultural Business Communication Tool - Kwintessential Language and Cultural Specialists
Geerte Hofstede, Cultural Dimensions
Cultural Misunderstanding- it can happen to you
Create great international business relationships
Need to know about Leon Guanajuato?
Yet another Squidoo lens.
This time focused on Leon Guanajuato Mexico. Happens to be the town I’ve been living in for the past 15 years.
Information about Leon Guanajuato
Leon is internationally “famous” for the shoe making and leather industry (80+% of all Mexican shoes, boots and leather goods come from Leon).
Leon is also growing due to the automotive industry and an “industrial corridor” being created between Leon and Celaya.
On top of all this, the service sector continue to expand and grow due to the population growth, the Poliforum Convention and Exhibition Center and the Poliforum Cultural Center.
Related Links
Information about Leon Guanajuato
SAPICA International Footwear and Leather Goods Show
ANPIC Fair of the Americas
Quick start - doing business in Mexico
I made a lens over at Squidoo that provides a good starting point for anyone beginning to analyze Mexico as a country to do business with.
Doing Business in Mexico
Would very much like your feedback, advice and tips on any links that should be added.
Related Links
Squidoo - Doing Business in Mexico
Squidoo - International Business Trip Planning
Squidoo - Leon, Guanajuato
Hotels in Leon, Guanajuato Mexico
Seeking hotels in Leon, Guanajuato?
For those business or pleasure travellers seeking hotel information for Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Hotels in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico
Information about hotel type, address, phone and fax numbers, and the all important website address.
Related Links
Mexico - Links to economic and financial statistics
An inquiry from Andrzej from Poland regarding sites that provide economic data for Mexico has prompted me to provide the following links.
The official and definitive source for Mexican statistics is INEGI (the National Statistics, Geography and Information Institute). There is one little glitch however, it’s only available in Spanish INEGI Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas, Geographia y Informacion.
The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) has a statistical profile of Mexico, covering 40 statistical databases. OECD Statistics Mexico
The World Bank Doing Business site offers indicators of the regulatory costs of doing business in Mexico and is comparable with 175 economies. Doing Business Explore Economies - Mexico.
The Banco Nacional de Mexico, BANIXCO offers a site with up-to-date macro and financial market data about the country and monetary policies. BANIXCO Economic and Financial Indicators.
Another source of economic information about Mexico can be found through contacting the Mexican Embassy or Mexican Consulate in your part of the world. The Economic or Commercial Officer will be able to provide the information you are seeking. Mexican Embassies and Mexican Consulates worldwide.
Related Links
IMF predicts strong economic growth for Mexico
Global competitiveness - 2006 - Mexico and China
ANPIC 2007 Leon, Guanajuato Mexico
ANPIC 2007. This is the annual international trade fair for leather tanning, leather chemicals, machinery and supplies for the footwear industry held in Mexico since 1980.
The “Fair of the Americas” (Feria de las Americas) is held in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico from February 17, 2007 through February 20, 2007 at the Poliforum Exhibition Center in Leon.
Leon, Guanajuato is the leather tanning and shoe making capital of Mexico.
Visitors will find 1200 national and international suppliers of:
- Shoe machinery and equipment
- Tanning machinery and equipment
- Chemical products
- Hides and skins
- Synthetic materials and textiles
- Lasts, heels and soles
Related Links
Christmas bonus - the aguinaldo in Mexico
Employers in Mexico are required by law, to give employees a Christmas bonus.
The “aguinaldo” is a mandatory annual payment given in the month of December, prior to the 20th, to each worker in Mexico. This includes all employees in private industry, and all government employees.
The aguinaldo is equivalent to 15 days wages, or more. For employees with less than a years service, a pro-rated payment is provided.
This puts added strain on cash flow and accounts payables for Mexican organizations during the month of December. At the same time it creates a huge burst of economic activity throughout the country.
