Elon Musk announces Tesla gigafactory coming to Nuevo León

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March 2, 2023

Tesla gigafactory Nuevo León — Tesla published this rendering of the announced gigafactory to be built in Nuevo León. (Tesla/X)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed Wednesday that the electric vehicle manufacturer will build a new gigafactory near Monterrey, Nuevo León.

His announcement at Tesla Investor Day in Austin, Texas, came a day after President López Obrador announced the company’s plan and revealed that it had agreed to “a series of commitments to address the problem of water scarcity” in Nuevo León, including the use of recycled water at its factory.

Elon Musk and Samuel García — Tesla CEO Elon Musk (left) with Nuevo León governor Samuel García (@SamuelGarciaS Twitter)

The gigafactory, at which Tesla will make “next-gen” electric vehicles (EVs), will be located in Santa Catarina, a municipality just west of Monterrey that borders Coahuila.

“Probably the most significant announcement of the day is that we’re excited to announce we’re going to be building a gigafactory in Mexico,” Musk said near the conclusion of the event in Austin, using a manufacturing facility name popularized by Tesla.

The CEO, who spent time in Nuevo León last October and recently held talks with López Obrador, presented a computer-generated image of the proposed facility that showed the company’s name emblazoned across its roof.

“We’ll have obviously a grand opening and a groundbreaking and whatnot, but we’re excited to announce that the next Tesla gigafactory will be in Mexico, near Monterrey, so super excited about it,” Musk said.

El anuncio de @ElonMusk que confirma #TeslaEnMéxico. #MultilateralesResuelve 🇲🇽🚗⚡️ pic.twitter.com/HZs0bz4aij

— Martha Delgado +🤚🏻 (@marthadelgado) March 2, 2023

He said that Tesla would continue to expand production at all existing factories, explaining that the gigafactory in Mexico will be “supplemental to the output of all the other factories.”

“This is not, to be clear, moving output from anywhere to anywhere. It is simply about expanding total global output,” Musk said.

Tesla has five existing gigafactories – three in the United States, one in China and one in Germany.

Musk didn’t offer specific details about Tesla’s plans in Mexico, but Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Martha Delgado said in a television interview that the company would invest more than US $5 billion in the gigafactory and that it would employ up to 6,000 people.

An unnamed Reuters source with knowledge of Tesla’s plans said that total spending could reach $10 billion, a figure that was also cited by Santa Catarina Mayor Jesús Nava.

Delgado said the facility would be “the biggest electric vehicle plant in the world,” but it was unclear when construction will begin and when it will open.

Once the factory starts operations, Tesla will manufacture about 1 million EVs per year in Mexico for domestic and international markets, Delgado said. She said that Tesla chose to build a new plant in Nuevo León due to the state’s proximity to its headquarters in Austin, and that the company was considering building a battery plant in central Mexico.

The deputy foreign minister and Nuevo León Governor Samuel García were among the Mexican officials who traveled to Austin for Wednesday’s Investor Day event at which Tesla also outlined plans to reduce manufacturing costs by 50% and increase output to 20 million vehicles annually by 2030, more than 10 times the number it expects to produce this year.

The objectives are part of Tesla’s Master Plan 3, which the company described as “a path to a fully renewable energy future.”

García, a young Citizens Movement party governor who frequently touts the foreign investment that has flowed into Nuevo León since he took office, lauded Tesla’s decision to set up near Monterrey in a series of social media posts.

Monterrey, Nuevo León, is one of the country’s manufacturing hubs and a top recipient of foreign investment.(Depositphotos)

“The richest man on earth trusted Nuevo León, Mexico, for his new gigafactory and his next generation vehicle. The future is bright. Thanks @elonmusk, thanks @Tesla,” he wrote on Twitter above a photo in which he appears with Musk.

In a video message, García said that Mexicans should feel proud about Tesla’s arrival in Nuevo León. He asserted that China, Germany, England, Brazil and Canada were all interested in getting the new Tesla plant but Musk ultimately “chose Mexico.”

He said that after he won the 2021 gubernatorial election but before he was sworn in later the same year, he traveled to Texas and visited Tesla’s gigafactory in Austin. At the end of a tour of the factory, García said that executives – “today great friends of mine” – explained that Tesla depended heavily on imports from Nuevo León “because aluminum, metal, the parts and even the brain – the car’s computer – were exported from here.”

“That’s when I started dreaming of Tesla and it’s why Nuevo León can now dream of the future. Nuevo León needed Tesla like Tesla needed Nuevo León,” he said, adding that they fit each other like a tailor-made suit.

The governor also said that Tesla’s presence in the state will attract other companies in sectors including electric transport, aerospace and telecommunications.

Earlier on Wednesday, López Obrador said that Musk is “interested in investing more in Mexico” and that he had invited him to visit.

“I’m thinking about getting him to go to Sonora to see the solar energy plant … and all the potential there is there in copper and lithium,” he said.

“I clarified that lithium has already been nationalized but that doesn’t mean we can’t reach an agreement. Lithium belongs to Mexicans but if you buy the raw material, put it in battery factories in Sonora, give work to sonorenses, to Mexicans, an agreement can be reached,” López Obrador said.

Lithium, which isn’t yet extracted in Mexico, is a core component in batteries used by electric vehicles. Ford is already making EVs in Mexico while GM and BMW have plans to do so, the latter announcing last month that it would invest 800 million euros (US $848.5 million) in San Luis Potosí to produce high-voltage batteries and fully electric “Neue Klasse” vehicles.

