# FORM 6-K

# SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, D.C. 20549

# REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUERPURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OFTHE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month
  of September 2004

|Mexican
        Economic Development, Inc.             
|-------------------------------------------------------
|                                                       
|(Translation
        of Registrants Name Into English)

|Mexico                                                 
|-------------------------------------------------------
|                                                       
|(Jurisdiction
        of incorporation or organization)

|General
        Anaya No. 601 Pte.
        Colonia Bella Vista
        Monterrey, Nuevo León 64410 
        México
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|                                                                                                                  
|(Address
        of principal executive offices)                                                                  

|(Indicate by
        check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under
        cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
      (Check
        One) Form 20-F X Form 40-F                                                                                                                
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|(Indicate by check
        mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted
        by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1))
      (Check
        One) Yes   No
        X                                                                                                               
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|(Indicate by check
        mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted
        by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7))
      (Check
        One) Yes   No
        X                                                                                                               
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|(Indicate by check
        mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in
        this Form is also thereby furnishing information to the Commission pursuant
        to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)
      (Check
        One) Yes   No
        X
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|(If "Yes"
      is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
      connection with Rule 12g3-2(b). 82-___.)                                                                                                                                                                  

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|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | **FEMSA bids farewell to
  Alfredo Martínez Urdal**
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------
|Investors Contact:      Juan F. Fonseca 
        (52) 818-328-6245 
        juan.fonseca@femsa.com.mx      Alan Alanis(52) 818-328-6211 
        alan.alanis@femsa.com.mx      Media Contact:      Jaime Toussaint Elosúa 
        (52) 818-328-6202 
        jtouelo@femsa.com.mx      Carolina Alvear Sevilla
        (52) 818-328-6046
        calvsev@femsa.com.mx                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                    
|**Monterrey, Mexico – September 03, 2004 –** Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. (“FEMSA”), (NYSE: FMX; BMV: FEMSA UBD, FEMSA UB), regrets to inform that our friend Alfredo Martínez Urdal, deputy CEO of FEMSA, passed away this morning after a long illness.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Alfredo was instrumental in guiding and shaping FEMSA as we know it today. Through his visionary stewardship, Coca-Cola FEMSA became the most efficient and profitable bottler in the Coca-Cola system during the 1990s, setting the foundations for future growth. Since the year 2000, Alfredo led an even more ambitious transformation at FEMSA Cerveza, introducing new ways to approach a century-old business. This effort is now virtually complete and is already bearing encouraging fruits.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Alfredo was an outstanding teacher, and he taught us well. His absence is heartfelt across our entire organization.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|*###*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|Founded in 1890, FEMSA is the largest integrated beverage company in Latin America with a portfolio of leading beer and soft drink brands. We are the second largest brewer in Mexico with brands that include Tecate, Dos Equis and Sol. Through our subsidiary, Coca-Cola FEMSA, we are the largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America and the second largest in the world. We sell our products through approximately two million points of sale, which serve a population of over 170 million people in nine countries, including some of the most populous metropolitan areas in Latin America, such as Mexico City, São Paulo and Buenos Aires. Our manufacturing and distribution capabilities are enhanced by our retail and packaging operations. We operate Oxxo, the largest convenience store chain in Mexico, with over 3,000 stores as of June 2004. For more information on FEMSA, go to www.femsa.com.

September  3, 2004

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# SIGNATURES

Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized.

|Date: September 3, 2004 | Fomento Económico
        Mexicano S.A. de C.V.
        By:   /s/ Federico Reyes
        Name:   Federico Reyes 
        Title:     Executive Vice President of Finance
        and Planning
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