Did you hit snooze on spring break? Now's your last chance to score a good deal on last-minute flights to popular destinations in Mexico. (Alex Bertha/Unsplash)
Spring break in Mexico is a no-brainer.
If you haven’t made any travel plans for Holy Week, Easter or spring break in Mexico yet, we’ve got you covered! Here is a list of airline promotions to help you arrange your last-minute national or international trip to sunny Mexico. Note that all flight prices listed below are before taxes.
¡Más tequila, por favor! These last-minute spring break flight deals to Mexico are too good to pass up.
Cancún
For travelers departing to Cancún from Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and San Francisco, Aeroméxico offers one-way ticket prices starting at US $174.
If you’re traveling within Mexico, one-way tickets from León with Volaris start at US $66.
Meanwhile, ticket prices from Mexico City to Cancún with Volaris start at US $134.
United Airlines offers flights and hotels in Cancún from the United States with packages starting at US $759.
With Aeroméxico, one-way ticket prices to the exotic beach destination of Cabo San Lucas start at US $125 from Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle and San Francisco.
Cancún is one of the best deals for spring break – both for national and international tourists. (Cuartoscuro)
Acapulco
Still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Otis, Acapulco is more than ready to receive tourists for spring break. One-way tickets from the northern city of Monterrey start at US $112 with Viva Aerobús.
Puerto Vallarta
Tijuana also looks to be an attractive departure airport for the international tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta. With Volaris, one-way ticket prices start at US $132.
Flair Airlines is also offering accessible prices for Canadians traveling from Calgary to Puerto Vallarta in the latter part of March, with one-way flights starting at US $121.
Canadian WestJet is taking it a step further by offering flight + hotel deals in Puerto Vallarta and other sunny destinations in Mexico. A one-week spring break package in Puerto Vallarta starts at US $2,297.
Huatulco
The secluded beach of Huatulco in Oaxaca is easily reachable with Aeroméxico, which is offering one-way tickets starting at US $285 from Los Angeles and Chicago.
Take an extra-long spring break getaway to Mazatlán, where you can see the next solar eclipse in totality on April 8, 2024. (Rashide Frias/Cuartoscuro)
Mazatlán
The Pacific coast beach destination of Mazatlán, famous for its seafood and sunsets, is easily reachable from Los Angeles and San Francisco with Aeroméxico. One-way tickets start at US $135.
What is the cheapest day to fly during spring break?
A study conducted by the international booking system Kayak has revealed that March 29 is the cheapest day for flights to global destinations during spring break in 2024.
The rates for flights on this day are significantly lower compared to those on Tuesday, March 26, which has higher average prices.
For additional information and to book your tickets for your spring break trip to Mexico, make sure to visit the airlines’ promo pages hyperlinked throughout the text.
Actress-turned-author Molly Ringwald spoke to Mexico News Daily about writers, cinema and life in Mexico. (Molly Ringwald)
Molly Ringwald, noted actor, singer, and author, visited San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato in late February to headline the San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival. The multi-talented entertainer will perhaps always be best known for her iconic roles in the 1980s teen films The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles, but she is also the best-selling author of When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories and Getting the Pretty Back, as well as the translator of the French novel Lie With Me by Philippe Besson and the French memoir My Cousin Maria Schneider by Vanessa Schneider.
After the conference, Ringwald took time to reflect on her week in San Miguel de Allende, the memoir she is currently writing about her decade in Paris, the ways that creativity can be sparked by expatriate life, and much more with author Ann Marie Jackson.
Actress and author Molly Ringwald at the 2024 San Miguel Writers’ Conference. (Alistair Palmer)
What enticed you to come to the San Miguel Writers’ Conference, and how did you enjoy your time here?
My husband and I came to San Miguel with our daughter 15 years ago for Christmas, but I found out the day we were leaving that I was pregnant (with twins!) and spent the holiday a little queasy. I’ve always wanted to come back and was thrilled to be asked to participate in the literary festival. San Miguel de Allende is absolutely magical — even better than I remembered it!
Many of Mexico News Daily’s readers are American, Canadian, and European expats living in Mexico. In your [keynote speech at the San Miguel Writers’ Conference], you mentioned that your decade in France “turned on a light for you that your time in Hollywood had dimmed.” It gave you a creative spark to chase; it was a source of inspiration and joy. Many of us feel that way about Mexico. Do you believe there’s something universal about the expat experience that sparks creativity?
I have always found being around other cultures sparks my creativity. We tend to become myopic, only seeing things through the lens of our own lives and points of view, and getting outside of that can help us to see things differently.
2024 San Miguel Writers’ Conference keynote speakers C.S. Richardson, Christina Baker Kline, Molly Ringwald, Guillermo Arriaga, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia. (Alistair Palmer)
I started your novel, When it Happens to You: A Novel in Stories, on Monday, and I’ve nearly finished it already. I find it beautifully written, incredibly honest, and so moving. How did you come to choose that format: “a novel in stories”?
Thank you for reading and for the kind comment! I have always been drawn to the short story; Raymond Carver, Laurie Moore, and John Cheever are some of my favorites. I originally had the idea to do a collection of stories around the idea of betrayal, which is a theme that feels universal in that we have all betrayed and been betrayed—whether it’s by another person or ourselves. The idea was to explore it from as many different angles as I could, but as I started writing, I realized that I liked connecting the characters which I felt solidified this concept of betrayal being truly universal. There’s no escaping it — and the only way out of its grip is through acceptance and forgiveness, which I also tried to explore in the stories. The novel in stories really just means that all of the stories together tell one unifying story, although personally, I feel like the stories can be read alone and still be understood.