A growing number of foreign companies are investing in Mexico to take advantage of the country’s proximity to the United States, its free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada and the availability of affordable skilled labor.

With reports from Reuters, Reforma and El Financiero

Mexicans score higher on happiness index compared to last year

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MND Staff

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March 1, 2023

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Man on Reforma Avenue, Mexico City — A Mexico City man takes his pug on a bicycle ride down Reforma Avenue. A survey released Wednesday by INEGI showed Mexicans' happiness levels to be back to pre-pandemic levels. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)

The mood of adult Mexicans has gone back up to what it was just before the pandemic, according to data from the latest iteration of an annual federal well-being survey.

Carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the National Self-Reported Well-Being Survey showed the “mood balance” of Mexicans in January 2023 to be 6.5 points on a scale of 1 to 10 — the same as it was in January 2020.

It higher than the 6.2 points registered in January 2022.

The survey is taken in the first month of each quarter and focuses on three dimensions of well-being: mental balance, satisfaction levels (with life in general and with specific areas of it) and eudaemonia, or spiritual well-being, which relates to a sense of purpose in life.

INEGI said the survey offers representative information on adults in 32 cities in Mexico. Respondents are presented with various questions about their state of mind on the previous day, addressing mood, vitality, stress, tranquility and excitement, and asked to give a rating.

The results, released Feb. 28, show that Mexicans’ highest level of satisfaction is in personal relationships, with an 8.8 score, followed by:

Mexicans' life satisfaction, according to INEGI survey — A bar chart showing Mexicans’ rating of life satisfaction on a quarterly basis since 2015. The turquoise and purple bars on the right show the latest survey’s findings on life satisfaction according to men (turquoise) and women (purple). (Graphic: INEGI)

housing, at 8.7
Volunteer or work activity, also at 8.7
achievements in life, at 8.5.
state of health, at 8.5
future prospects, also at 8.5
leisure time, at 7.8
Public safety, at 7.1

The lowest rating was given to the area of security, with an average of 5.4. It was below the 5.6 reported in January 2022.

Of the 12 domains considered, eight presented a decrease compared to January 2022, while four maintained the same level.

The survey also deciphers well-being indicators for different regions.

For example, in Michoacán, the mood balance in January was 4.77, significantly lower than the 6.5 national average. According to Inegi, this means Michoacános experience higher levels of stress, depression and anxiety than people elsewhere.

Nationally, men showed a higher level of happiness, with 6.8 points, and women registered an average of 6.2 points.

The data about “satisfaction with life in general” showed an 8.5 among men and an 8.3 among women for a national average of 8.4 — which suggests that the majority of Mexicans are happy with their personal situation, according to INEGI.

The 8.4 rating remained unchanged from January 2022.

In measuring eudaemonia, or spiritual well-being, INEGI offered nine statements for respondents to identify with. The one the adult population identified most with was “I am a lucky person,” a response that had a 9.2 average.

The statement “When something makes me feel bad, it is difficult for me to return to normality” had an average of only 4.3.

INEGI officials explained that the objective of the survey, which has been conducted since 2013, “is to complement the economic figures of the situation with information generated from the Well-Being Framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD], which promoted the debate on what elements to consider [in judging a country’s well-being], beyond the gross domestic product [GDP].”

With reports from El Financiero, Cambio de Michoacán and Forbes México

Mushrooms: the latest health trend is centuries old

By

Bethany Platanella

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March 1, 2023

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Psilocybe aztecorum — Mushrooms, which the Mexica called "flesh of the gods", have a long history of consumption in Mexico. (Wikimedia Commons)

Mushrooms. So hot right now.

And apparently, they always have been.

A Mexica illustration of a man eating mushrooms and being visited by a god. (Photo: Harvard University Archives)

Egyptians ate mushrooms to live longer. The ancient Greeks consumed mushrooms ceremonially for their visionary benefits. Certain Vikings used mushrooms before battle to render themselves “bloodthirsty and invincible.”

The Mexica referred to mushrooms as the “flesh of the gods.” The last Aztec ruler, Montezuma II, is said to have eaten copious amounts when crowned.

Mushrooms have a long medicinal history in Asia as well, one that continues today. But many people have only recently discovered it as a potential health aid.

In the 1950’s, mushroom tourism began to boom in Mexico with María Sabina, a Mazatec shaman. The husband-and-wife team R. Gordon and Valentina Wasson publicized their experiences meeting María Sabina and trying psilocybin mushrooms with her in magazines like Life, and it attracted a psychedelically hungry group of scientists, hippies and rock stars to the village of Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca, to meet her.

By 1969, as the counterculture used and advocated for psychedelics, magic mushrooms started becoming illegal worldwide. The U.S. and other countries banned psychotropic mushroom medical research, a ban that remained in place until fairly recently.

Life Magazine article about psilocybin in Oaxaca, Mexico. — The Life magazine article written by R. Gordon Wasson, an amateur mycologist who helped introduce many around the world to “magic mushrooms,” causing the Oaxacan village he wrote about to be overrun by foreign visitors seeking a hallucinogenic experience. (Life)

Today, restrictions are finally easing on psychedelics, including “magic mushrooms,” and the promise of many regular mushrooms as well as a health aid is growing. There are currently several non-psilocybin types that are being used as a viable alternative to pharmaceuticals.

Many of the fungi that are considered medicinal can be found right here in Mexico.

