Mexico is fantastic.
On the business side, Sales Consultants benefit from the country’s huge expat community
– estimated at about 500,000 – and an economy that looks set for continued healthy
growth. On the pleasure side, Mexico features some of the most breathtaking landscapes,
extravagant resorts, a broadly diverse nightlife, and a very warm, friendly and
hospitable local populace.
The country offers an almost otherworldly mixture of modern and ancient, and continues
to attract hordes of international investors and business people, prosperous retirees
and holidaymakers – all with equal appeal.
Located in North America, Mexico is bordered by the United States on the north,
and Guatemala and Belize on the southeast. Unbeknownst to many, Mexico is the most
heavily populated Spanish-speaking country in the world.
The Mexican populace of close to 106 million comprises a combination of descendants
from various immigrant groups – largely Spanish and Native Americans.
Monterrey
The capital city of the Mexican state of Nuevo León, Monterrey is also known as
“Lady of the North”. The city has population of 1.1 million; its metropolitan area
has a population of 3.8 million.
Monterrey is an exceptional city – and frequently called Mexico’s wealthiest city.
The metropolis is also an important business hub, in which some of the country’s
principal companies are based.
Close to 13,000 companies in Monterrey produce 9.4 percent of the country’s manufactured
products. In fact, excluding the telecommunications and oil monopolies, the city
manages more than half of Mexico’s total industrial assets.
Among the major companies doing business in the region are American Express, Bank
of America, Carrier, Chrysler, General Electric, General Motors, Honeywell, IBM,
John Deere, JC Penney, KPMG, Lucent, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Toyota, and Wayerhaeuser.
Fortune Magazine named Monterrey as the best city in Latin America in which to do
business.
But Monterrey is not only about business.
The city boasts an abundance of cultural attractions and a local population that
prides itself on its exceptional hospitality and graciousness.
Leisure-time pursuits in Monterrey include – but are most certainly not limited
to - excellent restaurants and clubs, expansive shopping malls, museums and literary
attractions. The city is surrounded by mountains, canyons and deserts that offer
a wide range of sporting activities, including some of the country’s best hiking,
mountain biking, cave exploring and nature venues.
Mexico’s Economy
World Bank estimates rank Mexico as the 12th country in the world with regard to
GDP (PPP), with its GDP recently entering into the trillion dollar range.
The country has made a noteworthy economic recovery, and is considered among the
world’s hot spots for further impressive economic growth. Recent governmental actions
have expanded competition in many areas, including airports, seaports, telecommunications,
railroads, electricity and natural gas.
With sizeable reserves, Mexico is a major oil producer – close to a third of the
administration’s revenue comes from the state-owned company, PEMEX. The country
is also the largest producer of silver in the world.
Upon joining the World Trade Organisation in the late 1980s and the North American
Free Trade Agreement in 1994, Mexico moved from being a fairly closed economy to
one that is almost wholly open. Contributing to the country’s economic health, Mexico
is cited as the nation holding the most free-trade agreements worldwide.
Mexico – UK Ties
After Brazil, Mexico forms the UK's largest market in Latin America. Among the principal
exports are pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, office and industrial machinery,
and automotive components.
The UK is the second biggest investor in Mexico after the United States. Among the
UK’s principal investors are Shell, AstraZeneca, Glaxo-Wellcome, BOC, Vodafone,
BPAmoco and Unilever.
The Mexicans
And, finally, there are the people. Mexicans are extremely friendly, hospitable,
and fun-loving. By-and-large, they are also very pro-European, and even more pro-English
- thanks largely to their terrific affinity to football.
What does an expat need to know about the locals when relocating to this wondrous
country?
For one thing, Mexicans value good manners. Saying “Buenos días” (Good morning/Good
day), “Buenas tardes” (Good afternoon) and “Buenas noches” (Good evening/Good night)
is a pre-requisite – even to perfect strangers. Saying, “Con permiso” (Excuse me)
when passing someone, leaving a room of people or leaving a lift, is also quite
common.
Customs – Business Related and Otherwise
Related to the ‘good manners’ custom, Mexicans can sometimes be very evasive, in
order not to disappoint or to avoid appearing rude. So, if a Mexican says, “probably”,
“maybe”, or some other uncertain permutation, it could very well mean “no”. It is,
therefore, important that business appointments are firmly re-confirmed as some
point before the designated time.
Do you like long lunches? Good, because in Mexico business lunches have been known
to last for several hours.
If you’re wondering what to wear during the work day and during business meals,
business wear is fairly formal – more formal than in many other business locales.
As for casual wear, believe it or not, shorts are not worn often – even for picnics
and such. One rule of thumb used by the locals is that, if you see a bunch of people
walking around the city in shorts, they are most certainly tourists.
Although Spanish is Mexico’s official language, English is very widely spoken. However,
whether you speak Spanish well or poorly – or even just a few words – any attempts
to communicate in the language are received very favourably. In addition, business
cards should be printed in both languages.
Mexico is a stunning country, and Monterrey is an absolutely spectacular city.
For further information about Monterrey we recommend that you visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterrey
where you will find many useful links and informative articles to prepare you for
your move.
