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cheap dj equipment  

    
    
    Business Tips
    Investment in Mexico’s
    Pharmaceutical
    and Biotech Industries
    The Lifestyle
    Mexican Refuges
    of Yesteryear
    Negocios
    para
    exportadores
    HEALTHY
    BUSINESSES
    Medical Devices,
    Pharmaceutical
    and Biotechnology
    Industries in Mexico
    IX
    2014
    T
    he government of Mexico has set out to
    transform our country based on five major national goals: to have a peaceful, inclusive, well-educated, prosperous and globallyresponsible Mexico.
    In order to build the prosperous Mexico we
    long for, we must generate sustained high economic growth that results in more and better jobs that
    will improve the quality of life of our population.
    Mexico has a solid foundation on which
    to attain these goals: healthy public finances; a
    manageable debt level; a budget with no fiscal
    deficit; a responsible and autonomous monetary
    policy, as well as adequate international reserves.
    Our macroeconomic stability and institutional strength are enriched by a wide sociopolitical consensus that favors important
    transformations required to boost the development of our country. Through the Pact for
    Mexico, two constitutional reforms have been
    approved: one in education that will enhance
    the quality of teaching, and another in telecommunications, radio broadcasting and economic
    competition that will open up the sector and
    ensure competition throughout our economy.
    Furthermore, the Congress is analyzing a financial overhaul to increase the level of credit and
    make it more affordable.
    Mexico offers certainty and confidence to
    investments, a business climate favoring productivity and competitiveness, and an ambitious plan to further develop infrastructure.
    Moreover, the country’s strategic geographic
    location and optimal legal framework for international trade, through a network of trade
    agreements with 45 countries, give us access to
    a potential market of over one billion people.
    Mexico’s exceptional economic and geographic conditions, as well as the talent and quality of its human capital, make it the ideal destination for new productive capital to flourish.
    This is the time to invest in Mexico. Investors will find the government of Mexico and
    ProMéxico to be allies committed to the success of projects that create quality jobs and
    prosperity for the country.
    Enrique Peña Nieto
    President of Mexico
    Table of Contents September 2014
    26
    29
    32
    Business Tips
    Guest Opinion
    Mexico in the World
    Investment in Mexico’s
    Pharmaceutical
    and Biotech Industries
    The Pharmaceutical Industry
    in Mexico
    Mexican Medical Services
    for the World
    cover feature
    healthy
    businesses
    Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical
    and Biotechnology Industries
    in Mexico
    photo
    archive
    14
    From
    ProMéxico
    Special Report
    20
    22
    24
    11
    10
    Querétaro Believes
    in Innovation
    Briefs
    60
    figures
    Mexico’s Partner
    34
    Neolpharma
    48
    Tecnología y Diseño Industrial
    36
    Industrias Vepinsa
    50
    Atramat
    Check In
    and Get Checked Up
    38
    Laboratorios Tornel
    52
    Industrias Plásticas Médicas
    40
    Liomont
    54
    Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Beach and Stethoscope:
    Medical Tourism
    in Western Mexico
    42
    Biograft
    56
    Dentalia
    44
    Enmex
    58
    Neoteck
    46
    Össur
    The Lifestyle
    The Complete Guide
    to the Mexican Way of Life
    courtesy of sre
    Diego Gómez
    Pickering,
    The Ambassador
    Who Loves Words
    photo
    photo
    courtesy of hacienda santa rosa
    courtesy of carla fernández
    The
    Lifestyle
    Briefs
    66
    photo
    photo
    archive
    64
    72
    Mexican Refuges of Yesteryear
    A great way to relax and soak up some history is
    to stay at one of Mexico’s stately old haciendas
    turned luxury hotels.