To get a feel for the different styles, I spoke to Micelio, a lab based in Amátlan, Veracruz, that grows, powders and packages them in a variety of ways. They told me about the three most coveted types of mushrooms and the health benefits often attributed to them.

Lion’s Mane

May help with: brain and gut function

What does it do? A study by researchers from the Queensland Brain Institute in Australia isolated elements of Lion’s Mane and added them to cultured neurons from rat embryos. The scientists found that axons grow doubly long. Other studies on animals have shown Lion’s Mane to hold promise for stimulating brain neuron regrowth, improving cognitive function, protecting against dementia and even protecting against ulcers.

How is it consumed? In a capsule, as a powder or cooked in its natural form. The Lion’s Mane is a spherical fungus covered with long hairlike projections that, as you may have guessed, resembles a lion’s mane.

Cordyceps

May help with: blood health and oxygen levels

What does it do? Research studies have suggested that cordyceps dilates the aorta and increases blood flow, and appears to improve exercise performance and athletic stamina for some people. It may also increase sex drive and decrease blood sugar levels (the latter by mimicking insulin)

Note: If you’re a fan of the HBO series “The Last of Us,” you may have recently heard about cordyceps and be taken aback at the idea of using this fungus as a potential health aid. This article explains that while fungal infections are indeed of concern (though not from eating mushrooms), you don’t need to worry about any danger from cordyceps.

How is it consumed? Dried mushrooms are infused in hot water and consumed as tea. Also taken in capsule form.

Cordyceps mushroom — Cordyceps has entered the public consciousness in part due to Gwyneth Paltrow promoting it as a health supplement. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Reishi

May help with: immune system function

What does it do? Used for centuries in Japanese and Chinese medicine — and in contemporary China to support immune function in cancer patients receiving chemo or radiation therapy, reishi has been reported in a few preclinical studies to produce cancer-fighting effects and arrest cell growth, but only so far in vitro and on lab mice.

Those results have been difficult to reproduce in humans, but a study using the blood of lung cancer patients found that reishi appeared to inhibit cancer cells from suppressing the body’s immune response. Reishi has also been anecdotally reported to regulate blood pressure, improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation.

How is it consumed? As a powder, tea or tincture.

And then there are the magic mushrooms, of which there are many varieties that many doctors and mental health professionals believe carry noticeable mental health perks, all due to the key interactive ingredient, psilocybin.

Mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years and psychedelic mushrooms have been consumed by indigenous communities for 3,500 years or more. This article is simply meant to be informative, it is up to you to further research the benefits for your personal use.

Psilocybin

Psilocybin has been intermittently researched for decades as an alternative to pharmaceutical depression treatments, and its use is rising in popularity by the day.

What does it do? According to David Nutt, a neuropsychopharmacologist at the Imperial College of London, psilocybin “makes the brain more flexible and fluid…less entrenched in the negative thinking patterns associated with depression.” It’s also thought to lower anxiety, relieve PTSD, help with migraines and treat addiction.

How is it consumed? Usually in a controlled capsule form.

psilocybe mexicana — The hallucinogenic Psilocybe mexicana, known in Mexico as pajaritos and teotlnanáctl, has a wide distribution throughout the country as well as Guatemala and Costa Rica. Beware: they are illegal in Mexico unless being used for traditional spiritual practices or ceremonies. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Mushrooms are currently illegal in Mexico unless they are being used for traditional spiritual practices or ceremonies led by a shaman, out of respect for ancient indigenous practice.

The three most common strains found in Mexico are believed to have been used (rather generously) by the Aztecs:

Psilocybe aztecorum: found at altitudes of 3,200–4,000 meters in Central Mexico.

Psilocybe caerulescens: found in sunny, muddy locations in the Sierra Madre Mountains and are still frequently used ritualistically by the Mazatec people.

Psilocybe mexicana: probably the most prevalent. Known today as pajaritos and by the Aztec as teotlnanácatl, these mushrooms are found in higher elevations around Oaxaca, Veracruz, and the State of Mexico.

And there you have it! Whether you’re looking to lower your blood pressure, ease your anxiety, fend off dementia or dissolve your ego, perhaps the answers you are looking for are right in your (figurative) backyard!

A final note: There are many poisonous mushrooms that can be fatal when consumed. Always purchase mushrooms for personal consumption from a trusted resource. Do NOT literally pick them from your backyard.

Bethany Platanella is a travel and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. With her company, Active Escapes International, she plans and leads private and small-group active retreats. She loves Mexico’s local markets, Mexican slang, practicing yoga and fresh tortillas. Sign up for her (almost) weekly love letters or follow her Instagram account, @a.e.i.wellness.

How the San Miguel Writers’ Conference continues to evolve

By

Ann Marie Jackson

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March 1, 2023

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Talk at the San Miguel Writers' Conference — Beloved Canadian author Merilyn Simonds in conversation with Giller Prize winner Suzette Mayr, author of The Sleeping Car Porter, at the San Miguel Writers Conference. (Photo: Ann Marie Jackson)

After two years on Zoom, the renowned San Miguel Writers’ Conference returned to an in-person format this year, to the delight of several hundred enthusiastic attendees from across North America.

In between keynote addresses, intimate author readings, master classes from an impressive faculty, and energetic open mic nights, I had the pleasure of visiting with both Susan Page, co-founder and outgoing executive director of the conference, and Tina Bueche, incoming executive director.

