Mexican women in tech tell their stories in new book

By

-

April 7, 2023

Mexican women in tech in Guadalajara — Group photo of the women featured in "Mujeres que dejan huella," a new book about women working in the high-tech industries of Guadalajara. (John Pint)

“Mujeres que dejan huella” (Women Who Leave a Mark) by Macamen Navarro and Alejandro Figueroa is a book about women working in the high-tech industries of Guadalajara. But it’s not just for techies or business people.

“Don’t get me wrong,” says co-author Macamen Navarro, “We think just about anybody would find this book interesting, but we particularly hope that it will inspire new generations of girls in Mexico. This book is about women who are making a difference.”

The book “Mujeres que dejan Huella” presents the stories of 26 leading women in the high tech industries of “Mexico’s Silicon Valley.”

“We want to tell their stories to motivate even more girls to take up a career in this field because in Mexico only 30 percent of high-tech students are women. And when it comes to those currently holding high-tech jobs, the number is far smaller. So, we’d like to see many more girls get interested in this sector.”

“At the same time, we want both men and women in the field to learn something about their colleagues. For example, I belong to CANIETI, the National Chamber of Electronics, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, and I noticed that it’s always men who are getting promoted there. When I ask, ‘Why is that?’ they reply: ‘Because there aren’t any women for us to promote. Just give us one name!’”

“Well,” Navarro told me with a broad smile, “here I’m giving them 26 names of women who are successful and well placed. These are vice presidents and directors of global companies, making important decisions every day, right here in Western Mexico.”

During the interviews, Navarro asked the women what games they played as little girls, if they suffered from bullying, or at what moment they became aware of the skills they possessed.

Dina Grijalva, Director of CANIETI West, with authors Macamen Navarro and Alejandro Figueroa. (John Pint)

“All of this,” she told me, “can help mothers today to identify what abilities their children have right from when they are little, and to direct them toward careers where they could be successful and not force them into fields where they don’t have skills.”

Navarro spent just over an hour asking questions like these. “And with [their answers], we put together each woman’s story,” she says.

If you ask such questions to children, you may not get much of an answer, but, Navarro discovered, if you ask those same questions later in life, people may end up using their self-awareness as a tool to connect things.

“This,” said Navarro, “may bring up all kinds of unexpected emotions, because it awakens deep, hidden feelings. For example, one of these women suffered from cancer. When I asked her about it, she began to cry, but she said, ‘This is strange, I’ve talked about my cancer many times, but I’ve never felt what I’m feeling right now.’ And I told her, ‘It’s because I brought you back to when you were a little girl. You are remembering a happy child playing, studying, having a boyfriend, getting a job, getting married, having children – happy, happy, happy. And then suddenly there’s a strong shock, and it’s that jump from one thing to the other that catches you by surprise.”

Macamen Navarro Ledgard is Chief Delivery Officer at Qualtop, Guadalajara, a leader in Information Technology and Software Development. (John Pint)

Navarro then read me a story from a chapter dedicated to a woman named Claudia Covarrubias.

As a child, Claudia wanted to attend school, but to do so, she had to leave her parents and go study in the pueblo of El Grullo, Jalisco, located 140 kilometers southwest of Guadalajara.

When the day came for Claudia to leave her family, she cried all morning and all the way to El Grullo.

Every Monday she would have to go to an internado, a boarding school, in El Grullo and stay there until Friday.

On one of those Sundays, before Claudia set off to El Grullo, her father took her aside to talk to her. He and his wife wanted to give their daughter a chance that they had never had, a chance to go to school. But they didn’t want to force her.

Her father proposed that Claudia ask herself exactly what she wanted to do with her life. If she wanted to continue going to school, she could get up early on Monday and knock on her parents’ bedroom door. Or, she could keep sleeping, and whenever she got up, her mother would start teaching her how to do all the household chores, as well as all the jobs related to running a rancho.

That night, Claudia couldn’t sleep. She imagined herself in the future, wearing huaraches, and married at a young age to a Norteño who worked in the USA and only came home to get her pregnant. Then, she remembered the times her father talked to her about finances and Wall Street. Suddenly, in her mind’s eye, Claudia saw herself in New York, wearing a pearl necklace and chic high heels.

Quote from Claudia Covarrubias of Hewlett Packard: “If you dream, you can be successful, but for big dreams there’s no discount.”

That very night, at 11 years old, Claudia made the most important decision of her life. She got up at 5 a.m., got ready to go to school, knocked on her parents’ door, and swore to them that never again would she cry about having to go to El Grullo.

“Today,” said Navarro, “this woman is the Chief Financial Officer for Latin America and Global Channel Finance Lead of Hewlett Packard Enterprise.”

Navarro told me that every time she asks little girls who their role model is, they always mention people like Gandhi and Marie Curie.