    68
    Carla Fernández:
    “Mexico’s future
    is handmade”
    Sun, Sea,
    and Surgery
    76
    Para exportadores
    94
    Las reformas
    y su incidencia para un
    México más competitivo
    breves
    80
    De
    ProMéxico
    82
    Mezcal:
    Servicios médicos
    una bebida que ha
    trascendido fronteras
    de México
    para el mundo
    fotos
    archivo
    86
    90
    Logística y transporte:
    México:
    hacia una América del Norte
    más competitiva
    promesa mundial
    para el turismo médico
    88
    92
    ProMéxico
    Francisco N. González Díaz
    CEO
    Karla Mawcinitt Bueno
    Communication and Image
    General Coordinator
    Sebastián Escalante Bañuelos
    Director of Publications and Content
    [email protected]
    Copy Editing
    Felipe Gómez Antúnez
    Jorge Morales Becerra Contreras
    Advertising
    [email protected]
    Cover Photo
    Archive
    Editorial Council
    consejo editorial
    Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal
    Francisco de Rosenzweig Mendialdua
    Enrique Jacob Rocha
    Francisco N. González Díaz
    Embajador Alfonso de Maria y Campos Castelló
    Luis Miguel Pando Leyva
    Francisco Javier Méndez Aguiñaga
    Rodolfo Balmaceda
    Guillermo Wolf
    Jaime Zabludovsky
    Gabriela de la Riva
    Adolfo Laborde Carranco
    Silvia Núñez García
    María Cristina Rosas González
    Ulises Granados Quiroz
    Karla I. Mawcinitt Bueno
    Negocios ProMéxico es una publicación mensual editada por ProMéxico, Camino a Santa Teresa número 1679, colonia Jardines del Pedregal, delegación
    Álvaro Obregón, CP 01900, México, DF Teléfono: (52) 55 5447 7000.
    Portal en Internet: www.promexico.gob.mx; correo electrónico: 
    Editor responsable: Gabriel Sebastián Escalante Bañuelos. Reserva de derechos al uso exclusivo No. 04-2009-012714564800-102. Licitud de título:
    14459; licitud de contenido: 12032, ambos otorgados por la Comisión Calificadora de Publicaciones y Revistas Ilustradas de la Secretaría de Gobernación.
    ISSN: 2007-1795.
    Negocios ProMéxico año 7, número IX 2014, septiembre 2014, se imprimió un tiraje de 13,000 ejemplares. Impresa por Cía. Impresora El Universal, S.A. de C.V. Las
    opiniones expresadas por los autores no reflejan necesariamente la postura del editor de la publicación. Queda estrictamente prohibida la reproducción total o parcial de
    los contenidos e imágenes de la publicación sin previa autorización de ProMéxico. Publicación gratuita. Está prohibida su venta y distribución comercial.
    ProMéxico is not responsible for inaccurate information or omissions that might exist in the information provided by the participant companies nor of their economic solvency. The
    institution might or might not agree with an author’s statements; therefore the responsibility of each text falls on the writers, not on the institution, except when stated otherwise.
    Although this magazine verifies all the information printed on its pages, it will not accept responsibility derived from any omissions, inaccuracies or mistakes. September 2014.
    Download the PDF version and read the interactive edition of
    This publication is not for sale.
    Negocios ProMéxico at negocios.promexico.gob.mx.
    Its sale and commercial distribution are forbidden.
    BRIEFS
    strong as steel
    courtesy of toyota
    Steel producer Ternium, a subsidiary of
    Argentinian-Italian industrial conglomerate Techint, plans an investment of approximately 300 million usd to expand
    its production facility in the northeastern state of Nuevo León. Plans include
    an additional line of galvanized steel
    sheet to supply the KIA Motors auto
    manufacturing plant in development in
    that Mexican state.
    www.ternium.com.mx
    photo
    From
    proméxico.
    METALLURGICAL
    Mexico, a higher percentage of engineering
    graduates than in Brazil, Germany, Spain,
    the United States, and the United Kingdom.
    The country’s constant infrastructure development, positive business climate, legal
    certainty, and macroeconomic environment
    are competitive advantages which, along
    with the recent structural reforms, will continue to drive more productive investment.
    Our country is one of the most attractive countries for investment in the world
    not only for its stability, talent, and other
    advantages; it is increasingly well-known
    for medium- and high-technology manufacturing exports and competitive manufacturing costs, among others. For the Mexican
    government, innovation is the cornerstone
    of our country’s economic prosperity. There
    are around 7,500 researchers in Mexico in
    areas related directly to biotechnology, who
    participate in the development of projects
    and activities in the country.
    Companies established in Mexico are
    ever more involved in the design of sophisticated products, as well as in research
    and development processes. Health-related
    business opportunities in Mexico are on the
    rise. Mexico is positioned amongst the most
    advanced and profitable countries in the
    world, beating at the heart rate of success.
    Francisco N. González Díaz
    CEO
    ProMéxico
    new model
    to be made in Mexico
    photo
    archive
    Japanese automaker Toyota will invest
    100 million usd to launch production of a
    new model in Mexico in 2015. Toyota currently manufactures cars at a Mazda plant
    in the central state of Guanajuato.
    www.toyota-global.com
    AUTOMOTIVE
    speeding growth plans
    courtesy of denso
    Welcome to Negocios!