San Miguel Writers' Conference speakers — San Miguel Writers’ Conference keynote speakers Janelle Brown and Jean Kwok, fellow authors Danielle Trussoni and Angie Kimask, and literary agent Susan Golomb. (Photo: Edson Tello)

Founded in 2006, this bilingual and tricultural conference held annually at the Hotel Real de Minas in San Miguel de Allende has attracted an impressive array of literary stars over the years, including Barbara Kingsolver, Luis Alberto Urrea, Tom Robbins, Valeria Luiselli, Paul Theroux, Gloria Steinem, Naomi Klein, and U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, among many other notable writers.

This year’s keynote speakers included Janelle Brown (“Pretty Things”), Jean Kwok (“Searching for Sylvie Lee” and “Girl in Translation”), Brenda Lozano (“Witches”), Linda Spalding (“The Paper Wife”), and Benjamin Lorr, the immersive journalist who wrote “The Secret Life of Groceries” and “Hell-Bent”, an explosive exposé on sexual abuse within the Bikram yoga community.

In addition, Suzette Mayr, winner of Canada’s lucrative Giller Prize, discussed her work with prolific Canadian author Merilyn Simonds. Simonds also engaged in an onstage conversation with literary icon Margaret Atwood in a post-conference event at La Casona Convention Center. Atwood charmed the audience with her sly humor.

I sat down with co-founder and outgoing executive director Susan Page to learn more about the conference’s impact on San Miguel and the literary world. Page pointed first to the economic impact on the city. Before the pandemic, the city government estimated that each year attendees brought US $2 million into the economy of San Miguel, when expenditures on hotels, restaurants, taxis, galleries, and shops were considered.

Susan Page of the SM Writers' Conference — Executive director Susan Page speaking at one of the SM Writers’ Conferences. (San Miguel Writers’ Conference Facebook)

This year, coming out of the pandemic with a more intimate and streamlined version of the conference, the economic boon to the city is somewhat less, but still considerable.

Moreover, Page said, “we’ve put San Miguel on the literary map of the world because our conference has a golden reputation. San Miguel has long been known as a center for the visual arts, but we have enhanced its reputation as a literary destination with a world-class conference that draws people from all over.”

Page credits the conference’s popularity to a combination of ingredients: the charming setting, world-class faculty, consistently high-quality keynote speakers, and great networking opportunities. “If you are a writer,” Page said, “in any stage of your career, I can absolutely guarantee that this conference will inspire you and motivate you, and that you will leave with new skills.”

Over the years, the San Miguel Literary Sala, the organization behind the San Miguel Writers’ Conference, has supported various literary programs for children and teens, both within the conference itself and in the broader community. The Literary Sala was an early incubator for programs such as Libros Para Todos for middle school students and the My First Book program with Ojalá Niños for very young children. These programs are now run independently.

New executive director Tina Bueche described her vision for the conference’s future evolution. “There are efforts underway to better integrate our host country—our friends and neighbors—into the conference, to include a broader swath of the community, and to forge an even stronger partnership.” Bueche’s vision involves integrating new efforts in coordination with established San Miguel community organizations such as FELISMA, the Literary Festival and Book Fair of San Miguel de Allende.

Bueche also described the organization’s desire to keep the programming highly relevant and contemporary so that workshops resonate with attendees about what it’s really like to be a writer today. “This is a content-driven conference, and we will keep making this a place people want to be because they know they’ll walk away, figuratively, full.”

As Bueche explained, the pandemic provided a fresh perspective and new tools. After two years of running the conference entirely remotely, this year’s event was hybrid. In the future, “we will continue to provide options for remote access so that people who aren’t in a financial position to attend the conference in person don’t get left out. We had several hundred Zoom attendees for certain panels and speakers this year.”

Moreover, she said “we will look for ways to use the technology that will continue to be developed, such as Artificial Intelligence. AI can be an effective research and fact-checking tool for writers, and so maybe it’s something we should include in the curriculum in the future.”

Bueche and I discussed the ethics of writers using AI and laughed about just how good two keynote speech introductions had been that were written by ChatGPT during the conference.

San Miguel de Allende has been “put on the literary map” by the conference, according to co-founder Susan Page. (Photo: Daniels Joffe en Unsplash)

One presenter told the app to “Write a keynote speech introduction for immersive journalist Benjamin Lorr—and make it funny,” and out came an accurate two-minute introduction for the author that actually made the audience laugh, spawning uneasy jokes among the writers in the crowd about being put out of a job someday by the nascent technology. It will certainly be a topic of interest in the years to come.

Bueche told me how the conference has had a significant impact on the multicultural community of San Miguel: “We change people’s lives. For example, Mauricio Ruiz, one of our volunteers, read for the first time at open mic. To do that for the first time—to have that presence, to have that voice—is impactful.”

Ruiz agreed. “The bilingual open mic at Café Murmullo was a unique experience of literary communion among people from the US, Canada, and Mexico. I feel fortunate to have been invited by poet Judyth Hill and Armida Zepeda (director of the Spanish track of the conference) to read my work. I met many interesting writers, participants and instructors alike. I am grateful I had the chance to be in San Miguel this year.”

Those interested in supporting the conference as donors or volunteers should contact Executive Director Tina Bueche through the San Miguel Literary Sala website: sanmiguelliterarysala.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 novel The Broken Hummingbird will be out in October. Ann Marie can be reached through her website, annmariejacksonauthor.com

Aeroméxico and pilots’ union dispute cause of flight cancellations

By

MND Staff

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March 1, 2023

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Aeromexico's Boeing 737s lined up at the gates of the international terminal of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM). — Among Mexican airlines, Aeroméxico and Volaris carried the most passengers. (Shutterstock)

Aeroméxico and a pilots’ union are at loggerheads over the cause of recent flight cancellations and delays.