Navarro likes to reply, “They were truly great people, but they are dead. Instead, these 26 women are alive. You can get to know them; you can ask them questions; you can follow them on social media. They’re here among us and they are working on the technology that we use today and that we will use in the future.”

“I’ve judged competitions where girls present software applications they’ve developed on their own,” continued Navarro. “And after congratulating them for their ingenuity, I’ll ask a girl: ‘What carrera (career) are you thinking about? What are you going to study?’ She’ll think for a second and then say: ‘I’m going to study accounting.’ And I say, ‘But why?’ And she will reply: ‘That’s what my father wants me to study.’”

Navarro always asks, “But why don’t you study technology?”

And the girls say, “My father says that’s not for women.”

“That,” concludes Navarro, “is why I wrote this book: so when a girl hears ‘That’s not for women,’ she can hand the book to her father and say: ‘Mira, Papá, (Look, Dad) here are 26 women working in technology… and I bet they’re making more money than their accountants.’”

Anyone interested in acquiring “Mujeres que dejan huella” should contact Patricia López at CANIETI [[email protected]], or by telephone, 333 030 7206.

The writer has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, since 1985. His most recent book is Outdoors in Western Mexico, Volume Three. More of his writing can be found on his blog.

Large fire extinguished in Mexico City’s giant wholesale market

By

MND Staff

-

April 7, 2023

0

firefighters tackle the blaze at Central de Abasto, CDMX — Firefighters battled until the early hours of the morning to bring the fire under control. (@JefeVulcanoCova/Twitter)

A fire ripped through a large section of Mexico City’s main wholesale market Thursday night, but no fatalities or injuries were reported.

The Mexico City Fire Department said just after 1 a.m. Friday that the fire at the Central de Abasto in the eastern Iztapalapa borough had been completely extinguished.

Officials inspect the site of the fire in the central de abasto. — Despite damage to 43% of the containers section, officials have announced that the Central de Abasto will open as usual on Friday. (@VenegasUrzua/Twitter)

Some 200 firefighters from nine fire stations responded to the blaze.

The market said in a statement that the fire broke out at about 7 p.m. in the “empty containers area,” where cardboard boxes, wooden crates and other receptacles are sold, but didn’t identify the cause of the blaze.

The Central de Abasto said that 5,640 square meters of the 13,000-square-meter empty containers section – 43% of its total area – were affected.

The “timely intervention” of firefighters and security and civil protection authorities ensured that no lives were lost and no one was injured, the market said. The fire was declared extinguished around 12.40 a.m.

Considering the size of the fire and the quantity and type of material in the area, the blaze was put out “quite quickly,” said Mexico City fire chief Juan Manuel Pérez Cova.

The market’s statement said that the Central de Abasto and its entire community “express their profound solidarity” with the vendors from the empty containers area who suffered “material losses.”

It also said the market would operate normally on Friday, although the empty containers area will be closed.

The Central de Abasto is spread across 327 hectares, an area 51 times bigger than the capital’s central square, according to the Mexico City government, which describes the facility as the world’s largest market.

A wide range of fresh produce and other goods are sold at the market, where thousands of workers labor from dawn to dusk 365 days a year.

With reports from Reforma

Quintana Roo expecting over 1 million tourists during Easter break

By

MND Staff

-

April 7, 2023

0

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún's beaches will be filled with tourists over the holiday break. (@GobQuintanaRoo/Twitter)

More than 1.2 million tourists are expected to flock to the state of Quintana Roo, home to popular resorts including Cancún, Tulum and Playa Del Carmen, over the Easter break.

Maria Lezama Espinoza, governor of Quintana Roo, said that the state was on track for a successful year.

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Tulum is one of Quintana Roo’s most iconic destinations. (@GobQuintanaRoo/Twitter)

“Statistics tell us that 2023 will be a great year for the destinations of the 11 municipalities; the number of visitors to the archaeological zones has grown by up to 25 percent,” she said.

Quintana Roo is a popular tourist destination thanks to a combination of outstanding natural beauty and fascinating history. Areas such as the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve – a UNESCO heritage site – give visitors a glimpse into the region’s rich biodiversity, and the hundreds of cenotes, or water-filled natural sinkholes, also attract many visitors.

The world-famous ruins at Tulum, overlooking the Caribbean, is one of the state’s major historical attractions, along with the Cobá and Muyil ruins.

Twenty-seven cruise ships are expected to arrive at the island of Cozumel – off the coast of Playa Del Carmen – in the first week of April alone. This is a 20% increase over the number of ships registered in 2022. Thousands more will fly into Cancun from the United States and cities across Mexico.