    AUTOMOTIVE
    photo
    Health industries in Mexico
    have a double deck of opportunities. On one side, the
    country has several export
    advantages compared to other countries; and on the other, Mexico has
    become fertile ground for further productive investment. Mexico is earning international standing as a center for health care,
    as reflected by its pharmaceutical, medical
    device and biotechnology sectors.
    Mexico is the second largest pharmaceutical market in Latin America and a major producer of high-technology medicines.
    In addition to Mexican owned companies,
    20 of the world’s top 25 multinational
    pharmaceutical companies have operations
    in Mexico. Their presence has increased in
    recent years, placing our country as one of
    the leading pharmaceutical manufacturing
    centers in the world.
    Mexico is also a major player on the international medical device market. It is currently Latin America’s leading exporter and
    the main supplier to the United States, as
    well as a major exporter of syringes, needles, catheters and cannulas, among others.
    Mexico’s talent and human capital are
    a crucial competitive advantage. Every year
    more than 100,000 engineers graduate in
    Japanese auto parts manufacturer Denso
    will expand its manufacturing plant in
    the northeastern state of Nuevo León at
    a cost of 53.8 million usd. Denso also
    has plans to construct an additional 35
    million usd production facility in that
    same state to produce solenoids for engine and airflow units.
    www.globaldenso.com
    BRIEFS
    BRIEFS
    MANUFACTURING
    TOURISM
    IHG targets mexico
    Business as clear
    as crystal
    United Kingdom-based hotel operator InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will
    invest approximately 400 million usd in
    new locations in Mexico over the next two
    years. The operator of brands including
    Holiday Inn, Presidente Intercontinental,
    Crowne Plaza and others plans 30 new
    hotels in Mexico by 2016.
    Spanish glass maker Vicrila will invest 37
    million USD to establish a glass factory in
    the central state of Hidalgo. The plant is
    planned to produce glass and tableware
    for the North American market.
    www.vicrila.com
    photo
    photo
    courtesy of nissan
    courtesy of bmw group
    www.ihgplc.com
    BMW chooses San Luis Potosi
    Daimler and Nissan have finalized a
    joint venture deal to build future Mercedes and Infiniti compact cars in Mexico. The companies will make a substantial investment to develop the vehicles on
    Daimler’s front wheel-drive architecture
    and assemble them at Nissan’s Aguascalientes site.
    The new manufacturing deal will be the
    largest project in the global collaboration of
    Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
    Mercedes, Nissan and alliance partner
    Renault have shared engines, plants and
    vehicle architectures for small cars and
    vans since 2010.
    The BMW Group will build a new plant
    in Mexico in close proximity to the city
    of San Luis Potosí in the state of the same
    name. The company will invest one billion USD in the new production site over
    the next few years. The plant will have an
    annual capacity of 150,000 and produc-
    www.daimler.com / www.nissan-global.com
    photo
    tion is planned to start in 2019. During
    that year, the workforce will reach around
    1,500 people. The company will announce
    which BMW models will be built at the
    San Luis Potosí location at a later date.
    www.bmwgroup.com
    photo
    The compact car plans, set out in a
    previous memorandum of understanding, will help Infiniti fill a gap at the
    bottom end of its range with a new SUV,
    sedan and coupe sharing parts and architecture with successors to the Mercedes
    A- and B-Class, GLA and CLA.
    In return, Daimler gets a first North
    American production line for its “MFA”
    vehicle architecture, as well as development savings and economies of scale –in a
    vehicle category where it has struggled in
    the past with low profitability.
    courtesy of vicrila
    smoothly-running alliance
    courtesy of ihg
    AUTOMOTIVE
    AUTOMOTIVE
    CONSUMER GOODS
    courtesy of beiersdorf
    www.nissinbrake.com
    photo
    Japanese-owned auto parts manufacturer
    Nissin Brake de México inaugurated a new
    manufacturing plant in the central state of
    Guanajuato. The 43 million usd site will
    produce brake parts and aluminum pieces
    for automobiles and motorcycles.
    courtesy of nissin brake
    unstoppable growth
    photo
    AUTOMOTIVE
    a caring business
    German personal care product manufacturer Beiersdorf inaugurated a new
    manufacturing plant in the central state of
    Guanajuato. The 130 million usd facility
    will produce lotions and other personal
    hygiene products. It is LEED certified and
    includes a research center.
    www.beiersdorf.com
    Negocios ProMéxico | Cover Feature
    photos
    archive
    Cover Feature | Negocios ProMéxico
    A major player on the
    international market for
    medical devices, in 2013
    Mexico’s exports were valued
    at a total of 6.89 billion
    usd, positioning it as Latin
    America’s leading exporter, the
    main supplier of the US (which
    accounted for 92.5% of the
    sector’s total exports) and the
    world’s ninth largest exporter.