More than 50 Aeroméxico flights were canceled and over 300 were delayed on Sunday and Monday due to what the airline described as a “policy of zero support” from the leadership of the Association of Airline Pilots of Mexico (ASPA).

Aeromexico flight delays — An airport schedule board shows Aeromexico’s delayed flights on Friday. (@Anybere Twitter)

In contrast, ASPA blamed Aeroméxico management for the cancellations and delays, saying that the problem was “flawed operational restructuring.”

At least 53 Aeroméxico flights were canceled on Sunday and Monday while 315 were delayed. Social media posts indicate that there have been more cancellations and delays on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Mexican flag carrier said in a statement Tuesday that it “deeply regretted” the inconveniences experienced by some passengers and that it “has worked to attend to their travel needs.”

“The current leadership of the Association of Airline Pilots of Mexico has said that the cause is incorrect planning in the assignment of shifts to pilots. The aforesaid is false as all the assignments … are in accordance with the current contracts between ASPA and the airline,” Aeroméxico said.

Humberto Gual, president of ASPA Mexico — Secretary General of the Mexican Aviation Pilots’ Union (ASPA) Humberto Gual at a December meeting. (ASPA)

The real reason for the flight cancellations and delays, the airline said, is that “the current union leadership is promoting a policy of zero support in the face of common disruptions in global aviation – bad weather, for example, air traffic congestion, diversions due to sick passengers or any eventuality, as minimal as it may be, that interrupts the operation of a flight.”

“At Aeroméxico we recognize the talent of the best pilots, who are part of the ASPA union and whose work conditions are the most robust in the Mexican airline industry. Consequently, we regret the attitude of current union leadership, which affects customers and [airline] crews,” the statement said.

In its own statement issued earlier on Tuesday, ASPA said that it regretted the flight cancellations and delays, but stressed they were not the fault of pilots.

“We strictly respect the regulations and provisions of our collective labor agreement. There are no labor breaches on our part. The problem is the flawed operational restructuring implemented by [Aeroméxico] management, who plan with the mistaken idea that crews have to accept flying days of up to 14 or 15 continuous hours or modify breaks in order to continue with their scheduling, to mention a couple of examples,” the union said.

ASPA said that reducing breaks and lengthening work days is harmful to the health of crew members and pointed out that the Federal Labor Law gives employees the right to decide whether they want to work extra hours or more than six days per week.

“It’s important to communicate that ASPA has already sought a meeting with the leadership of the company in an effort to support them in order to optimize operational planning and deal with delays and cancellations. However, … we haven’t received a response,” it added.

Some Aeroméxico passengers took to social media to complain about flight cancellations and delays.

“Thanks @Aeromexico for canceling my flight that I bought with ‘cancellation insurance’ and not doing anything about it,” one person tweeted sarcastically on Wednesday.

“Stranded in Mexico City again. @Aeromexico ‘is delaying’ a flight that already appears as canceled on other [flight information] platforms. It’s in breach of obligations: [there are] passengers without accommodation and ground staff are not taking responsibility,” another Twitter user said.

The conflict between Aeroméxico and ASPA has been going on for months. Aeroméxico pilots – who in early 2021 accepted a four-year salary reduction of between 5% and 15% – have complained that the airline hasn’t provided all the benefits to which they are entitled, such as free flights, and that their schedules are changed at short notice.

They also say that Aeroméxico and its subsidiary Aeroméxico Connect – which together employ some 2,800 pilots – don’t have enough personnel to cover all routes.

In addition, there have been complaints about a 15% reduction in spending on hotels and transport for Aeroméxico cabin crew.

ASPA spokesperson José Alonso said that the current dispute is not focused on the pay cut pilots took, but nevertheless complained that Aeroméxico – which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 but emerged from that process almost a year ago – hasn’t sat down with pilots to renegotiate their contracts.

“We signed a salary reduction but we now see that the industry is growing, that the company is growing, but we still have a reduced salary and reduced travel allowances,” he said.

“We would like them to take that into account, although it’s not the priority now,” Alonso said.

With reports from Proceso and El País

Royal living and high rental income in 12-suite Mexico Mansion for sale

By

Sarah Bender

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March 1, 2023

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This 20,000+ square foot Mexican Mega Mansion consists of 12 suites (5 masters), 17 bathrooms, 2 pools, 4-car/boat garage, a huge rooftop lounge/dance terrace and accommodates up to 32 guests
Mexico Mansion is available for sale at the unbelievable price of US $2.5 million with the rental income opportunity of up to US $6,000 per day
Earn hundreds of thousands of dollars each year while living a dream life in paradise and feeling like royalty with your own private staff
Mexico Mansion boasts spectacular bay and ocean views and is just a short distance to Acapulco‘s best restaurants and sargassum-free beautiful beaches

Upon entering this extraordinary Mega Mansion (see a video of the house here) visitors immediately feel like they’re living the life of the rich and famous as they’re greeted by their very own private butler, gourmet chef, housekeepers and a multitude of around the clock waiters and bartenders. At Mexico Mansion, the food, drink, and fun never stop!

For two decades, Mexico Mansion has been the crown jewel of luxury villas in all of Mexico. This five-star rental has earned a reputation for being the go-to destination for A-listers, world-class athletes, and business moguls from all over the globe.

