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Posts Tagged Healthcare

Recent and upcoming investment in Mexico

Jan 31

Posted by Tom in Energy, Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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Information collected from media reports over the past month:

  • Wind power: Japanese investment group Mitsui & Co. announced plans to take a 50% ownership stake in the Mexican wind power generation facility Bii Stinu, currently under construction by a subsidiary of French energy developer EDF Energies Nouvelles.  Mitsui specified the total cost of the project at approximately US$400 million.  (Mitsui & Co., January 9, 2013)
  • Construction: Mexican industrial real estate developer Vesta plans to invest approximately US$90 million to construct industrial buildings for Nissan at the Japanese auto maker’s new production site in the western state of Aguascalientes, the company reported.  (Mexican Business Web, January 14, 2013)
  • Retail: Mexican grocery and general merchandise retailer Grupo Chedraui plans investment of approximately US$185 million in Mexico operations this year, the company revealed.  Projects include the opening of 20 new stores in the country. (Mexican Business Web, January 14, 2013)
  • Health care: Mexican private hospital operator Grupo Star Médica opened a new hospital in the central state of Queretaro, built at a cost of approximately US$47 million.  The facility includes state-of-the-art technology in areas such as medical imaging and obstetrics and gynecology, among others.  Star Médica currently has three other new hospitals under construction. (El Financiero, January 14, 2013)
  • Automotive: German auto maker Volkswagen inaugurated a new production plant in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato following investment of US$500 million.  The plant becomes the company’s 100th factory worldwide and is projected to produce 330,000 motors annually. (El Economista, January 16, 2013) Read the rest of this entry »

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Recent and upcoming investment in Mexico

Jan 2

Posted by Tom in Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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Information collected from media reports over the past month:

  • Healthcare: Mexican hospital operator Grupo Médica Sur will build a major new medical complex in Mexico City, the company announced.  The project is planned to include a hospital, research center, university, hotel, offices, apartments and retail space.  US$70 million in investment is estimated for the first phase of construction.  (Reforma, November 29, 2012)
  • Franchising: U.S. restaurant chain Chili’s Grill & Bar plans investment of US$12 million in Mexico operations next year.  The company plans to open 12 new locations through its Mexican franchise operators. (El Financiero, November 29, 2012)
  • Aerospace: Italian aeronautical welding specialists OVS Villella revealed plans to establish a production plant in Mexico by 2014.  The company will partner with Mexican metal process supplier EZI Metales on the US$14 million investment. (El Financiero, November 29, 2012)
  • Pharmaceutical: Swiss pharmaceutical manufacturer Novartis plans investment totaling US$10 million in Mexico in 2013, the company reported.  Resources will support research and development principally in immunology, oncology and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (Milenio, December 6, 2012)
  • Automotive: Japanese automotive components manufacturer GSW manufacturing initiated construction on a new production plant in the central state of Guanajuato.  The US$2.15 million facility is planned to produce wiring harnesses for vehicles beginning in 2013. (El Financiero, November 29, 2012) Read the rest of this entry »

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A firsthand experience with public health care in Mexico

Oct 24

Posted by Tom in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

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A gezunt ahf dein kop

A gezunt ahf dein kop

During the past month, we have had a close-up look at one of Mexico’s public hospitals, from the point of view of the end-user.  This was not a research project: A close family member suffered a sudden critical health crisis and was rushed to the nearest regional medical center, where he remains in a delicate state.  In the process, other family members have spent many hours at the hospital to assist in the patient’s care, discuss his condition with doctors and nurses, provide medical records and file documents, and ask questions through little circular holes in glass windows.  Although the experience has been stressful, we feel compelled to report that we have been favorably impressed with the quality of infrastructure and care at the public hospital.

Mexico is served by a mixed health care system, with private hospitals and specialized service providers available to those who can afford it, and a nationwide network of public hospitals and clinics for everyone else.  The largest piece of this network is the Mexican Social Security Institute, known as the IMSS.  Founded in 1943, the IMSS has grown into a colossal operation, operating some 1,500 clinics, 230 hospitals and 25 medical specialty centers.  The agency employs over 370,000 and provides health coverage for over 52 million beneficiaries, according to the National Statistics Institute (INEGI).  The IMSS is consistently the target of criticism for a range of deficiencies and in recent years has struggled with rapidly encroaching insolvency.  Nonetheless, for millions of Mexicans, and particularly the poor, it remains a lifeline for health care. Read the rest of this entry »

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Recent and upcoming investment