    Healthy
    Businesses
    Mexico is earning international
    repute as a center for health care,
    as reflected by its salubrious
    pharmaceutical, biotechnology,
    medical devices and medical tourism
    sectors. Corporations, government,
    research centers and universities
    are working in tandem to position
    the country as a major receptor of
    investment in these sectors.
    14
    by jesús estrada cortés
    The pharmaceutical industry faces a challenging future but Mexico has a recipe for
    success. In global terms, growth has declined
    due to a combination of austerity policies
    in countries with slow economies, the expiration of patents on top selling drugs, an
    increase in sales of generic medicines and
    the slimming of research and development
    (R+D) budgets. Under that scenario, emerging economies like Mexico are shaping up
    as the industry’s antidote, not only because
    they are spending more on health care but
    also because companies can diversify their
    business lines and develop innovative drugs
    on markets such as these.
    That would appear to be the solution
    to the expiration of patents. Pharmaceutical
    companies are looking to diversify their business lines and drugs because most depend
    largely on one or two patents. But this trend
    toward greater diversity isn’t limited to new
    product ranges; it also encompasses new
    market niches, such as consumer health care
    products and generic drugs. Mergers, acquisitions and alliances with manufacturers of
    generic drugs are reshaping the industry as
    it seeks out new products and technologies
    that will help reduce R+D costs.
    Meanwhile, some companies are addressing the problem by opting to manufacture more complex drugs, like those used
    to treat oncological, immunological and inflammatory diseases. All the evidence seems
    to suggest that biotechnology will be the pillar of progress and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry and Mexico has a great
    deal to offer in that area.
    Over the coming years, we will most
    likely see a regional shift in consumption
    and production. While markets that have
    historically fueled growth –the US, Japan
    and certain European nations– have been
    forced to cut back on government spending on health, emerging economies, Mexico’s included, are investing more and more,
    and business opportunities are opening up,
    even for patented drugs.
    Mexico has the second largest pharmaceutical market in Latin America. In addition to Mexican owned companies, 20 of
    September 2014
    the top 25 leading multinational pharmaceutical companies in the world have operations in Mexico, positioning it as one of the
    world’s main manufacturing centers.
    In 2013, the sector’s output was valued
    at 13.98 billion USD and is expected to
    climb to 24.21 billion USD by 2020, based
    on average annual growth projections of
    9.6% between 2014 and 2020.
    Mexico’s exports of pharmaceutical
    products were valued at 1.70 billion usd
    and were shipped to the US (26.4%),
    Venezuela (15.3%), Panama (11.1%),
    Brazil (6.1%) and Colombia (5.6%),
    among other markets.
    Medicines containing alkaloids or their
    derivatives account for 62% of total exports, antiserums 5.6% and medicines
    containing provitamins and vitamins, natural or synthetic derivatives 3.7%.
    By the same token, investment opportunities abound. According to the report Opportunities and Changes in the Life Sciences
    Industry and Healthcare: Mexico’s Case
    (2014) published by Deloitte, “improved
    health coverage, an aging population and
    medical tourism are bolstering demand.”
    September 2014
    In the same report, Deloitte states that
    spending on health care as a percentage
    of GDP has increased 15% since 2000
    and that the government is focused on
    improving the system so as to “create
    market provisions [...] and offer consumers better alternatives, for example, public
    health protection.” To that end, the Mexican government has outlined an effective
    universal health coverage structure, while
    taking steps to improve the quality of services and reduce costs.
    That strategy has resulted in a 1.5 percentage point reduction in maternal mortality since 1990 and the government has committed to further reducing it by between two
    and 2.5-percentage points each year.
    The Deloitte report also highlights the
    efforts being made to prevent diseases like
    diabetes and obesity as an opportunity for
    growth in the sector.
    Likewise, consumption on the domestic market is expected to grow at an
    average annual rate of 8.2% in the 20142020 period, climbing from 17.22 billion
    USD in 2013 to 29.34 billion USD in 2020.
    OTC drug sales were at 2.34 billion USD
    in 2012. Cold and cough accounting for
    27.7% of the market’s total value.
    According to COFEPRIS, during the
    last three years, the consumption of generic
    drugs has increased from 54% to 84%.
    Whether it’s to meet ever greater demand on the domestic market or for export, Mexico is a major manufacturer of
    high-tech medicines, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and cancer treatments, among others. It has also become
    more attractive to investors following
    improvements to its regulatory framework and the granting of quality certifications. From 2005 through 2013, the
    sector received a total of 3.46 billion usd
    in foreign direct investment from companies in the US, Ireland, Spain, among
    others. Most of these funds were channeled into Mexico City, Morelos, Estado
    de México, Baja California, Jalisco and
    Aguascalientes.