Even the famous Captain Lee from the hit reality show “Below Deck” can’t resist the allure of Mexico Mansion, making it his go-to spot for soaking up the world’s best weather and reveling in the lap of luxury.

With daily temperatures hovering around a blissful 87 degrees, a refreshing ocean breeze, and barely any rain to dampen your spirits, Mexico Mansion is the epitome of paradise.

The mansion was designed in such a way that the owners can close one door and enjoy the upper five suites, while simultaneously renting the lower seven suites for an average of US$1500/night.

The size of this luxury villa makes it the perfect place to host a family reunion, wedding, couples’ vacation, or even a business retreat. But the real showstopper is the upper infinity pool & bar that seems to spill right into the Pacific Ocean, while the lower heated spa/jacuzzi pool is perfect for partying the night away with all 30 of your friends and family.

Mexico Mansion has been featured in photo shoots in international magazines and contracted by prominent television networks and advertising agencies.

Imagine the memories and magic moments you could create in this iconic villa that has hosted some of the world’s most influential figures.

So, if you’re thinking of a life of retirement in the sun while still earning rental income, becoming a digital nomad or a Bitcoin millionaire, why not make the move to Mexico Mansion? Make your dream of a life in the sun a reality today!

To discover more of what Mexico Mansion has to offer, click here.

Mexican government makes agreement with 6 Hollywood film studios

By

MND Staff

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March 1, 2023

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Marcelo Ebrard at meeting in Hollywood — Marcelo Ebrard meets with film industry representatives in Hollywood on Monday. (@MarceloEbrard Twitter)

The federal government has struck a deal with six major Hollywood movie studios that is set to benefit the film industry in Mexico.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) announced Monday that in conjunction with state and municipal governments it had reached an agreement with Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. as well as the Motion Picture Association to form a working group focused on growing the film industry in Mexico.

Baja Studios film set — One of Mexico’s most well-known studios is Baja Film Studios, and was used for filming “Titanic” in 1997, as well as many other notable films, like “Master and Commander” in 2002 (pictured here). (Wikimedia Commons)

The central objective is to have more movies and series made in Mexico, where films such as James Cameron’s “Titanic”, Baz Luhrman’s “Romeo + Juliet” and Sam Mendes’ “Spectre” were partially shot.

At a meeting with film studio executives at Netflix’s Los Angeles offices on Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that new investment that is expected to flow into Mexico as a result of the working group agreement would create over 1 million jobs.

“More productions, more jobs and wellbeing in Mexico,” he said in a Twitter post.

“Day 1 of the new road we’re going to travel with the Hollywood entertainment industry to grow the creative power of Mexico!” Ebrard tweeted above a photo of the attendees at Monday’s meeting.

Integramos Grupo de Trabajo con Netflix,Paramount,HBO, Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, NBC Universal y la Motion Picture Association con 50 alcaldes,17 Estados de la República y SRE . Más producciones, más empleos y bienestar en México. Gracias !! pic.twitter.com/UMMQbeHfmW

— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) February 28, 2023

Marcelo Ebrard with the working group in Hollywood on Monday.

The foreign minister was accompanied by 50 mayors of Mexican cities as well as 17 state economic development ministers, SRE officials and Mexico’s consul general in Los Angeles, Marcela Celorio.

“During the meeting, the great economic impact of the audiovisual industry in Mexico was reviewed,” the SRE said in a statement.

“… The creative industries contribute 54 billion pesos [almost US $3 billion] directly [to the Mexican economy per year] and 42 billion pesos indirectly. At a regional level, the [trade] agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) has been a fundamental tool for the industry and the protection of intellectual property.”

The SRE also said that the Mexico and United States governments had agreed to include film industry-related issues on the agenda for future High-Level Economic Dialogue meetings.

That move “will facilitate coordination between authorities of both countries to drive growth of the audiovisual sector,” the ministry said.

In addition to playing host to foreign filmmakers and crews, Mexico has its own acclaimed film industry. Several Mexican directors – including the “three amigos” Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo del Toro – have had success with both Mexican and foreign productions.

Mexico News Daily

Baking a better life: Meet Italia Prado

By

Sarah Bender

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March 1, 2023

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Italia Prado is a professional pastry chef who was diagnosed with celiac disease 13 years ago. Her gluten intolerance forced her to make changes not only to her diet, but to her life – leading her on an inspiring journey towards becoming a successful businesswoman, founding her own brand and winning Shark Tank Mexico in 2022.

Italia is a passionate foodie from Mexico City, mother of two, who turned this personal challenge into an opportunity when she started whipping up delicious, healthy treats in her kitchen. Today, they can be found in supermarkets and specialty shops across the country.

Entrepreneur Italia Prado with her husband and two children. (Courtesy)

In today’s profile, we learn how Italia has become a healthy cuisine expert and advocate, while also raising a family.

How did your diagnosis with celiac disease motivate you to make healthy food options?

Before I was diagnosed 13 years ago, I felt terrible. I was weak, irritable, losing weight, I had anemia, headaches, stomach pain, and spent most of my time in the bathroom because everything made me so sick.

I quickly learned that not eating gluten was not just a choice but a lifestyle that forced me to change everything, from what I bought, to what I ordered at restaurants – I even started bringing my own lunch to parties! At first, it was very difficult because almost everything contains gluten, but I started to research, to study, to read labels until I became an expert on the subject.