Cozumel cruise ships 2023 — Authorities say cruise ship traffic has so far been 20% higher than in 2022. (@AshishSPatel/Twitter)

Data from the Tourism Ministry suggested that there had already been nearly 2 million tourists in the first month of 2023 alone – with significant growth in visitors to Holbox, Bacalar and Cozumel.

In preparation for the holidaymakers, authorities have cleared more than 8,000 tons of sargassum – the foul-smelling seaweed that has blighted beaches in the area in recent years. As of Friday, the Sargassum Monitoring Network reported 8 of 100 beaches in Quintana Roo as sargassum-free, and 53 having “very low” levels.

“The analyses have allowed for a prediction of a decline in the sargassum biomass for 2023, even reaching the levels registered in 2019,” according to Jaime González Cano as reported by Infobae. “But atmospheric conditions and the behavior of ocean currents are important factors in the accumulation and distribution of seaweed along the Quintana Roo coastline.”

The government has also mounted a large security operation in tourist hotspots around the country, as well as on federal highways and at airports.

With reports from La Jornada Maya and Infobae

A tour of Xochicalco, an ancient fortified city built in a turbulent time

By

Joseph Sorrentino

-

April 6, 2023

0

Plaza of the Stele of the Two Glyphs — Photo from atop the Great Pyramid showing the entire plaza. (Joseph Sorrentino)

When Teotihuacán, one of the largest and most powerful pre-Hispanic city-states collapsed around 750 A.D., a number of other city-states were ready to step in and fill the void. One of them was Xochicalco, which may even have had a role in Teotihuacán’s fall.

What’s left of Xochicalco, which was once one of central Mexico’s most important commercial and religious centers, is spread across three hills, about 38 km (25 miles) southeast of Cuernavaca, Morelos.

A wall in Xochicalco. — The feathered serpent motifs found in Xochicalco speak to the cultural influence of Teotihuacán. (Joseph Sorrentino)

According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Xochicalco, whose Nahuatl name means “In the Place of the House of Flowers,” was founded between 650 and 700 A.D. by the Olmeca-Xicalancas, Mayan traders from Campeche.

At its peak, it’s estimated that the city covered just over 700 hectares (1,750 acres) and was home to a population of between 15,000 and 20,000. Xochicalco existed for a relatively brief period of time: the city was burned and destroyed around 900 A.D., possibly by an internal uprising.

Xochicalco was built on three levels. The lowest level contains the residences where most of the population lived. This level is surrounded by walls, indicating that the city was built with defense in mind. The next level contains an area called the Market Ensemble, centered around the Plaza of the Stele of the Two Glyphs. This plaza contains two temples, one on the east side and one on the west, with the titular stele standing on a small altar between the two. Evidence suggests that this plaza was the city’s original ceremonial site.

Ancient ancient roads lead from the valley below up to this site, perhaps indicating that, rather than being a place restricted to elites and priests, it was open to residents.

The Stele of the Two Glyphs in Xochicalco. — The Stele of the Two Glyphs is believed to have been erected in honor of the god Quetzalcóatl. (Joseph Sorrentino)

The stele’s two glyphs have been translated as “10 Reed” (although one source translates it as “10 Cane”) and “9 Reptile Eye,” which are dates. There was no information at the site as to what the dates represent, but it’s thought that the stele was erected to honor Quetzalcóatl, one of Mesoamerica’s most important pre-Hispanic gods. The god was so important, in fact, that standing nearby is the impressive Temple of the Feathered Serpent, another name for Quetzalcóatl.

That temple, which may have been dedicated to the warrior caste, is sculpted with eight stylized serpents, two on each side, that are covered with feathers. These carvings were certainly influenced by Teotihuacán, where similar carvings can be found. Shells are also depicted on the temple’s sides, representing water and likely Tlaloc, the god of rain and water.

Among several of the serpents’ undulations are seated figures that are thought to depict Mayans because of their deformed heads – cranial deformation was practiced by Mayan elites. Glyphs representing speech come out of the figures’ mouths, possibly signifying praise.

The Great Pyramid, the tallest structure in Xochicalco, is located on the north side of the ruins and was dedicated to Tlaloc. The highest level of the city contains more temples and other buildings – most likely residences for priests and the ruling class – and the Ramp of Animals, which was paved with 271 stone slabs engraved with images of birds, mammals, serpents and insects. Visitors can’t walk on the ramp and it can be a little difficult to see the carvings clearly, but some of the stones can be observed in the site’s museum.

A ball game court in Xochicalco. — Xochicalco had three ball courts which are thought to have been used during religious ceremonies. Variations of the ballgame were played across ancient Mesoamerica. (Joseph Sorrentino)

Three ball courts are located in the northern, eastern and southern parts of the ruins. It’s thought that each of these served a different function, although all are believed to have been utilized during religious ceremonies.