When Danielle [Trussoni, best-selling author,] called you brave the other night, you mentioned that actually “a little fear can be good in that it shows that something is enough of a challenge to be worth doing,” and that nervous flutter in your stomach is “the creativity trying to get out.” I love that. Is that how you feel about the new memoir you’re working on now about your Paris years?
It’s how I feel about everything I do. I think that if I don’t feel a little bit nervous, it generally means that I’m not challenging myself in some way.
Author Danielle Trussoni interviews Molly Ringwald at the 2024 San Miguel Writers’ Conference. (Alistair Palmer)
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Read. Read first for pleasure and then re-read to understand how it’s done. And then write and suffer through being a bad writer, because everyone is bad before they are good.
Who is your favorite Mexican author?
I haven’t read as many as I would like. I’m taking recommendations! There is a Mexican American poet named Rachel McKibbens whom I recently discovered and love. I haven’t written poetry since I was a kid and remain forever in awe of people that do. To me, it feels absolutely like the purest and most beautiful form of writing.
You have previously written, most famously in The New Yorker, about reassessing your iconic ‘80s films in light of the #MeToo movement. Would you like to say a little about that? How have your views changed or evolved over the years?
I feel like the pieces speak for themselves, and I spent a long time thinking about them and writing them to get them right, so I don’t think I have anything to add — other than that, I appreciate what is good about the films even if I am critical of certain elements.
So what has it been like working with such an all-star cast on Feud: Truman Capote vs. The Swans?
It was thrilling to work with so many great actresses whom I have admired over the years and Tom Hollander was a dream to work with.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers—about your books, the craft of writing, or your impressions of Mexico?
I really love Mexico. My recent visit has inspired me to start learning to speak Spanish so hopefully the next time I visit, I will be fluent!
The San Miguel Literary Sala A.C., organizers of the annual San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival, will announce in late summer the famous writers who will headline next year’s event. To learn more, visitsanmiguelwritersconference.org.
Based in San Miguel de Allende, Ann Marie Jackson is a writer and NGO leader who previously worked for the U.S. Department of State. Her award-winning novel “The Broken Hummingbird,” which is set in San Miguel de Allende, came out in October 2023. Ann Marie can be reached through her website, annmariejacksonauthor.com.
2024 presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez, left, stands with Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) President Rogelio Cabrera. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Each of Mexico’s three presidential candidates has endorsed a “Commitment for Peace” document drawn up by Mexico’s Roman Catholic leadership, although leading aspirant Claudia Sheinbaum also expressed disagreement with the Church leaders’ assessment of the current security situation and some of the peace-building proposals they put forth.
Developed by the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) and presented at an event on Monday, the Commitment for Peace strategy contains more than 100 proposals. Among them are:
Morena candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, signed the bishops’ roadmap for improving security, democratic institutions and social well-being in Mexico, but she said she didn’t agree with the document’s assertion that Mexico is facing “a crisis of violence.” The sign behind Sheinbaum says “united by the same pain” in Spanish. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
the gradual demilitarization of public security work
the social reintegration of members of local crime groups
the implementation of an “international mechanism” against impunity
the protection and strengthening of autonomous government bodies
additional investment aimed at bolstering municipal police forces and the National Search Commission.
The proposals are spread across seven different areas: social fabric; security; justice; prisons; adolescents; governance; and human rights.
“With the conviction to not rest until the conditions to build peace in the country have been created, we present this Commitment for Peace, a route of collective action with an interdisciplinary, co-responsible and articulated perspective that seeks to tackle in an effective way the profound crisis of violence and social breakdown that afflicts our country,” the document said.
On Monday, Monterrey Archbishop and CEM President Rogelio Cabrera López told attendees of an event in Mexico City that the Catholic Church and a peace-building “movement” of more than 20,000 people are filled with “profound hope” for a peaceful Mexico as a result of having the opportunity to meet with the presidential candidates.
“We have witnessed the outcry of the victims [of violence],” he said.
“For the Church, an inflection point occurred more than 20 months ago when our dear Jesuit priests Javier [Campos] and Joaquín [Mora] were murdered in Cerocahui, Chihuahua. … Since then, we undertook decisive actions that began with days of prayer and transformed into a national movement for justice and security,” Cabrera said.
Citizens Movement candidate Jorge Álvarez accused both Sheinbaum and Gálvez of “being responsible for perpetuating” failed security strategies. Neither of the two other candidates has been involved in developing federal security strategies, however. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum signs commitment but doesn’t agree with “the description of the problem”
At the CEM event, the ruling Morena party candidate and heavy favorite to win the June 2 election signed the 53-page Commitment for Peace but stressed that she didn’t agree with all of its contents.
“I’m signing the document with the understanding that there is a joint vision for building peace. However, there are several assertions and proposals with which I don’t agree,” Sheinbaum said.
The former Mexico City mayor and protege of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador noted that she was annexing a document to the Commitment for Peace that she signed. The document outlines her agreement and differences with the CEM plan.
“I don’t agree with the description of the insecurity problem,” Sheinbaum said, rejecting the document’s assertion that there is a “profound crisis of violence” in Mexico, even though homicide numbers remain very high.
“I don’t share the pessimistic assessment of the current moment. … Nor do I agree with some proposals that assume that there is no reliable data in the National Security System,” she said.
Sheinbaum also said that she doesn’t agree with “references to a supposed militarization” of Mexico nor with assertions that the state has only a minimal security presence in some parts of the country. In addition, she rejected the claim that there is a prevailing sense of “fear, impotence, mistrust and uncertainty” in Mexico.
Following the lead of his most recent predecessors, López Obrador has used the armed forces for public security — and a wide range of other nontraditional tasks, including infrastructure construction and the management of customs and ports.