    Biotechnology,
    an expanding sector
    Mexico has a well developed biotechnology sector that will no doubt come
    15
    Negocios ProMéxico | Cover Feature
    Mexico’s exports of
    pharmaceutical products were
    valued at 1.70 billion usd
    and were shipped to the US
    (26.4%), Venezuela (15.3%),
    Panama (11.1%), Brazil
    (6.1%) and Colombia (5.6%),
    among other markets.
    to play an important role in safeguarding the health of the pharmaceutical industry, among others, while facilitating
    many other activities that put biologicalbased technology and energy to the service of mankind and the environment.
    According to Probiomed liaison officer Dulce Contreras, biotechnology “is
    a tool that drives other activities across
    various sectors. Biotechnology can be
    seen at work in the pharmaceutical, food,
    agricultural, energy and even the textile
    industry,” yet it’s not something new.
    “Several disciplines have made contribu-
    16
    photos
    tions since the 19th Century. For example, vaccinations, serums and penicillin
    are all produced by living entities. At the
    time, these were considered biological
    processes and now they are referred to
    as biotechnological processes. Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary activity so
    broad that it covers genetics, molecular
    biology, agronomy, among other.”
    The Mexican government, via the
    Ministry of the Economy, has several instruments designed to promote innovation
    in the biotechnology sector. For example,
    Mexico Ventures and the Sectorial Innovation Fund (FINNOVA) provided funding
    for specific biotechnology projects.
    Synergies with the Association of Biotechnology Companies (EMBIOMEX),
    an initiative whose roots can be traced
    back 20 years, but that formally came
    into existence three years ago, and the
    joint efforts of government agencies, research centers and universities throughout the country have produced success
    stories among the association’s 16 members and five affiliates. Stories like that
    of Metco, a Mexican company that invented and patented Svetia, a natural
    archive
    low-caloric sugar substitute that can be
    found at several coffee shops in Mexico
    or Enmex, the only Mexican manufacturer of industrial enzymes.
    Another example is Probiomed itself,
    an EMBIOMEX founding member that
    has five manufacturing plants and some
    1,000 employees. One of its product lines
    is a “bio-comparable” drug designed to
    treat “highly specialized diseases.” Up to
    70% cheaper than its brand-name equivalent, this drug translates into enormous
    savings for the general public and health
    institutions.
    Other success stories in Mexico’s
    biotechnology sector include a type of
    chocolate for diabetics, developed by
    the National Autonomous University of
    Mexico (UNAM) using a biotechnological process. “It is a functional food that
    has a series of benefits for the human
    body,” says Contreras.
    But it’s not just home grown companies that have found in Mexico fertile
    ground for biotechnology related activities. There are more than 180 enterprises
    either developing or utilizing modern
    biotechnology in Mexico, 31% of which
    September 2014
    Cover Feature | Negocios ProMéxico
    operate in the agriculture sector, 23%
    in environment-related activities, 18%
    in the health sector, 18% in the food
    industry and 10% in other areas. In recent years, Mexico has become a major
    receptor of foreign direct investment in
    biotechnology. By way of example, in
    2012, the American technology company
    3M invested 15 million USD in a product
    design, development and testing project,
    creating 700 highly specialized engineering jobs in San Luis Potosí (Central
    Mexico).
    Furthermore, Mexico’s enormous
    diversity of ecosystems and species, its
    geographical location, varied weather
    and complex topography offer endless
    opportunities for the development of
    commercial biotechnology. Trained labor isn’t lacking either: there are some
    142 universities in the country running
    a total of 169 degree courses in directly related areas (biology, biochemistry,
    biotechnology, the biomedical sciences
    and biochemical engineering) and some
    76 institutions offering related post
    graduate programs. In 2011, approximately 18,500 students obtained a post
    graduate degree in areas related to biotechnology. And of the 7,500 researchers currently working on biotechnology
    projects in Mexico, half are employed
    in states with bio-clusters like Jalisco
    (West), Nuevo León (Northeast), Morelos (Central Mexico) and Guanajuato
    (Central Mexico).
    Recent years have seen the creation of an
    ever-expanding network of research centers
    specializing in different areas of biotechnology. The three institutions at the helm of this
    initiative are UNAM, the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and the National Council
    of Science and Technology (CONACYT).