One of Xochicalco’s most amazing features is a cave on the west side of the city known as the Cave of the Astronomers. Whether the cave is natural or man-made is unclear, but it was used as an observatory and was almost certainly a place where religious ceremonies were held.

A chimney-like structure called a zenith tube was built into the roof of the cave, allowing observers to track the sun’s movement and the solstices. This tube lets in a beam of light during the sun’s zenith – a time when the sun is directly overhead – each year on May 14 and 15 and again on July 28 and 29 (there are many photographs of this phenomenon online).

Several sources indicate that direct sunlight enters the cave for 105 days (between the April 30 and August 15), leaving 260 days when the cave is in darkness – the Mesoamerican sacred calendar comprised thirteen months of twenty days each, for a total of 260 days. Although most scholars believe this cave was used to track the sun’s movements, at least one researcher has argued for that it served as a lunar observatory.

Unfortunately, the sign pointing to the cave had “Temporarily Closed” stamped on it when we visited.

Xochicalco’s museum has six exhibition galleries displaying numerous objects excavated from the ruins. Interestingly, it was the world’s first ecological museum upon its inauguration in 1996: the interior is illuminated by natural light, rainwater is collected in an underground cistern and wastewater is treated and used to water the gardens surrounding the museum.

Xochicalco stela — The Red Lord, a seated figure who represents the patron god of the ruling class. (Joseph Sorrentino)

Xochicalco was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and is definitely worth a visit. Some basics to be aware of: come with a full tank of gas because there are very few gas stations on the highways leading to the ruins. When you arrive, go to the museum to buy your ticket, which is $90 pesos ($5 USD). There are some trees around the ruins but not much shade, so bring a sun hat, sunscreen and lots of water. We went in late March and were surprised at how hot it was; we sucked down a liter of water between us.

Figure on just under two hours to cover the ruins. Bring snacks and maybe lunch. We went to Cuentepec, about 20 minutes away, and only found one stand selling quesadillas. There are many small stands along Route 166 that serve simple fare and at least two restaurants in Alpuyeca, about 30 minutes from the ruins.

Joseph Sorrentino, a writer, photographer and author of the book San Gregorio Atlapulco: Cosmvisiones and of Stinky Island Tales: Some Stories from an Italian-American Childhood, is a regular contributor to Mexico News Daily. More examples of his photographs and links to other articles may be found at www.sorrentinophotography.com He currently lives in Chipilo, Puebla.

Feria de San Marcos brings international stars to Aguascalientes

By

MND Staff

-

April 6, 2023

0

Feria de San Marcos 2022 — The festival is expected to draw nearly 8 million people over 3 weeks. (@FNSM_Oficial/Twitter)

The headliners for the 2023 Feria de San Marcos (San Marcos Fair) include stars such as Ricky Martin, Rod Stewart, Maluma and Bizarrap, who will take the stage at the annual festival.

Held in the state capital of Aguascalientes starting April 15, the fair will also host Tigres del Norte, Pepe Aguilar, Black Eyed Peas, Christian Nodal, among other well-known performers.

Feria de San Marcos lineup 2023 — The 2023 lineup is as star-studded as ever. (@FNSM_Oficial/Twitter)

The fair is one of the oldest and most important popular events in modern Mexico, and was first held as far back as 1828. It features a range of traditional activities, including charrería (Mexican rodeo) bullfighting, cockfighting and horse racing.

The fair also presents cultural and international exhibitions, displaying a variety of different Latin American cultures and fashions. The 2023 edition features Spain and Guanajuato, with pavilions displaying the best that these regions have to offer.

The event will take place across 90 hectares and boasts both Latin America’s largest mechanical clock – with a 27-meter face – and the historic mid-17th century Temple of San Marcos.

Entry to the festival is free of charge, although some major events may have an additional cost.

The festival will run from April 15 to May 7 and is expected to attract nearly 8 million visitors across three weeks.

Previous editions have also seen performances from artists such as AC/DC, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Rammstein and Marc Anthony.

With reports from Latinus

Mexico in Numbers: The Maya Train

By

Cat Rainsford

-

April 6, 2023

0

Maya Train in the jungle — The Maya Train is one of President López Obrador's signature infrastructure projects. (@TrenMaya/Twitter)

Visionary development, or destructive white elephant? Few infrastructure projects have generated such heated debate in Mexico in recent years as the Maya Train (Tren Maya), President López Obrador’s long-promised railroad in the Yucatán Peninsula.

The Maya Train is among AMLO’s most cherished pet projects. He has championed it through numerous lawsuits, local and international criticism, technical delays and route changes – he even declared it a matter of national security and put it under control of the military.

This edition of Mexico in Numbers lays out key numbers about the scale and impact of this controversial project.