Despite that, he has rejected claims that he has militarized the country, and in 2021 dismissed an assertion by a U.S. military official that criminal organizations control “ungoverned areas” of Mexico that account for about one-third of the country’s territory.
The National Guard, Mexico’s federal police force, is under the control of the military. The Commitment for Peace calls upon the government to make it a civilian force. (Sedena)
The Commitment for Peace recommends that the Guard be a civilian entity.
Sheinbaum also rejected another proposal in the document to increase funding for the judiciary, which she argued is guilty of squandering the resources it currently receives.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Norma Piña presides over a Court session in May 2023. President López Obrador has filed a proposal to change the justices from political appointees to citizen-elected officials, a move that Sheinbaum supports. (Cuartoscuro)
She did, however, express support for another proposal — to build peace by addressing the root causes of violence. López Obrador asserts that the government is doing this with its controversial “hugs, not bullets” security strategy, in which “hugs” is a metaphor for welfare and employment programs and the “not bullets” part refers to a commitment to avoiding violent confrontation with criminals where possible.
Sheinbaum is also committed to a proposed judicial reform that would allow citizens to elect Supreme Court justices and other judges directly. She also supports strengthening the National Guard and state police forces in order to increase their investigative capacity.
Gálvez finds “perfect harmony” with her own security agenda
Gálvez promised that if she’s elected president, she’ll meet with the Mexican Episcopal Conference on her first day in office to work on strategies for Mexico. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Xóchitl Gálvez, presidential candidate for a three-party opposition alliance — and Sheinbaum’s main rival — also met with Catholic Church leaders at the National Autonomous University’s Cultural Center in Tlatelolco.
“I find perfect harmony and agreement with what I’ve been proposing,” said Gálvez, who declared that “a Mexico without fear is possible” when outlining her security plan at her campaign launch on March 1.
The former National Action Party senator said that the most important of the CEM’s proposals is the one to demilitarize the government. She previously said that she would continue using the armed forces for public security tasks but relieve them of other duties, such as building infrastructure, fixing roads and running hotels.
Álvarez, seen here on Tuesday at a different event in Monterrey, said that congressional candidates for his party, Citizens Movement, will also support candidates for the Senate and Chamber of Deputies will also support “this vision for strategy change…” (Gabriela Pérez Montiel/Cuartoscuro)
Gálvez, who trailed Sheinbaum by almost 24 points in one recent poll, committed to meeting with Church leaders to discuss their peace proposals the day after she is sworn in as Mexico’s first female president.
“On Oct. 2, I’ll meet with you, not as a candidate but as president, to have the first working session — dialogue and listening to commitments for peace,” she said.
Gálvez has pledged to increase the size of the National Guard and develop its capacity to investigate crimes and arrest criminals.
“Hugs for criminals are over. The law will be applied to them,” she said on March 1.
Among the other aspects of her security strategy are plans to increase funding for states to improve their crime-fighting capacity and to pay police higher salaries.
Álvarez Máynez embraces the strategy change that Mexico “urgently needs”
MC candidates for the Senate and Chamber of Deputies will also support “this vision for strategy change that the country urgently needs,” said the 38-year-old former lawmaker.
Álvarez Máynez, who is currently at a distant third in the polls, accused both Sheinbaum and Gálvez of “being responsible for perpetuating” failed security strategies.
Neither Sheinbaum nor Gálvez has been involved in security matters at a federal level.
The event on Monday was the first in which all three presidential candidates participated, although they attended at different times and thus weren’t pitted against each other in any way.
The aspirants will meet face-to-face at three presidential debates, two of which will be held in April, with a third to follow in May.
Crime and insecurity, and a range of other topics — including health, education, the fight against corruption and the economy — are set to be considered at the three debates, to be held in Mexico City.
The royal couple arrived at the Mexico City International Airport on Monday. (@SRE_mx/X)
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden arrived in Mexico on Monday night for a three-day state visit that includes activities in Mexico City and the Yucatán Peninsula. The royal couple have previously visited the country twice, in 1982 and 2002.
President López Obrador and his wife Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller with the Swedish royals on Tuesday. (SRE/X)
“It is an honor to be Mexican. We are very pleased and grateful for their visit,” López Obrador said in a statement. “We are going to invite the king and queen to visit Diego [Rivera]’s murals. They asked for that. They are intelligent, educated, generous monarchs.”
Upon arrival at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM), they were welcomed by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister María Teresa Mercado, Mexican Ambassador to Sweden Alejandro Alday and Swedish Ambassador to Mexico Gunnar Aldén.
In addition to visiting the National Palace, the monarchs will tour the Senate and the campus of the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM).
On Wednesday morning, the king will inaugurate the Mexico-Sweden Business Forum to discuss sustainable transportation solutions, sustainable mining, the telecommunications industry and healthcare issues.
Before leaving the country, the couple will travel on the Maya Train to Uxmal, where they will meet with representatives of Indigenous communities. Reportedly, the royals will also meet with the governor of Yucatán, Mauricio Vila.
Who are the king and queen of Sweden?
King Carl XVI Gustaf ascended to the throne at age 27, succeeding his grandfather Gustaf VI Adolf after he passed away in 1973. The king’s father, second in line to the throne, had died in a plane accident while traveling to Denmark in 1947.
Queen Silvia is the first Swedish queen to have had a professional career. Of German-Brazilian descent, she met King Carl (then crown prince) during the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, where she was working as an interpreter and host.
The couple was married in 1976. The successor to the throne is their daughter Crown Princess Victoria.
Typically, the Swedish royals embark on two to three state visits overseas every year.
