As sales improved, they moved to La Cruz, a small fishing village 30 minutes outside Puerto Vallarta, where they set up shop to supply their new clients. That was 10 years ago. The Murrays aren't alone in their enthusiasm for opening a business in Mexico. According to Alan Leford, an adviser to Mexico's consul general in Houston, the consulate here receives an average of 120 requests per month for information on doing business in Mexico. Ninety percent of those requests are from U.S. citizens.
People are really interested in finding out what's happening.
Thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement, opening a business in Mexico isn't the bureaucratic nightmare it once was. According to Leford, the red tape involved has been substantially trimmed. Basically, you have to incorporate yourself and obtain the required permits, which depend on the industry you're in. The steps have been drastically reduced so that you can be up and running in 60 days or less. The Yanqui fascination with Mexico is not a new phenomenon.