How big is the Maya Train?

The finished railroad will have 1,554 km of track and 34 stations. It will pass through 40 municipalities in five different states – Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.

How the train compares to other international trains by length.

According to Alstrom, the company contracted to build the trains, the rail line will have 42 trains in operation that can move at a top speed of 176 km/h for passengers and 120 km/h for cargo.

The government hopes to move 200,000 people per day by 2030.

How long will it take?

Construction on the Maya Train started on May 4, 2020, and the railway is projected to begin operations on Dec. 1, 2023.

This would mean a construction time of 1,306 days – or just under 3 years and 7 months. But this may be optimistic, since in February, only around 460 km of track had been completed – just under 30% of the total.

How much will it cost?

The estimated cost of the project is around 300 billion pesos (US $16.5 billion) – nearly 150% more than its original estimate of 120 billion pesos (US $6.6 billion).

In 2023, the Maya Train project will be a major expenditure for the López Obrador administration — nearly the amount it will spend on social welfare programs and about one-third of what it will spend on education.

As for ticket prices, these will be calculated per kilometer and are expected to range between 50 pesos per sector for locals and 1,000 pesos for tourists.

How many people are involved?

The government claims that the Maya Train has already created at least 114,000 jobs in the southeast of Mexico. The company in charge of the project, Tren Maya S.A. de C.V., employs 338 staff, of whom 138 are military personnel.

The Defense Ministry (Sedena) announced in February that it would allocate 4,931 National Guard members, 28 drones, five helicopters and three air bases to provide security to the project.

What is the archaeological impact?

The Maya Train’s construction has been accompanied by a huge project to register and preserve archaeological sites in the affected areas, employing around 500 archaeologists.

By March 2023, the National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) had registered 46,416 historical dwellings, 1,795 artifacts, 490 skeletons, and 1,261 natural formations such as caves and sinkhole lakes.

December 2022 map of Tren Maya's planned routes and connected archaeological sites. — This map of the Maya Train sections shows the major archaeological sites found along the route. (INAH)

What is the environmental and social impact?

The Maya Train has been controversial from the beginning. It has already faced at least 50 lawsuits seeking to stop its construction, according to a statement by made by President Lopez Obrador in February. Most have been brought by environmental organizations and grassroots groups who fear its impact on the region’s jungles, wildlife, cenotes (sinkhole lakes) and indigenous communities.

The Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA) says the railroad will affect 13 national protected areas, plus nine state and municipal natural reserves. 53% of the route runs through communal ejido lands, which could spark social conflict.

It could also cause 2,500 hectares of direct deforestation and raise the annual rate of deforestation in the region by a quarter over this decade, according to the Mexican environmental watchdog group Net-Zero Deforestation Observatory.

The government claims it will counter this impact through the social and environmental program Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life), which plans to reforest around 500 million trees in southeast Mexico.

Mexico News Daily

Michoacán environmental activist found dead

By

Cat Rainsford

-

April 6, 2023

0

An Indigenous environmental and lands rights activist has been murdered in the state of Michoacán, less than three months after the disappearance of two other local activists.

Local residents reported that Eustacio Alcalá Díaz was intercepted while driving a group of nuns from the town of San Juan Huitzontla to the Coalcaman-Aquila highway on April 1.

Eustacio Alcalá Díaz, killed in Michoacán — Alcalá Díaz was killed for his activism against mining activity in the region, according to locals and human rights advocates. (@CentroProdh/Twitter)

The attackers abducted Alcalá and left the nuns on the roadside.

“When they were intercepted, they were asked their names. When [the attackers] heard Eustathius’ [name], they said ‘we were looking for you.’ They took him away,” a local source told El País newspaper.

Two days later, Alcalá was found dead with multiple bullet wounds, according to the local prosecutor’s office.

Alcalá, 68, was a community leader in Huitzontla, a village with an Indigenous Nahua population in the highlands of Michoacán.

Huitzontla has resisted mining activity since 2012, when several local communities allied to drive out a criminal group mining illegally in their territory.

Six years later, the government granted six new concessions to two companies: Las Truchas, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, and Las Encinas, a subsidiary of the Ternium steel company.

In January 2022, the communities obtained an injunction against these mines, arguing that the concessions had been granted without community consultation and would “imply the material destruction of our territory and the use of [its] natural resources.”

The Economy Ministry asked for the decision to be reviewed.

On Jan.15, two local anti-mining activists – Ricardo Arturo Lagunes Gasca and Antonio Díaz Valencia – disappeared after attending a community meeting in Aquila, near Huitzontla. Their vehicle was later found with bullet holes in it. The two men have still not been found. The same month, a local cell of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) carried out an armed attack in Aquila. Local people also claim that one suspect in the disappearances is linked to the CJNG, which for years has waged a low-intensity war in the region against rival gang Cárteles Unidos.