Student protesters stormed attacked the state Attorney General's Office in Chilpancingo on Tuesday. (Cuartoscuro)
The state police officer who allegedly shot and killed a college student in Guerrero last week is on the run — with the complicity of local authorities, according to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
One day after the president called the killing “an abuse of authority” because the victim “did not shoot,” he revealed in his Tuesday morning press conference that the officer who reportedly pulled the trigger is nowhere to be found.
The funeral of college student Yanqui Kothan Gómez Peralta who was killed by police last week in Guerrero. (Cuartoscuro)
And because the officer is not in custody, the Guerrero capital of Chilpancingo is now the site of protests by students and others. State government offices were evacuated late Tuesday morning, and images of protesters storming the Guerrero attorney general’s office (FGE) had begun circulating on social media by early afternoon.
“The investigation is being carried out, as is the search, of course,” the president said in his mañanera at the National Palace in Mexico City. “But part of the breakdown that we are facing is the interests that are involved.”
López Obrador said an arrest warrant had been issued along with instructions to bring the officer into custody in Chilpancingo.
“But they notified him, or he escaped,” he added. “It was in an administrative arrest, but the protocols were not followed … We realize how the situation is, that there are many interests. There are those who do not want justice to be done, and for us [the ruling party] to look bad.”
Students threw Molotov cocktails at the Attorney General’s Office in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. (Cuartoscuro)
The FGE published a press release on Tuesday afternoon stating that it never had the officer in question in custody and does not carry out administrative arrests, contradicting the president’s version of events. Some close to the case, however, have echoed the president’s version of the story. Lilia Vianey, the slain student’s mother, told news outlet Rompeviento on Tuesday that the officers involved in her son’s killing were “being kept safe, not detained.”
The killing of Yanqui Khotan Gómez Peralta took place last Thursday night at a police checkpoint in Chilpancingo. Gómez, a 23-year-old student at the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College in Tixtla, Guerrero, was reportedly in a pickup truck that was identified as stolen, according to the Guerrero Ministry of Public Security (SSP).
He was riding in the truck, reportedly a Nissan Frontier, with two other students from the college, although one allegedly got out before the checkpoint. The other student who stayed in the truck, Osiel Faustino Jimón Dircio, was injured in the incident. Jimón was released from FGE custody last Friday; his lawyer has since stated that while detained he was tortured by local police attempting to extract a false confession of illegal weapons possession.
Gómez, like many of his fellow Ayotzinapa students, sometimes participated in protests in Mexico City relating to the 2014 disappearance and presumed murder of 43 male students who were studying at the rural teachers’ college.The day before his death, there was such a protest in Mexico City, in which a Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) pickup truck was used as a battering ram to break down one of the doors of the National Palace. Guerrero government officials have asserted there was no concerted effort on the part of state police to go after students from the Ayotzinapa school.
However, according to the mother of one of the Ayotzinapa 43, the police always “have the [teachers’ college] students under close surveillance.”
“They knew that the normalistas were going [to a school celebration], that’s why they shot them,” Cristina Bautista Salvador told the newspaper La Jornada.
López Obrador also revealed in his press conference that two forensic experts with the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR), Kassandra Domínguez Pastrana and Enrique Linares Ríos “disappeared” when they were en route from Cuernavaca to Chilpancingo on Saturday.
As of Tuesday late afternoon, authorities from Morelos announced the two missing officials had been found alive, however no further details were given about the circumstances of their abduction.
Jaime Barrera, a newscaster for the Televisa television network in Guadalajara, was reported missing Monday night. (Jaime Barrera/Twitter)
Journalist Jaime Barrera, a newscaster for Televisa, has been reported missing in the state of Jalisco.
On Monday evening, Barrera’s empty Fiat Fastback was found on a highway outside of Zapopan, a suburb of the state capital Guadalajara. The journalist’s daughter Itzul Barrrea, a national councilwoman for the ruling party Morena, alerted police to her father’s disappearance and posted a message on social media asking for help in locating him.
Barrera’s daughter Itzul Barrrea, a national councilwoman for Morena, alerted police to her father’s disappearance. (Itzul Barrera/Instagram)
“My father, the best journalist in Mexico, is missing,” she wrote. “I pray with all my soul that you all help us to find him.”
On Tuesday morning, the state Attorney General’s Office revealed further information thanks to traffic cameras. Video footage retrieved by state authorities showed that Barrera had been forcibly removed from his vehicle by three or four suspects who were traveling in an SUV. One of the suspects was holding what appeared to be an automatic weapon.
Forensic examiners gathered evidence from the journalist’s vehicle, including fingerprints.
Concerns arose Monday after Barrera failed to appear for his evening broadcast. He was last seen leaving the radio station after his midday broadcast, reportedly en route for lunch with his children. When he failed to return to the studio, a missing persons report was filed with police.
Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro stated that he is personally overseeing the investigation, posting on social media that all state security agencies are collaborating to locate Barrera.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned the disappearance during his Tuesday morning press conference.
In addition to his work for Televisa, Barrera, second from right, was a regular pundit on a political panel discussion show, “Con Todo Respeto” (With All Due Respect), which broadcasts weekly on the University of Guadalajara’s Channel 44. (UDGTV)
“Yes, we have been informed about the journalist from Jalisco … the father of a member of our party, and we are working to help,” the president said. “I can’t say more, but we are involved.”
The family, which claimed it was not aware of any threats made against Barrera, has called on the Federal Attorney General’s Office to take up the case.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which promotes press freedom and defends journalists’ rights, is also investigating the disappearance. In a statement issued March 6, the CPJ said it views Mexico as the most dangerous country in the Western Hemisphere not actively at war for journalists.