Related Links
Christmas parties and holiday gifts in Mexico
Indirect messages and business etiquette in Mexico
A comment from .hj highlighted an important issue when doing business in Mexico. He wrote ” (Mexicans) will try to deliver a message using indirect messages and almost never telling things directly for it is consider unpolite”
Etiquette and formal behaviour is expected in Mexican business negotiations, especially with international clients or suppliers. This will become more relaxed and informal over time, as the trust is reinforced and expectations are met on both sides.
It is all about mutual respect.
The formal rules and behaviours (etiquette) that enhance and create an atmosphere of respect have been broken down or eliminated in the USA, but in Mexico they are critical and very much a part of business dealings.
The Mexican business person does not like to create a confrontation or criticize openly, it is considered rude and ill mannered. One should be very perceptive to what is being said by your Mexican partner, what is being avoided and the implications of each behaviour.
One should avoid open criticism of the Mexican partner. They expect the same formality given to you, it is embarrassing and awkward if one begins to point fingers and rant and rave.
Make comments and observations about areas that need attention, strategies and solutions that must be adapted and challenges that must be met instead of criticism of past performance. Discuss what is working and what isn’t working, but don’t personalize it.
You may not hear direct criticism of an idea or proposal, instead there might be suggestions of alternatives.
Your ideas, proposals and solutions may be greeted by nodding heads and smiling faces, but it may only signify that the audience is listening, and not in complete agreement.
Decision-making on sensitive or unpopular issues may be delayed and not openly debated. Give your Mexican partner time to deal with these issues, and don’t force a decision in public.
If able to plan the meetings in advance, propose an agenda, and include the issues you need to discuss, or that require a decision. Give them time to prepare for the meeting and the decision-making required. Don’t demand a decision in an open meeting.
Lunches and informal settings are where the real business discussions and dialogues will take place, and even then, will be presented may be in a vague and non-confrontational manner. Use these moments to explain and explore the ideas, benefits and alternatives. Listen.
Present yourself and treat your business relationships as a well educated respectful gentleman, not like a threatening conquering warrior barbarian. Participate, listen and react to business situations with poise, calm and politeness.
Related Links
How to negotiate with Mexican business people
Doing Business in Mexico - cultural tips
Christmas parties and holiday business gifts in Mexico
The month of December is Mexico is filled with Christmas and holiday parties and social events.
The population of Mexico is 95%+ Christian and openly celebrates Christmas in private industry and government displays. Be aware that there are other religious groups in Mexico that do not celebrate Christmas in order to avoid offending suppliers or clients.
These Christmas and holiday reunions are usually mid-day dinners or late suppers. There will be get-togethers for friends, business acquaintances, associations and any committees or other groups that you might belong to.
There is also the company Christmas party.
Failure to attend the holiday events are noticed and considered rude. It’s better to arrive and steal away early than to avoid the reunions all together. Remember Mexico is a very socially oriented culture, failure to attend and participate in the social events will not help you, it might work against you.
Corporate and business gift giving is very important, and in many cases expected at Christmas time. The low end gifts range from the traditional; calendars and pens, agendas, calculators or other promotional type gifts to the higher end: fine liquors (Tequila, Scotch whiskey, Cognac, Red wine), fine food baskets, electronic equipment (Palms, IPods, etc.), gift certificates to restaurants, etc.
Unlike the USA, it is common in Mexico to give holiday gifts to the decision-makers in the purchasing department unless the companies have a policy against it.
Cut flowers or live plants are not considered an appropriate business gift.
Holiday gifts are given to important (and not so important) clients or to key people in the clients organization with whom you have a personal/business relationship (for example the secretary who answers all your calls or the logistics person who solves problems all year long).
Some transnational companies have tried to limit and reduce the amount and quality of business Christmas gifts in the past few years. It is not looked upon kindly by customers who always reflect upon the amount of money they have spent with the supplier, and believe the Christmas gift is a “thank you” and recognition of their support and loyalty throughout the year.