Local people and human rights organizations believe the disappearances and Alcalá’s murder result from an alliance between criminal groups and mining companies, but admit they cannot prove it.

“In the community they are very worried,” Meyatzin Velasco, a lawyer for the human rights organization Centro Prodh, told El País newspaper. “For a long time, there has been a tense calm, but at the end of last year threats increased.”

“In the [Michoacán highlands], the disputed asset is mineral resources,” explained Claudia Ignacia Álvarez, of the Michoacán Human Rights Solidarity Network. “In Huitzontla it is known that there are iron and other minerals. We think this crime is related to mining, but we have no proof.”

Mexico is the deadliest country in the world for environmental activists, according to a Global Witness report released in September. 54 activists were murdered in 2021.

“Conflicts over land and mining were each linked to two-thirds of lethal attacks,” the report said.

With reports from El País and Animal Político

China responds to AMLO denying ‘illegal trafficking of fentanyl’

By

MND Staff

-

April 6, 2023

0

Mao Ning Chinese Spokesperson — A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied that fentanyl precursors were being exported from China, and called the fentanyl crisis one "made in the USA". (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China)

The Chinese government has flatly denied that illicit fentanyl is sent to Mexico from China, contradicting a claim made by President López Obrador earlier this week.

On Tuesday, López Obrador revealed that he wrote to Chinese President Xi Jinping to seek his support in the fight against the synthetic opioid responsible for a spike in drug overdoses in the United States.

Fentanyl and heroin seized by border patrol — U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has reported seizing 690 pounds of fentanyl (a bag pictured here on the left) so far in fiscal year 2023, from October 2022 through February. (@CBP/Twitter)

“According to the information available,” fentanyl is made in Asia and “sold freely” for export to Canada, the United States and Mexico,” he wrote.

López Obrador told Xi that any information China can provide about who fentanyl is being sent to, the quantities being shipped, the vessels used to transport the drug and when and where shipments will arrive in Mexico from China would be “invaluable” as it would allow Mexican authorities to have “greater control” over the entry of illegal shipments of the opioid.

Asked about the Mexican president’s letter at a press briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declared that “there is no such thing as illegal trafficking of fentanyl between China and Mexico.”

According to an official English-language transcript of the press conference, Mao said that “China has not been notified by Mexico on the seizure of scheduled fentanyl precursors from China.”

AMLO at morning press conference — López Obrador discussed fentanyl trafficking at his morning press conference on Tuesday. (Gob MX)

She also said that China and Mexico “have a smooth channel of counternarcotics cooperation and the competent authorities of the two countries maintain sound communication.”

China has played a “responsible” role in responding to the global drug problem, and is “ready to enhance international counternarcotics law enforcement cooperation under the UN conventions on drug control” and “strengthen bilateral counternarcotics cooperation with other countries including Mexico,” Mao said.

She lashed out at the United States, saying that the problem of fentanyl abuse is “completely made in the USA.”

“The U.S. needs to face up to its own problems [and] take more substantial measures to strengthen domestic regulation and reduce demand,” Mao said.

“… China firmly supports Mexico in defending independence and autonomy and opposing foreign interference, and calls on [the] relevant country to stop hegemonic practices against Mexico. At the same time, we hope the Mexican side will also take stronger counternarcotics actions.”

The Mexican government has been criticized by some U.S. Republican Party lawmakers for not doing enough to stop shipments of illegal fentanyl reaching the United States, where there were over 100,000 overdose deaths in 2022. Senator Lindsey Graham, Representative Dan Crenshaw and others have called for the United States military to be used in Mexico against cartels that traffic fentanyl and other narcotics.

López Obrador has categorically rejected that proposal, but has sought to appease some U.S. lawmakers. He said Tuesday he sent the letter to Xi at the behest of a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers who visited Mexico last month.

The president and other federal officials have recently emphasized the government’s commitment to combating the trafficking of fentanyl, with Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard asserting Tuesday that Mexico “is the country that does the most against fentanyl.”

He accused Senator Graham of lying about Mexico’s role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis.

According to the United States government, “illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, other synthetic opioids, and their immediate precursors are primarily produced overseas in countries with large pharmaceutical and chemical industries, particularly China.”

“Illicit synthetic opioids are typically shipped through international mail or express consignment carriers directly to the United States or shipped to transnational criminal organizations in Mexico and Canada for later distribution,” the Department of State said in a 2019 report.

López Obrador has acknowledged that fentanyl pills are pressed in clandestine laboratories in Mexico, but has repeatedly stressed that the precursor chemicals are not manufactured in the country.

Last month he blamed the fentanyl crisis in the United States on family breakdown and advised parents to let their children live at home longer.