Ambassador Pankaj Sharma shares his insights with Mexico News Daily in an interview for the Global Mexico: India in focus series. (IndEmbMexico/X)
As part of Mexico News Daily’s “India in Focus” week, Mexico News Daily co-owner Tamanna Bembenek talked to India’s Ambassador to Mexico Pankaj Sharma. Below you will find his insights about the Mexico-India relationship and their shared goals and opportunities.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
TAMANNA BEMBENEK: You have named three key priorities for the India-Mexico relationship: tech, trade and tourism. In the current geopolitical climate, what unique opportunities do you see for Mexico and India to work together specifically around trade?
AMBASSADOR PANKAJ SHARMA: The three pillars of tech, trade and tourism derive from the priorities laid out by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, and we are working towards forging mutually beneficial collaborations in each of these areas. As far as trade is concerned, the confluence of various factors presents a favorable environment for collaboration.
Firstly, with global shifts in supply chain dynamics, India and Mexico can collaborate to offer alternative manufacturing and sourcing options, providing more resilience to disruptions.
Secondly, leveraging the complementary strengths that both countries share can lead to mutually beneficial partnerships, especially in sunrise sectors such as renewable energy.
Ambassador Sharma (left) at a recent event with the governor of Querétaro, Mauricio Kuri. (IndEmbMex/X)
Thirdly, identifying specific sectors of mutual interest such as pharmaceuticals, automotive and information technology can contribute to boosting bilateral trade and investments.
Last, but not least, there is a need to simplify trade procedures and regulations, as well as reduce barriers to trade.
Today bilateral trade relations between India and Mexico are on an upswing, reaching an all-time high of US$ 11.4 billion in 2022. India is Mexico’s tenth-largest trading partner. To expand this trade potential, the Embassy of India in Mexico launched an initiative to establish The Trade & Commerce Council of India, which aims to foster cooperation between the businesses of India and Mexico.
When we talk about tourism, the number of Mexicans visiting India has slowly increased as we come out of the shadows of COVID-19 pandemic. Indians have also started looking at Mexico, especially for destination weddings. If we smooth out the challenges in terms of visas, direct flight connectivity and flight costs, I am sure that we can grow tourism between our countries.
TB: India has made great strides in raising its profile as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. What can Mexico learn from India?
PS: Both India and Mexico have made great strides, which is evident from the recent economic data. India has become the world’s 5th largest economy, while Mexico has become the 12th largest economy. Mexico continues to attract investments with its nearshoring opportunities, while India with its economic reforms is becoming a manufacturing hub of Asia.
A worker puts together a sedan at the BMW plant in San Luis Potosí. (BMW)
India has done well to implement ease-of-doing business reforms. In addition, introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016 brought a paradigm shift in handling corporate insolvency. As a result of these reforms, India has made the highest jump by any large country since 2011 in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.
India has also focused on digital transformation. The Digital India program, launched in July 2015, is a flagship program of the Government of India that has transformed the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The government’s focus on digital public infrastructure has resulted into India being the second-fastest digital adopter among 17 major economies of the world.
This has created a huge market for a host of digital services, platforms, applications, content, and solutions, and an attractive opportunity for global and local businesses to invest in emerging technologies like AI, block chain, or quantum technology.
India’s focus on infrastructure development, including transportation, energy and connectivity has played a crucial role in supporting economic growth.
The Indian government’s push on skill development is paying dividends. Under the Skill India Mission, launched in 2015, the focus is on short and long-term training programs for the country’s workers. Between 2017 and 2023 more than 10 million people have been trained under this program to create a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future.
Lastly, India is successfully diversifying its economy, moving beyond traditional sectors to embrace technology and innovation. With 100+ “unicorns”, India has the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. India has also made a huge leap of 41 places in seven years in the WIPO’s Global Innovation Index with a 50% increase in the filing of patents in the last seven years.
However, all of this growth would be pointless if the last person in the queue did not benefit. Staying faithful to Mahatma Gandhi’s “Antyodaya” concept (working towards uplifting the poorest populations) the government is aiming to make economic growth as inclusive and equitable as possible.
TB: The Indian Embassy together with the Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry held the first joint IT forum in Mexico City in October last year. What does Mexico need to do to attract more IT investment from India?
PS: Mexico has already become an attractive destination for IT investments, not only due to the nearshoring opportunities, but also the fact that Mexico has some of the best IT educational institutions and skilled professionals.
Ambassador Sharma at an event with LTI Mindtree representatives in Mexico City. (IndEmbMex/X)
We already have the presence of several major IT companies from India, like HCLTech, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Birla Soft, Tech Mahindra in Mexico. System Soft technologies and Grey Matter solutions are recent additions. LTIMindtree has opened its first delivery center in Mexico City. More Indian companies like Avahi, Aryanco Partners are exploring the Mexican market and will enter soon. So there is already a good flow of Indian investments in this critical sector in Mexico.
The India-Mexico High Tech forum was an attempt to bring together these IT companies from both India and Mexico and brainstorm on some of the key emerging areas, such as Fintech and Artificial Intelligence, and to build useful synergies.
TB: What does Mexico need to do to attract more pharmaceutical/medical device investment from India?
PS: Pharmaceutical products are an important component of our trade basket with Mexico and an important sector for Indian investment.We already have the presence of Sunpharma, Torrent, Cipla, Heterodrugs, Zydus, Dr.Reddy’s, Lupin, Micro Labs, Accord Pharma and others in Mexico. However, there is still scope to further expand the presence of Indian pharmaceutical players, which will substantially benefit the Mexican people by making a wide variety of quality medicines available at an affordable cost, in keeping with the priorities of President López Obrador.