Italia Prado Shark Tank Mexico — Italia and her partner and husband Franco at Shark Tank Mexico in 2022. (Courtesy)

Around this time in Mexico there were hardly any alternative food options for people with dietary restrictions or those simply wanting to buy healthy (and tasty) food. If you could find anything it was extremely expensive, as it was imported from abroad. Also there was a cross-contamination concern with the products that existed, which is a huge health risk for those with celiac disease.

I realized there was an untapped market waiting to be explored. That was the beginning, and since then, I’ve never looked back. I started experimenting by making gluten-free bread for myself and my neighbors and soon became aware that I wasn’t not the only one suffering from food intolerances, allergies, and chronic health conditions.

In fact, one of my friend’s daughters has type 1 diabetes and one day she asked me to make her some sugar-free chocolate cookies. We checked her glucose before eating 3 small cookies and then again after, and noticed that her glucose levels didn’t increase. That’s how I started expanding into sugar-free products and now those chocolate cookies are our second best-selling item!

Did you always know you would work in the food business?

Yes. I have degrees in business administration and as a baking and pastry chef from The Culinary Institute of America. Actually, before I got married I used to sell cakes to friends, catering companies, and restaurants.

I had plans to open up my own pastry shop, but I had to put everything on hold since two children were born premature. I spent the first 7 years of their lives in doctor’s offices and finding them the best therapies – it was hard.

As soon as they were stronger and healthier, that’s when I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Although it was a shock at first, it was also a relief to know what was going on with my body. This is when I became a health coach, took healthy baking courses, and decided that it was time to follow my passion. I started working 24/7 on developing the best gluten-free and sugar-free products.

Has food always been an important part of your life?

Absolutely! Food has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was just a little girl, I used to spend hours in the kitchen baking.

Italia wanted to create gluten-free foods that were also delicious. (Courtesy)

I remember setting up stands right in front of my house and selling homemade cookies and cakes to neighbors and anyone who walked by – it was the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey.

What was your first breakthrough?

In 2018 I went to a health and wellness trade fair in Mexico City. I had a stand with some of my products and that’s where nutritionists and doctors discovered me. They loved the flavors and the wide variety that I could offer their patients.

After that event, they started calling me for my products to sell in their clinics and stores. From there my work spread through word of mouth, and that’s how we got into Costco, Walmart, HEB and Chedraui Select stores.

What inspired your slogan, “nutritious can be delicious”?

It was crucial for me that all of my products were not only healthy, but tasty. It’s unfair for those who are on a diet, dealing with an illness, or forced to follow dietary restrictions to have to settle for bland or unappetizing food. We not only came up with the slogan, we live by it.

You launched “Healthy Brand” just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. How did this affect your business?

Actually, it was an incredible time for us – we doubled our sales! We had a shipping distribution service in Monterrey and Mexico City so we already had the logistics in place.

Our eCommerce model was already working well, and then during the pandemic it exploded. People started worrying more about what they eat, and looking for products that would optimize their health.

Has it been difficult to juggle family life and launching a business?

Yes, being a businesswoman, raising two young children, and trying to make space for the little time I have with them has been the most challenging thing. At first, I started alone in my kitchen here in Querétaro, and then converted our laundry room with some personal savings and the support of my family.

It was an unusual path for a young Mexican woman to take, especially with the added responsibilities of motherhood. But I was determined to make it work and pave the way for other female leaders in Mexico.

Italia Prado with her products — Italia’s products have made it into major retailers in Mexico and she plans to expand into the U.S. (Courtesy)

As the business kept growing to meet the demand for my products, I started hiring employees. I made a conscious decision to employ mostly women, as I wanted to create job opportunities for other women like myself. Currently, 80% of my workers are women. It’s a small contribution to supporting other women and their families, but it’s a start.

As we continued to expand, I had to invest in bigger facilities to fulfill our increasing orders. It was then that my husband, Franco, moved back to Querétaro and became a valuable partner in helping me grow the business even more.

What is next for you? Where do you see yourself and your project in 5 years?

Expanding into the US market and being in Whole Foods would be amazing. We’re already making our way into City Market here in Mexico, but I’d love to see our products at all the top retailers.

Expanding into plant-based products is a huge trend that really excites us. While Keto was a big hit, we want to broaden our focus to include healthy eating in general, and that means offering more plant-based options. Ultimately, my goal is to help people feel better about themselves, make delicious healthy food options, and encourage a healthier world – that’s what drives me.

On a personal note, it’s so important for me to have more time with my family and find moments to exercise, which means learning to delegate more effectively. I’m really trying!

If you’re curious about Italia’s delicious keto, low-carb, sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan and healthy treats, check them out here.

AMLO: “More democracy” in Mexico than in the US

By

MND Staff

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February 28, 2023

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Protests against electoral reform in Mexico — President Lopez Obrador was responding to statements made by U.S. State Department officials on Monday about Mexico's citizen protests against a newly passed electoral reform bill. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)

Democracy is in better shape in Mexico than in the United States, President López Obrador asserted Tuesday after the U.S. Department of State released a statement on Sunday’s protests against the federal government’s recently-approved electoral reform package known colloquially as “Plan B.”

“With all respect, I say to Mr. [Antony] Blinken of the State Department that there is currently more democracy in Mexico than in the United States,” the president said at his regular news conference.

Mexico's President Lopez Obrador. — At his press conference on Tuesday, the president responded to the U.S.’s concerns by saying that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken should go back and read Alexis de Tocqueville. (Photo: Presidencia)

“… When I say that we have more democracy than them it’s because the people rule here and the oligarchy rules there,” López Obrador said.