“There is a lot of disintegration of families, there is a lot of individualism, there is a lack of love, of brotherhood, of hugs and embraces,” López Obrador said while referring to the fentanyl problem in the U.S.

“That is why … [U.S. officials] should be dedicating funds to address the causes [of the problem],” he said.

Mexico News Daily

The economic argument for moving manufacturing closer to home

By

MND Staff

-

April 6, 2023

0

Women working at a factory — Entrada Group has over 20 years of experience supporting companies as they move manufacturing operations to Mexico. (Courtesy)

Nearshoring and Mexico. You’ve almost certainly read or heard the two words in close proximity to each other as the growing economic trend and the North American nation of some 130 million people have been the focus of a spate of recent reports by media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Globe and Mail.

Tesla’s recent announcement that it would build a “gigafactory” near Monterrey is just one example of the nearshoring (or relocation) phenomenon currently unfolding – and gaining momentum – in regions such as northern Mexico and the Bajío, an industrial hub that encompasses parts of several states including Guanajuato, Querétaro and Jalisco.

Entrada Group Fresnillo campus — Entrada Group’s “campus” located in Fresnillo, Zacatecas. (Courtesy)

Billions of dollars in investment is flowing into Mexico as more and more foreign manufacturing companies choose to set up in the country, or expand their existing Mexican operations, in order to take advantage of a range of benefits, not least of which is location, location, location.

Mexico’s proximity to the United States – the world’s largest economy and principal market for countless companies – and Canada, and its open trading relationship with its northern neighbors thanks to the USMCA free trade pact are just two factors that make the country an attractive place to invest.

According to U.S. based Entrada Group – a company with more than 20 years’ experience guiding international manufacturers in establishing and running their own operations in Mexico – and other stakeholders, including the Mexican government, there are many other reasons why manufacturing in Mexico makes sense.

Near the top of a list compiled by Entrada executive JohnPaul McDaris is competitive operating costs.

Automotive manufacturing has been steadily expanding in Mexico. (Courtesy)

“If you’re looking for the most competitive operating costs in North America, Mexico is the obvious answer. Depending on the region of Mexico, hourly direct labor, which is a major contributor to operating costs, can be as low as US $3-8 per hour (fully burdened), or 20-35% lower than similar costs in the U.S.,” he says, adding that labor costs in some regions of Mexico are on par with some regions in China, if not lower.

A motivated workforce on the United States’ doorstep

McDaris, Entrada’s director of business development, notes that “Mexico’s workforce is young and wants to work in manufacturing” and that the country is “well connected to, and easily accessed from, the U.S. by land, rail, sea and air.”

Those two factors also translate into economic advantages for companies with manufacturing operations in Mexico, as high productivity and comparatively low shipping costs to get goods to market also benefit the bottom line.

Mexican workers in a factory — Entrada Group’s business director describes the Mexican workforce as young and motivated to work in manufacturing. (Courtesy)

For obvious reasons, shipping goods to the United States or Canada from China – which many foreign manufacturers are moving away from due to a range of challenges and concerns – or other Asian countries takes much longer and is significantly more expensive.

In addition, the ability to produce closer to their consumer market offers greater flexibility, insight and control for U.S. and Canadian companies, according to McDaris.

“With production in Mexico, companies can cut production lag time and be more responsive to changes in consumer tastes or seasonality, as well as reduce delivery costs,” he says.

“Also, Mexico is ultra-convenient for maintenance, support or engineering visits from the U.S. or Canada. If a machine goes down or a replacement part is needed, an engineer can be in Mexico for repairs the next day. That isn’t possible with Asia.”

McDaris also observes that products made in Mexico qualify for low or zero-tariff status in the United states and Canada, as long as rules of origin guidelines are met. He says that a move to Mexico does not necessarily mean that a company should shut down its operations in China if it already has a presence in that country.

“In fact, by using both countries in tandem, manufacturers are better positioned to offer more for their clients and further mitigate risk,” McDaris says.

“… From a strategic operational perspective, Mexico offers a great hedge against any issues a manufacturer may face with a facility in China. No matter the issue on the horizon in China – whether rising landed costs, U.S. tariffs, or extended delivery times due to rising demand – short or long-term issues can quickly be mitigated by a facility in Mexico.”

Currency advantages for manufacturers in Mexico

The favorable exchange rate is yet another advantage for manufacturers in Mexico that purchase in U.S. dollars. While the Mexican peso has performed somewhat better recently, it has steadily lost value over decades, creating a situation that is both predictable and beneficial to overseas-based manufacturers that choose to operate in Mexico.

The devaluation of the peso and the different manufacturing “models” available to companies thinking about making the move to Mexico will be among the topics discussed in upcoming articles in this nearshoring series.