TB: What can India do to deepen the relationship with Mexico? Why is a strong India- Mexico relationship important in today’s world?
PS: The continued high-level exchanges have helped to increase bilateral ties between the two countries.The two visits to India by former foreign minister of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard 2022 and 2023 outlined new areas of cooperation, particularly in science and technology and health. To give an example, ImmunoAct, an Indian company, is collaborating with the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition (INCMNSZ), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) and AMEXCID to bring new cancer therapy to Mexico at a substantially lower price than other cancer therapies.
Marcelo Ebrard (far right) visited the ImmunoAct facility in Mumbai in March 2023. (LinkedIn/ImmunoACT)
During the most recent visit of former foreign minister Ebrard to India in March 2023, a MoU was signed for joint research in priority areas of hydraulics, electric mobility and low-cost vaccines.
The space industry is another potent area of collaboration between our two countries. Recently, India achieved an important feat by becoming the first country to land a space probe on the South Pole of the moon and only the fourth country ever to soft-land on moon. The world was surprised to learn that the cost of this project was just US $75 million. India also successfully sent an orbiter to Mars, which cost only US $73 million, showcasing the Indian space agency’s capability of launching highly cost-effective and successful projects. We already have a few memorandums of understanding between Mexico and India in the areas of remote sensing and forest fire management.
In the dynamic landscape of today’s globalized world, a robust relationship between India and Mexico holds paramount significance.
Both nations are pivotal players in their respective regions, and a strong partnership can contribute to a more balanced and diversified global order. By fostering closer economic ties, sharing technological advancements, and collaborating on regional and global issues, India and Mexico can collectively contribute to the stability of an increasingly interconnected world. Economically, closer India-Mexico ties open up vast opportunities for trade and investment. Both countries possess unique strengths and resources that complement each other. Collaborative efforts can result in job creation and bring overall economic prosperity for both the nations.
Lastly, the alignment of India and Mexico on shared values such as democracy, multiculturalism, and a commitment to international law provides a strong foundation for diplomatic cooperation. By working together on global issues ranging from climate change and sustainable development to global health challenges, we will contribute to the overall stability and progress of the global community.
TB: What is something that has surprised you about Mexico and Mexicans in your time here?
The Ibero-American University in Mexico City held an “India Day” event to celebrate Indian culture in February. (IndEmbMex/X)
PS: I am grateful that my job gives me the opportunity to travel and experience life in different places. In Mexico, I am surprised by the sheer number of delicious tacos and no matter how hard I try, I can’t convince anyone to share their mole recipes with me. I guess that’s a well-guarded secret in Mexico! But in all seriousness, the warmth and kindness of people, the vibrant culture and the incredible landscapes leave me in awe of this great country.
TB: Many Mexicans are fascinated by Indian culture. What cultural ties between India and Mexico are you looking to promote or emphasize?
PS: It is quite heartening to witness Mexican admiration for Indian culture. India and Mexico are two ancient civilizations and we are proud of our history, culture and traditions. The Mexican Nobel Laureate and ambassador Octavio Paz beautifully captured these similarities in his writings. To further build upon this, there’s a need to weave a bond of shared experiences that transcends geographical boundaries.
One way we are bringing India closer to Mexico is through the Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Center. Not only have we opened the doors to our friends in Mexico to celebrate the Indian festivals together in Mexico City, but we have also brought various cultural troupes and organized cultural programs in different cities of Mexico to enable a deeper exploration of language, literature and traditional practices. I invite all my Mexican friends to be part of our celebrations and enjoy the various dance, yoga, music and other classes on offer.
India has been a regular participant of the Cervantino and Santa Lucia cultural festivals, as well as FINI (International Image Festival) and FIL (International Book Fair). Cultural engagements with local institutions are as important. We have a few major events planned in the coming weeks, such as an “India Day” in partnership with the Ibero-American University and an Indian film festival to be held in various cities of Mexico.
Our hope is to create a greater understanding that goes beyond stereotypes, forging a strong bridge between the people of India and Mexico. However, governments are just one part of this kind of cultural bonding. It is the people who are the real ambassadors of culture, and we are proud to have a vibrant Indian community living across Mexico, which has done commendable work in bringing the two countries closer.
This article is the third in Mexico News Daily’s “India in Focus” series. Read about the history of relations between India and Mexico here and their cultural similarities here.
One of the new plants will produce batteries for electric vehicles. (Shutterstock)
Minth México, a subsidiary of the Chinese auto parts company Minth Group, announced plans to build two new plants in the central state of Aguascalientes on Monday.
The two factories, one of which will produce batteries for electric vehicles, the other for paint processes, will generate about 1,600 jobs. Minth expects to invest US $173.5 million to build the plants.
Minth, headquartered in Ningbo, China, said the Aguascalientes state government was instrumental in laying the foundation for this expansion. (century3inc.de)
A company spokesman told reporters the new facilities will focus on producing battery housings and aluminum parts for electric vehicles, and will include state-of-the-art technologies that will allow for advanced paint injection and plastic molding techniques.
The decision to make the new investment came after state officials met with executives at the company’s headquarters in China.
As a result, Minth voiced “interest in continuing to collaborate to ensure the growth and sustainability of its operations in the state.”
Aguascalientes is a hub of the automotive industry in Mexico. There are 10 assembly plants in the north-central state, including two Nissan factories and a Cooperation Manufacturing Plant (Compas), a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Group and Nissan. Each company invested US $1 billion for the construction and operation of the plant.
Co-Production International (CPI), a certified ISO company that specializes in establishing and managing manufacturing operations in Mexico, is bullish on Aguascalientes.