He said he was willing to have a debate on the issue and claimed he had “evidence to prove there is more liberty and democracy in our country.”

The president’s remarks followed the publication on Monday of a statement from U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price on the “protests against electoral overhaul in Mexico.”

“Healthy democracies benefit from strong institutions and a plurality of voices,” Price said. “The United States supports independent, well-resourced electoral institutions that strengthen democratic processes and the rule of law.”

Around the world, the United States has “witnessed challenges to democracy that have tested and are testing the strength of independent electoral and judicial institutions,” Price said, adding that in Mexico, “We see a great debate on electoral reforms, on the independence of electoral and judicial institutions, that illustrates Mexico’s vibrant democracy.”

Approved by the Senate last week, the López Obrador-backed “Plan B” electoral reform laws will slash the budget of the elections oversight body, the National Electoral Institute (INE), and therefore force the dismissal of staff, diminish its capacity to sanction politicians who violate electoral laws, curtail its autonomy and close some INE offices, among other consequences.

“Healthy democracies benefit from strong institutions and a plurality of voices,” U.S. Department of State spokesman Ned Price said in a statement published on Twitter on Monday. (Photo: screen capture from @Ned Price/Twitter)

Price said that the United States respects Mexico’s sovereignty but “we believe that a well-resourced, independent electoral system and respect for judicial independence support healthy democracy.”

Brian A. Nichols, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, conveyed a similar message on Twitter on Sunday.

López Obrador advised the United States — specifically the State Department — to concern itself with what’s happening in Peru rather than “meddling” in Mexico’s affairs.

AMLO has repeatedly denounced President Pedro Castillo’s removal from office by the Peruvian Congress last December and described the government of President Dina Boluarte as illegitimate and “spurious.”

The United States ambassador in Peru, Lisa Kenna, is “the adviser of the coup plotters who trampled on freedoms and democracy in that country, ousting the president and imprisoning him,” he said Tuesday.

Mexico's President Lopez Obrador greeting ex-Peruvian president Pedro Castillo — AMLO greeting ex-Peruvian president Pedro Castillo in 2021 during the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. He said at Tuesday’s press conference that the U.S. should concern itself with what’s happening in Peru rather than “meddling” in Mexico’s affairs. (Presidencia)

López Obrador said that the United States still hasn’t abandoned the 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine and considers itself “the government of the world.”

“They always interfere in affairs that don’t concern them,” he said while defending U.S. President Joe Biden and his support for “equality” among nations.

The president — who has rejected claims that the electoral reform places the staging of free and fair elections at risk while touting the billions of pesos in annual savings it will generate — also took the opportunity to denounce the United States’ media coverage of Sunday’s protests.

“Yesterday, for example, the newspaper that is possibly the most influential in the world in economic and financial terms, The Wall Street Journal, had eight columns and a photograph on the march of the corrupt because that newspaper and others in the United States protect the mafias of economic power in the world,” he said.

With reports from Expansión Política and Reforma

Mexico’s export revenue increased 25% compared to last January

By

MND Staff

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February 28, 2023

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Manzanillo port — The non-oil exports revenue for January was US $39.88 billion according to INEGI. (Depositphotos: Port of Manzanillo, one of Mexico's most important commercial ports).

The value of Mexico’s exports increased 25.6% in January compared to the same month of 2022, the national statistics agency INEGI reported Monday.

Mexican products worth US $42.59 billion were shipped abroad in the first month of the year. The annual percentage increase in the value of exports was the highest since February 2022.

Mexican automotive factory — The value of vehicle exports surged 64.9% in January compared to the same month in 2022. (Government of Mexico)

INEGI said that revenue from non-oil exports was $39.88 billion in January, or 93.6% of the total, while oil exports were worth $2.71 billion.

Within the former category, manufactured goods brought in the lion’s share of the export income. Their value increased 28.3% on an annual basis to $37.32 billion, or over 93% of the non-oil total.

Vehicle exports contributed $13.6 billion to that amount, their value surging 64.9% compared to January 2022, while other manufactured goods brought in $23.7 billion in revenue, a 13.8% increase compared to a year earlier.

Agricultural exports, including alcoholic beverages, increased 9.8% to $1.9 billion while mining exports rose 9.6% to $655 million. Oil exports increased 8.9% to $2.7 billion.

The value of all exports was up just over 6% compared to December.

A packing house employee sorts avocados for export in Peribán, Michoacán last year. — The value of agricultural exports also rose, coming to US $1.9 billion in revenue. (Juan José Estrada Serafín / Cuartoscuro.com)

“The results are very good news in light of the risky environment prevailing at the beginning of 2023,” said Monex analyst Daniel Arias.

The World Bank is forecasting economic growth in 2023 of just 0.9% in Mexico, 0.5% in the United States and 1.7% globally.

Imports to Mexico also increased in January, rising 16.3% to $46.71 billion. Mexico was consequently left with a trade deficit of $4.12 billion in the first month of the year. That figure is 34% lower than the $6.28 billion deficit recorded in January 2022.

Non-oil imports were worth $41.16 billion in January while oil imports (refined fuel) totaled $5.55 billion, INEGI said. The former increased 15.7% compared to January 2022 while the latter rose 20.6%.

President López Obrador is determined to end Mexico’s reliance on fuel imports and set a 2023 target date for self-sufficiency. The new Olmeca Refinery on the Tabasco coast is expected to be operating at full capacity by the middle of the year, but it remains to be seen whether Mexico will be able to wean itself off fuel imports by the end of 2023.

With reports from El Financiero