    According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the number of
    patent applications in Mexico has increased
    at an average annual rate of 9% in the last
    14 years. In 2012, Mexico was among the
    ten countries that granted the most patents
    and of the 209,442 patent applications registered in the 1998- 2012 period; approximately 14.39% were related to medical and
    pharmaceutical technology.
    Mexico’s competitive costs are appealing to both national and international firms. According to the 2014 Competitive Alternatives report published
    by the audit, tax and advisory services
    firm KPMG, these are significantly lower
    September 2014
    There are more than 180 enterprises either developing or
    utilizing modern biotechnology in Mexico, 31% of which
    operate in the agriculture sector, 23% in environment-related
    activities, 18% in the health sector, 18% in the food industry
    and 10% in other areas. In recent years, Mexico has become a
    major receptor of foreign direct investment in biotechnology.
    in Mexico than in countries that dominate the industry in the following areas:
    biotechnology R+D (35.9% lower than
    in the US), clinical trials (31.5% lower)
    product testing (39.3% lower) and the
    manufacture of pharmaceutical products
    (14.4% lower).
    Add to these advantages a long list of
    free trade agreements and it’s no wonder
    Mexico is one of the US’ top biotechnology providers. In 2013, Mexico was the
    US’ third most important supplier of life
    science products, which were valued at
    3.53 billion USD in the period.
    Medical devices, an export asset
    In global terms, Mexico is also well positioned in the medical devices industry,
    where growth can be attributed to a
    variety of factors, such as scientific and
    technological progress, prolonged life
    expectancy and, with it, a progressively
    aging world population. In 2013, global
    production was valued at 624 billion
    USD and, based on new technologies and
    demographic trends, is expected to grow
    at an average annual rate of 7% between
    2013 and 2020 to end the period at an
    estimated of 996 billion usd.
    In Mexico, the sector has posted
    sustained growth over the last decade,
    largely due to the development of manufacturing capacities and the commercial
    facilities afforded by free trade agreements. According to ProMéxico estimates based on data furnished by Global
    Insight, domestic production was valued
    at 15.67 billion USD in 2013 and is expected to climb to 25.55 billion USD by
    2020, while average annual growth of
    7.2% is forecast, surpassing projections
    for the NAFTA region (5.1%) and countries like Germany (4.3%), Japan (4.4%)
    and Switzerland (2.5%).
    17
    archive
    ical devices such as intravenous catheters
    for peritoneal dialysis, anesthesia and
    embolectomies, surgical clamps and scissors, tubes, needles, skin staplers, disposable medical material, scalpels, lancets,
    plastic equipment, cannulas and surgical
    and dissection kits to markets specialized
    in the manufacture of more technologically complex devices.
    A major player on the international
    market for medical devices, in 2013
    Mexico’s exports were valued at a total
    of 6.89 billion USD, positioning it as Latin America’s leading exporter, the main
    supplier of the US (which accounted for
    92.5% of the sector’s total exports) and
    the world’s ninth largest exporter.
    Mexico is also rated the world’s third
    largest exporter of syringes, needles, catheters, cannulas and similar instruments,
    the fifth of medical, surgical, odontology
    and veterinary instruments and equipment, the sixth of orthopedic equipment
    and articles for fractures and the seventh
    of electro-diagnostic equipment.
    In the 2000-2013 period, the sector
    received 1.9 billion USD in foreign direct
    investment, mainly from the US, Germany
    and Italy. Between 2010 and 2014, at least
    14 companies announced investments in 16
    projects related to medical devices.
    There are some 2,511 economic units
    operating on Mexico’s medical devices
    market, 740 of which are export companies. Baja California (Northwest Mexico) is home to the largest cluster in the
    18
    country. These companies account for
    over 33.3% of total exports in the sector
    and most are engaged in the manufacture
    and assembly of equipment and components. Smiths, Tyco Healthcare, Cardinal
    Health, Pall Life Sciences, Medtronic,
    Gambro, Medimexico, ICU Medical Inc.,
    Hudson Aci, Dj Ortho, CLP, Sunrise Medical and North Safety Products are just a
    handful of the 80 exporters of medical devices with operations in Baja California.
    One reason multinationals choose to
    invest in Mexico is because costs are substantially lower compared to countries
    that lead the way in the manufacture of
    medical equipment, electronic devices
    and precision components, product testing and labor related operating costs at
    all levels of specialization.
    According to KPMG, in 2013, it was
    18% cheaper to manufacture medical
    devices in Mexico than in the US; 7.8%
    cheaper to manufacture precision components and 39.3% cheaper to develop
    and test electronic systems.