CPI describes it as a “strong and mature manufacturing state … with a highly efficient and productive workforce with low turnover” while also pointing out that there has not been an industrial strike there in 48 years. Aguascalientes is also viewed as a financially secure location for investment. Standard and Poor’s and Fitch both rate the state as AA+, one step below the maximum rating of AAA, according to CPI.
Once operational, the new plants will bolster the state’s transition to a greener and more sustainable automotive industry by promoting clean technologies, according to the government. In conjunction with this expansion, the state is considering building housing developments that feature charging stations for electric vehicles.
State officials also said they are working with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to build two new electrical sub-stations — one to be completed in August — to guarantee supply and attract new investors.
Minth Group, founded in Ningbo Xiaogang China, in 1992, opened its first facility in Mexico in 2009.
Where you should invest in real estate in Guadalajara, as explained by Jalisco native Gabriela Solís. (Sordo Madaleno)
Guadalajara has become a popular destination for real estate investors in Mexico thanks to its pleasant weather, stable economy, and rich cultural and culinary offerings.
Home to over 5.2 million inhabitants, Jaslico’s capital is a cultural and business hub whose property value increased by 18.3% last year, with 16,557 units sold, reflecting the market’s strength and investment potential.
Guadalajara is an excellent investment option due to its geographical position: close to mountains, beaches and pueblos mágicos. (Unsplash)
As nearshoring continues to attract foreign companies and employees to Guadalajara —known as the Silicon Valley of Mexico — housing demand continues to increase.
This guide provides valuable insider tips from the perspective of a Guadalajara native (myself), to help you understand each neighborhood’s vibe and investment potential.
Why invest in real estate in Guadalajara?
Guadalajara offers world-class restaurants and international cultural and sporting events. Moreover, it is the birthplace of Mexico’s two most famous exports: tequila and mariachi.
In addition to being a bustling city in its own right, Guadalajara benefits from its proximity to popular tourist destinations such as the Pueblos Mágicos of Tequila and Chapala, mountain villages like Mazamitla and Tapalpa, and the world-renowned tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta. As a result, there is a consistent demand for properties in the region.
Which are the most popular neighborhoods to invest in Guadalajara?
Guadalajara’s urban area consists of 10 municipalities. However, everything that ‘happens’ in the city mainly concentrates on Zapopan and Guadalajara. Therefore, these two should be your top choices if you want to invest in housing. The other municipalities are primarily industrial hubs hosting industrial parks and artisan workshops.
Colonia Americana tops the ‘Time Out International’ index of the best neighborhoods in the world – for good reason. (Unsplash)
So without further ado, let’s find out more about the most popular neighborhoods in the city.
Colonia Americana, Guadalajara
Featuring art deco mansions, modern apartment buildings and plenty of bars and restaurants, the Colonia Americana neighborhood ranked No. 1 in Time Out magazine’s 2022 list of the 51 coolest neighborhoods in the world.
The neighborhood is close to attractions like Templo Expiatorio del Santísmo, Chapultepec’s weekend handicrafts market, the city’s Centro or Downtown districts, and the La Minerva roundabout.
According to Match Makers Real Estate, the Colonia Americana saw a 155% increase in capital gains over the past decade, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in the city.
Price range: from US $180,000 to $1.2 million.
Colonia Chapalita, Guadalajara
This neighborhood is a perfect mix of old-fashioned charm and modern convenience, located right between Zapopan and Guadalajara. It’s an ideal area for families and bachelors alike.
Chapalita was the first neighborhood in the city to install absorption wells to collect rainwater, giving it autonomy over services like drinking water, pumping, and sewage. Collected rainwater is also used to maintain parks and gardens.
In recent years, capital gains on properties in the region have grown at an average rate of around 10% annually.
Price range: from US $295,000 to $650,000.
Colonia Providencia, Guadalajara
Colonia Providencia is fast becoming one of Guadalajara’s most lively neighborhoods. (Casas y Terrenos)
Providencia combines luxury homes, middle-class residences, and commercial areas. Some of its main avenues are lined with gourmet restaurants, yoga studios, banks, five-star hotels, and boutique shops.
The neighborhood is conveniently located between some of the city’s primary arterial roads for easy commuting. Providencia is also adjacent to Colinas de San Javier, one of the city’s most affluent residential neighborhoods.
One of its main attractions is its proximity to the 92-hectare urban park Bosque Los Colomos.
Price range: from US $295,000 to $1 million.
Ciudad Granja, Zapopan
This neighborhood is best known for Universidad Panamericana, a top private university that attracts many foreign students, who live in the surrounding apartments.
Ciudad Granja, has a unique vibe that makes it feel like a small town within the city. This area features middle-income gated communities, modern apartment buildings, and a spectacular pueblo-style street market. It also has commercial warehouses, offices, and retail stores.
The area has experienced an annual 15% increase in property value in the last five years.
Price range: from US $240,000 to $475,000
Solares, Zapopan
This residential area was one of the top searched neighborhoods on the real estate platform Propiedades.com in 2023. What started as a development on the city’s outskirts a decade ago, it is now a fully functional suburb, with nearby hospitals, prime private schools, supermarkets, and shopping malls.
Solares is ideal for families with young children. It is adjacent to Valle Real, the first upscale gated community in the northwest of Guadalajara.
Price range: from US $355,000 to $590,000
Zona Andares, Zapopan
This area sits within the Puerta de Hierro neighborhood. It offers modern apartments, upscale shopping malls such as Landmark and Andares, corporate buildings, a private hospital, a Hyatt hotel, gyms, and world-class spas.
Puerta de Hierro is one of the most prestigious areas in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area and Western Mexico in general, but an apartment here can be surprisingly affordable. (Marcos Angel Santa/Pinterest)
It is one of the most upscale areas in the city for entertainment and housing.