Entrada, which counts companies from North America and Europe among its clients, has manufacturing campuses in Guanajuato and Zacatecas, and can facilitate the entire process of setting up and operating in Mexico.

Mexico joins 10 countries in regional anti-inflation agreement

By

MND Staff

-

April 6, 2023

0

AMLO at virtual summit — The president expressed a desire to increase regional trade integration at the virtual summit on Wednesday. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)

Mexico and 10 other Western Hemisphere countries have agreed to work together to fight inflation and strengthen regional integration and trade.

The agreement comes after President López Obrador hosted a virtual meeting on Wednesday attended by the leaders of Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba and Honduras as well as the vice president of Venezuela and Colombia’s trade minister.

Saint Vicent and the Grenadines, whose prime minister is the president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), is also party to the agreement.

In a statement issued after the virtual summit, the 11 countries said they were determined to “urgently and jointly confront inflationary pressures on the basic food basket, intermediate goods and services that negatively affect” people’s finances.

They noted that the global supply of food including grains has been negatively affected by a range of factors including the slow recovery of supply chains after the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and “the application of unilateral coercive measures contrary to international law” – namely Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Annual inflation declined in Mexico in March, but at 6.85% still remains well above the Bank of Mexico’s 3% target. Inflation is a significantly worse problem in some countries in the region, such as Argentina, where the annual rate exceeded 100% in February.

Produce for sale in Tepoztlán, Morelos, 2015. — Inflation has caused the cost of basic goods to rise significantly in Mexico – as well as the rest of the region. (thelastcarmusai/Wikimedia)

The 11 countries whose officials met “at the initiative of Mexico” agreed to seven points that were outlined in their joint statement.

They said they would “advance in the definition of trade facilities, as well as logistic, financial and other measures” in order to “allow the exchange of basic food basket products and intermediate goods to take place under better conditions.”

The priority, the first point added, is to lower the costs of such products “for the poorest and most vulnerable” people.

López Obrador advocated the removal of tariffs on some foodstuffs and other basic products so that they can reach consumers “at a better price.”

A smiling AMLO surrounded by flags — The president expressed a desire to increase regional trade integration. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)

“… If we don’t control inflation, we won’t be able to improve people’s purchasing power,” he told his international colleagues.

According to Mexican government sources cited by the newspaper El País, Mexico is interested in importing food products such as beef from Argentina and chicken from Brazil. Mexico’s current trade with Latin American countries is dwarfed by its commercial exchange with the United States, which is easily its largest trade partner and market for agricultural products.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asserted that combating hunger requires “determination and political will.”

López Obrador’s initiative adds impetus to “the [anti-poverty] commitments we’ve assumed in the CELAC context,” he said at Wednesday’s virtual meeting.

The 11 nations agreed to create a “technical working group” made up of government representatives from each country to determine the specific “regional cooperation measures” they would undertake to improve trading conditions for basic products and supplies such as chemical and organic fertilizers.

Their third point of agreement stated that “the technical working group will have the authority to establish a plan of action that will allow … the adoption of trade facilitation measures to address the high prices of basic consumption products and [agricultural] inputs.”

According to the fourth point, the group will “carry out a feasibility analysis and actions that will result in … more agile and effective access to products, …food … and inputs through the advancement of better logistical conditions and … the development of a framework for the removal of obstacles [such as tariffs] and harmonization of sanitary and phytosanitary regulations.”

The group will recommend “measures to improve the efficiency of the entry and exit of products through ports and borders” as well as “the exchange of intermediate inputs, machinery and technology for the benefit of agricultural productivity,” the fifth point said.

The 11 nations also said they would “promote measures to facilitate access to international credit and increase multilateral financing for agricultural, agro-industrial, and infrastructure projects for the transportation of goods.”

Finally, they said they would “coordinate efforts with producers, buyers, transporters and logistics operators from the private sector and other economic actors to follow up on the agreements of this summit and its results.”

High-ranking officials from the 11 countries will meet in Cancún on May 6 and 7 at a summit at which representatives of business and agriculture organizations will also be in attendance.

The intergovernmental group – which calls itself the Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Countries Against Inflation – invited other Western Hemisphere countries to “join this initiative in order to contribute to the integral well-being” of the region.

López Obrador also spearheaded an anti-inflation plan at home, in which the government reached an agreement with a range of private companies that aims to keep prices of basic food products down.

Annual headline inflation peaked at 8.7% in Mexico last August and September, but declined in late 2022 before spiking again in January.

Data published by the national statistics agency INEGI on Wednesday showed that the headline rate had fallen during a second consecutive month, and the Bank of México – which raised its benchmark interest rate to a record high of 11.25% last week – expects inflation to continue to decline through 2023 and 2024.

With reports from Sin Embargo, El País and Reforma