Work begins to slow down in Mexico at the beginning of December, and after December 12 (The Day of Guadalupe) efficiency grinds to a halt. It’s impossible to get major decisions, and many times difficult to locate business owners and managers due to events and social engagements.
Most Mexican businesses (not in tourist areas) are closed during the week between Christmas (Dec. 25) and the New Year (Jan 1). The Mexican government prohibits highway transport of certain goods and tractor trailers during this peak family vacation period.
Related Links
Mexican official and unofficial holidays
Doing Business in Mexico - cultural tips
Advice on what to expect when doing business with Mexico
Corruption, bribes, mordidas, tips - doing business in MexicoMexican politics - what business people should know
In order to begin to understand Mexican politics (an impossible task), it’s important to learn some fundamentals of the political system in Mexico.
- There is no re-election for political officials for the same post in Mexico. Current office holders can sit-out a term and run again for the same office, or they can run for another political post.
- The political parties control the selection of party candidates who run for office, at Federal, State and local levels. Political parties, and their leaders are very important.
- In order to be remain in politics one must please both the party and the electorate.
- The term for the President of Mexico is for 6 years, with no re-election.
- The term for State Governor is 6 years, with no re-election.
- The term for Senators is 6 years, with no re-election for a consecutive term.
- The term for the Camara de Diputados (similar to the House of Representatives in the US) is 3 years, with no re-election for a consecutive term.
- The term for local mayor is 3 years with no re-election for a consecutive term.
- The term for State representatives and local elected positions is normally 3 years, with no re-election for a consecutive term.
- Changes in the Mayor, Governor or President, cause major reshuffling of bureaucrats and administrative officials. This causes a slowdown or “unofficial” shutdown of some government offices between the election date and the date of the new administration start-up.
- The lack of re-election encourages and favors the current politicians and parties in power to seek out projects with short term visible benefits. They are pushed to show successes, infrastructure projects or other tangible benefits during their term of office in order to get promoted and elected to future political posts.
- In the Mexican states with stable, well defined political party tendencies and majorities, there is more focus on medium and long term projects and planning as the benefits can be attributed to the party.
- If selling a long term project to the government, it should include short term benefits, or tangible results, so that the politicians involved can claim credit.
- Never try and initiate the sale or negotiation of a major project to the State government during the last 6 months or year of a Governors term. It will be stalled, and you will have to “resell” it to the new administration.
- Get to know as many local and State and Federal political officials as possible, in 3 to 6 years they are all sitting in different positions of power and influence in the government.
Related Links
How to do business in Mexico, Politics and Political Parties
How to speed up business decisions in Mexico
Patience, chaos and doing business in Mexico
How to tell if your Mexican banknotes are counterfeit
How to tell if your Mexican banknotes are counterfeit.
The handling of foreign currency creates a whole new set of challenges for the business or vacation traveller.
The Bank of Mexico has a webpage dedicated to explaining the security features of the Mexican coins and banknotes so you don’t get bamboozled. Verifying Mexican banknote authenticity
Learn about the security features in Mexican banknotes to eliminate the possibility of receiving “funny money” during your travels.
Security features in manufactured Mexican banknotes - A quick chart to help identify the security features in the current banknotes in circulation in Mexico.
Security features in the 20 Peso polymer banknote
Security features in the 50 Peso paper banknote
Security features in the 100 Peso banknote
Security features in the 200 Peso banknote
Security features in the 500 Peso banknote
Security features in the 1000 Peso banknote
If you believe you have counterfeit Mexican currency, bring it to the attention of a Mexican bank for verification. If the banknote is counterfeit you will not be reimbursed for it’s value, but you might avoid going to jail. Passing counterfeit currency is illegal in Mexico.
The US Department of State Consular information sheet for Mexico states “ A number of Americans have been arrested for passing on counterfeit currency they had earlier received in change. If you receive what you believe to be a counterfeit bank note, bring it to the attention of Mexican law enforcement.”
Related Links
Mexican currency, monetary policy and financial systems - BANXICO
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