Price range: from US $300,000 to $1.7 million
Other considerations before investing in Guadalajara
According to the Jalisco Economic Development portal, more than 2,900 foreign companies from various sectors have invested in Jalisco, boosting the demand for housing within the city and the surrounding areas. This investment rush has made Jalisco the state with the second-highest housing sales nationwide, with an average of 3,000 homes sold per month.
Moreover, Guadalajara’s vertical growth has been one of the most dynamic in the country, with 189 vertical residential projects under construction.
The city is also a bustling hub for the tourism industry. According to the Guadalajara Visitors and Convention Bureau, the city’s tourism income grew 24.8% in 2023 compared to the previous years, boosting the hotel industry by 22%.
With this in mind, consider investing close to convention centers, business forums, or commercial areas, as they can increase the chance of attracting travelers seeking a convenient stay.
Gabriela Solís is a Mexican lawyer based in Dubai turned full-time writer. She covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her life in Dubai in her blog Dunas y Palmeras.
Mexico City has 185 museums - many off the beaten track. Here are five alternative museums worth the visit. (All photos were provided by Montserrat Castro)
Mexico City is home to an impressive array of museums – a staggering 185 are within the capital. If you live in Mexico or have checked out Mexico City visitor guides, you’ve definitely heard of the National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec, UNAM’s Contemporary Art Museum, the Rufino Tamayo Museum and Polanco’s Soumaya.
Aside from these iconic institutions, the city has many hidden gems that are worth a trip if you’re in the neighborhood. So, if you’re seeking unique cultural experiences off the beaten path, these quirky museums should be at the top of your itinerary.
The Chocolate Museum allows visitors to learn about the origins of the of the cocoa plant and the evolution of the fruit to become chocolate as it is consumed today.
Imagine a museum whose sole purpose is for you to smell dozens of chocolate bars on the wall. Or another where you can appreciate chocolate sculptures made by professional chefs. Expect this and more if you visit the MUCHO, located in the central colonia Juárez.
Don’t worry, you will get to eat chocolate here! But that’s not all: you can also reserve a group spot to make your own chocolate in a cooking class or attend a variety of affordable and fun workshops throughout the year — Visitors this April can decorate their own chocolate Easter eggs.
Opening times: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Entrance: 500 pesos
Museo Anahuacalli: Explore Diego Rivera’s impressive pre-Hispanic collection
The name Anahuacalli means ‘house on land between two seas’ in Nahuatl.
Ever wanted to visit a museum whose structure was an art piece itself? Born out of muralist Diego Rivera’s desire to provide a unique space for his art collection, and as a planned (but ultimately unused) mausoleum for himself and Frida Kahlo, Anahuacalli’s design and architecture seek to recreate a teocalli, a pre-Hispanic temple. Made out of volcanic rock, its walls harbor 23 different rooms and a central patio.
Located in the intellectual heart of the city, Coyoacán, this museum exhibits a permanent collection of pre-Hispanic art once owned by Rivera. These pieces are all representative of the cultures that flourished in Mesoamerica before the arrival of the Spanish.
Also a cultural center, the Anahuacalli stages frequent theater performances and holds various cultural activities throughout the week, from choir practice to dance lessons, book clubs, and other workshops.
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entrance: 100 pesos
Museo Kaluz: Discover the essence of Mexican culture and art through 5 centuries
Museo Kaluz has a wide variety of Mexican and foreign art from the 17th to the 21st century.
A seemingly random art collection that seeks to define “what is Mexican” through four main themes: landscape, dead nature, portraits, and genre art.
Not actually random at all, however, this museum has a wide variety of Mexican and foreign art from the 17th to the 21st century, including a vast body of work from Spanish exiles who came to Mexico after their Civil War.
Kaluz is only three years old and the soul of what once was the Hotel del Cortés, a hostel dating the year 1620 locatedin the streets of the historic center. Apart from galleries, the museum also has a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a rooftop from which you can appreciate the beautiful downtown and its surroundings.
The National Museum of Popular Cultures is located in Coyoacán. It is a space where popular and indigenous culture is preserved and promoted.
This museum is a space that studies, preserves, and celebrates indigenous and popular culture. Its exhibitions are temporary and varying in size, but always look to spread awareness of popular and indigenous Mexican art.
Located in Coyoacán’s bustling main square, the museum is an ideal addition to trips to Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul, or Diego Rivera’s Anahuacalli.
The current exhibition, entitled “Zapata Lives!” runs until March 26 and is dedicated to one of the most important political and social movements in the last 40 years of Mexican history: the Zapatista movement.
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entrance: 18 pesos, free for over 60s and under-13s. Free on Sundays.
Museo del Estanquillo: Mexico’s cultural tapestry through the lens of a literature trailblazer
TheMuseo del Estanquillo is made up of more than 20,000 pieces, including photographs, paintings, drawings, engravings, scores, caricatures, miniatures and models.
Located in a beautifully grand corner building in the historical center of the city, this museum is made for lovers of literature, art, and Mexican history alike. It exhibits over ten thousand pieces of work that comprise the collection of contemporary Mexican writer Carlos Monosiváis. This includes engravings, manuscripts, sculptures, photographs, and historical documents. The collection features multiple other artists and writers and serves as a chronicle of Mexico’s social and political history.
The current exhibition, “Cartoons and Revolution,” talks about the importance that satirical expression had before and during the revolution. A collection of drawings, prints, oil paintings, and photographs, among others, will be up until the end of April of this year.
Opening times: Wednesday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entrance: Free
Montserrat Castro Gómez is a freelance writer and translator from Querétaro, México.