Jul 8

Posted by Tom in Economy, Investment, Manufacturing | 1 Comment

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  • Aerospace: Mexican aerospace manufacturer Hydra Technologies closed the first sale of its Ehecatl unmanned aircraft to a foreign customer at the Paris Air Show this month.  Hydra’s export order by a Canadian buyer, the value of which was not revealed, includes six aircraft, supporting equipment and services.  The contract represents the first export order of completed aircraft designed and built by a Mexican company, a major step forward for the country’s burgeoning aerospace industry.
  • Automotive: Japanese automaker Mazda at long last confirmed rumors that it will build a major new production facility in the central Mexican city of Salamanca, Guanajuato State.  The US$500 million facility, planned to produce next-generation engines and automobiles, is scheduled to open in 2013.
  • Trade: Chinese trade promotion agency Chinamex announced plans to build a Dragon Mart shopping center in Cancun, Mexico, via initial investment of US$150 million.  The complex, which will offer exhibition space, importation facilities, retail and wholesale outlets and restaurants, is intended to promote exports by small and medium sized Chinese companies.
  • Logistics: Mexican courier and logistics company Redpack inaugurated a new Operations Center in the western city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.  The US$6 million facility provides freight yards, warehousing, loading docks and office space to facilitate the company’s freight management for the western region.
  • Automotive: Platinum Tool Technologies, a Canadian manufacturer of molds for the automotive industry, formally inaugurated its plant in the northern state of Coahuila following US$1.75 million in investment. The facility provides high quality repairs, maintenance and engineering changes for molds and tooling.
  • Health care: A consortium of public and private institutions in Monterrey, Nuevo León, is projecting investment of US$400 million over the coming years to develop a health care cluster to be called “Monterrey City of Health”.  The project involves hospitals, laboratories, universities and research centers, and is intended to attract patients and health professionals from elsewhere in Mexico and around the world for advanced care and professional opportunities. Read the rest of this entry »

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Recent and upcoming investment

Feb 9

Posted by Tom in Economy, Energy, Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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Reports on some recent and upcoming investment collected from the local business media:

  • Aviation: Mexican airline VivaAerobus will invest US$30 million this year to acquire eight Boeing 737-300 aircraft.  The principally domestic carrier will use the new planes to add domestic and possibly international routes as well.  VivaAerobus has expanded steadily since entering the market in 2006.
  • Automotive: U.S. automaker General Motors announced plans to invest US$540 million to expand production at its existing plant at Toluca, just west of Mexico City.  The added infrastructure will accommodate production of two new models of energy efficient engines.  GM is Mexico’s largest auto maker.
  • Energy: Spanish renewable energy developer Iberdrola plans to invest US$400 million in its Mexico operations through the end of 2012.  Iberdrola recently purchased an existing wind farm in southern Mexico from fellow Spanish energy firm Gamesa, and is currently building another wind farm in the same region.
  • Logistics: Hutchison Port Holdings will undertake US$200 million worth of expansion and upgrades at the Port of Lazaro Cardenas on Mexico’s Pacific coast this year.  Planned works include dock construction, addition of berths and expansion of switching and storage yards to handle cargo containers.
  • Aviation: Mexican domestic air carrier Interjet announced plans to invest over US$90 million over the coming two years.  The resources are earmarked for tripling the capacity of the airline’s maintenance center and acquiring a substantial number of new aircraft.  Interjet reportedly will become the first Latin American airline to use Sukhoi jets, of Ruso-European manufacture, on its scheduled routes.
  • Automotive: U.S. automaker General Motors will invest US$300 million to upgrade and adapt its manufacturing plant in the northeastern state of San Luís Potosí.  Expansion of the plant is intended to accommodate production of a new compact model not currently being built in Mexico.
  • Manufacturing: U.S.-based furniture manufacturer Furniture Brands is investing US$20 million to outfit an existing maquiladora plant in the southeastern state of Yucatan to produce cut-and-sew kits for its U.S. upholstery operations.  The facility is expected to initiate production in mid-2011. Read the rest of this entry »

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Recent and upcoming investment

Feb 26

Posted by Tom in Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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Reports on some recent and upcoming investment collected from the local business media:

  • Plastics:  The Manufacturing Industry Chamber of Nuevo Leon (Caintra) announced an initial US$1 million investment to build the Mexican Institute for Technological Innovation in Plastic and Rubber in the Monterrey area.
  • Electronics: IBM formally inaugurated new manufacturing installations in Jalisco developed at an estimated cost of US$20 million.  The facilities are intended specifically for the production of IBM’s high-end XIV Storage Systems for export to the United States, Europe and other areas.
  • Toys: Spanish toy manufacturer and retailer Imaginarium announced ambitious plans to expand operations in Mexico with an initial investment of US$1.6 million.  The company plans to open over 40 new retail locations in the country by 2013, in addition to potentially manufacturing in Mexico.
  • Retail: Despite underwhelming economic recovery, Mexico’s top retailer Wal-Mart de Mexico announced plans to invest over US$900 million this year.  The plans include the opening of 300 new locations across the company’s various retail formats and the remodeling of existing stores.
  • Mining: Canadian mining company First MajesticSilver Corp. opened a mineral processing plant in the northern state of Coahuila in late 2009.  The US$22 million plant will produce gold and silver. Read the rest of this entry »

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