    Another area where there are opportunities to be had is in the export of med-
    Vacation makeovers
    One of the world’s top tourist destinations, Mexico doesn’t just draw holidaymakers but visitors looking for affordable, quality medical care. According
    to Patients Beyond Borders, Mexico attracts over one million foreign patients
    a year, making it the world’s second
    most popular medical tourism destination. The majority of these patients are
    Hispanic residents in the US, mainly the
    states of California, Arizona and Texas.
    Once famous for its border odontology,
    ophthalmology and cosmetic surgery
    services, Mexico is now deemed a world
    class healthcare center offering a full
    range of specialty care and procedures
    on a par with those available in developed countries.
    The industry was valued at 2.85 billion
    USD in 2013, which translates into growth
    of 10% compared to 2012. That trend is expected to continue, with medical tourism in
    Mexico growing at an average annual rate of
    7% through 2016, when its worth will have
    almost doubled to 5.01 billion USD.
    Deloitte’s report underscores Mexico’s
    focus on post-op procedures and drugs
    to facilitate patient recovery. And since
    the majority of medical tourists come
    from the US, measures are being taken
    to strengthen ties between Mexican and
    American health centers for the coordination of proper post-op services.
    Thanks to the joint efforts of the
    private and public sectors, research centers and universities, Mexico has consolidated its reputation as a world class
    healthcare center, as evidenced by its
    flourishing pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical devices and medical tourism
    industries. Government spending on science and technology stood at 4.5 billion
    USD in 2012 but President Enrique Peña
    Nieto has said that he intends to invest
    more in the area as a means of leveraging
    development and economic growth, so
    we can expect to see this figure increase
    to 1% of GDP by 2018. N
    September 2014
    Cover Feature | Negocios ProMéxico
    A positive
    synergy in
    favor of
    science
    A reflection of the successes that can be
    achieved when business, government and
    academia work together toward common
    goals can be seen in the experience of the
    Association of Biotechnology Companies
    (EMBIOMEX), which in three years grew
    from five member companies to bring together 16 firms, along with five other affiliated companies.
    The history of the Association of Biotechnology Companies dates back more
    than 20 years, with the convergence of a
    group of specialists who were beginning to
    make advances in the field of biotechnology. At that time there was no “administrative organization to follow up on ideas and
    policies in a timely manner. At that time everything was different, there was little control or regulation and there were not many
    products being generated through biotechnology.” In 2011, the group reaffirmed its
    interest in working together and the charter
    of the Association was drafted.
    Dulce Contreras, Liaison Manager at
    Probiomed, one of the founder companies
    of EMBIOMEX, says that it is an Association of Mexican companies, although
    some companies of international origin
    also participate: “But they must run a
    productive facility generating jobs in our
    country,” she says.
    Organizations such as the Mexican
    Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer in Small and Medium Enterprises (FUNTEC) also participate in EMBIOMEX: “The Ministry of Economy (SE)
    is involved and is part of the Association
    because when an idea is developed, the SE
    says: ‘I have seen activity but don’t know
    which one of you to approach.’ It is not the
    same as companies going to discuss an issue
    with SE as to go as an association. The Association has been a gateway to transmit to
    the SE a sector-wide vision of the needs we
    have and they, in turn, support us.”
    In addition, the SE helped reach more
    companies in the biotechnology sector for
    them to be integrated to the Association.
    September 2014
    courtesy of embiomex
    photo
    photo
    Negocios ProMéxico | Cover Feature
    It also asked FUNTEC to: “carry out a
    diagnosis of the current state of biotechnology in the country and a study that we
    could use as a base,” says Contreras. As
    part of that study, companies raised their
    needs with the government and an industry agenda was established.
    EMBIOMEX has helped to consolidate
    a number of companies with innovative
    features and established a feedback process
    with the academic sector, allowing a wide
    ranging and distinct approach. Work with
    the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the
    National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and the
    Center for Research and Advanced Studies
    (CINVESTAV) of the IPN, have been instrumental for EMBIOMEX.
    The Association also maintains an active communication with Querétaro’s Biotechnology Cluster –which has identified
    about 40 companies in the sector– and
    is currently in negotiations with Nuevo
    León’s Biotechnology Cluster to increase
    the benefits of their affiliates.
    Through its links with the government,
    open calls have been created to fund research
    projects for the application of biotechnology within the Sectorial Innovation Fund
    (FINNOVA) of the Ministry of the Economy
    and CONACYT. Though the 2014 Productive Biotechnology Call has not been
    launched, the Association still positive about
    it and certain that the Mexican Government
    will not let them down.
    Dulce Contreras explains that in the
    last 20 years: “A great technological resource has been generated; we learned a
    great deal of expertise and how to be competitive.” Plans are in place to further advance the process. “The project for 2014
    has been to expand and double the number of companies –we were five and we are
    now almost 20. We want to grow and integrate the vision of others because we could
    fall short if we leave out, for example, the
    agricultural sector,” explains Contreras.
    Together with the expansion, the Association continues a trend towards internationalization. Last May, it was introduced to the World Congress on Industrial
    Biotechnology in Philadelphia, US, where
    companies held meetings with players
    from the sector in other countries.
    In words of Dulce Contreras, the efforts
    of EMBIOMEX represent: “The interests of
    all Mexicans whose jobs depend on companies involved in biotechnology and the entrepreneurial spirit in research areas. It is a
    very positive synergy between academia and
    industry in favor of science.” N
    19
    Negocios ProMéxico | Special Report
    photos
    Querétaro Believes
    in Innovation
    The involvement of the Autonomous University of Querétaro as a founder
    and promoter of the biotechnology cluster in the state (BioTQ) bears witness
    to the importance of science and the creation of new solutions among
    associate companies.
    by omar magaña
    In 2012, a trend emerged in Querétaro towards the unification of firms working
    wholly or partially in the field of biotechnology, including pharmaceutical, agribusiness,
    chemical and food companies.
    At the center of this movement is the Autonomous University of Querétaro (UAQ)
    which, together with other academic and
    research centers –such as the Tecnológico
    de Monterrey–, articulates and brings together the productive efforts of the industry. It places emphasis on the importance
    of technological development, strengthens
    value chains with support for micro, small
    and medium enterprises (MSMEs), generates links with economic promotion bodies,
    boosts the training of human capital with
    the skills to join the biotechnology subsector,
    and organizes scientific and market knowledge around collective interests.
    The organization that has emerged from
    this partnership between private investment,
    academia and government –with the Sustainable Development Department (SEDESU) in
    Querétaro, the federal Ministry of Economy
    (SE) and ProMéxico representing the latter–
    is the BioTQ cluster, which formally entered
    operation in the second half of 2012, with
    15 partner organizations.
    Since then, companies of all sizes have
    been involved, with different levels of participation in five central issues of the group:
    food biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, bioprocesses and research and anal-
    courtesy of biotq
    ysis services. Those include Roquette, which
    processes raw materials of plant origin; Koppert, which is active in the field of biological
    protection of crops and natural pollination;
    Thor, which manufactures biocides, flame
    retardants and personal protection equipment; Granotec, a producer of functional
    and efficient foodstuffs; Grupo Nutec which
    manufactures animal nutrition products and
    Merieux, which focuses on food safety.
    “The work of the cluster is benefited
    by the fact companies are not in direct
    competition with each other but can
    complement each other’s work through
    production and innovation projects,” says
    Adriana Cantorán, head of the project
    planning department for BioTQ.
    The associated companies have to date
    generated 1,200 jobs, according to Cantorán, who emphasizes that one of the objectives of the organization is to bring together
    not only established firms but also entrepreneurs and MSMEs who can benefit from the
    incubation programs and company management offered by the cluster.
    In different forums, Marcelo López
    Sánchez, head of SEDESU, has spoken of
    the presence of more than 100 companies
    linked to biotechnology in Querétaro,
    which are responsible for some 25,000
    jobs throughout the state.
    Special Report | Negocios ProMéxico
    A dedicated technology park
    “Since the organization was created, the
    UAQ began to build the infrastructure of a
    biotechnology park, which will be a model
    for maintaining relationships between the
    university and MSMEs in the Querétaro biotechnology sector,” explains Cantorán.
    The park, she adds, will foster the incubation of companies based on knowledge,
    technology transfer and innovation.
    The UAQ presented the project for the
    Park in November 2012. In total, 51 million
    pesos will be invested for its development
    –15 million provided by the SE and the rest
    by UAQ, with support from the state government and entrepreneurs in the sector.
    The park will comprise a pilot factory
    and biotechnology laboratories for food,
    nutraceuticals, microbial safety of foods
    and biosystems engineering. Advice will be
    given to entrepreneurs who wish to join the
    industry, refresher courses and training will
    be provided and partnerships with research
    centers and other national and international
    clusters in the same field will be established.
    The BioTQ cluster offers its partners
    comprehensive monitoring of changes in
    politics, economics, technology and industry,
    and documentation on official standards and
    government regulations, as well as assistance
    with developing business abroad. It will
    bring together all the elements for setting a
    robust industry on the right path.
    One example is the BioTQ cluster’s negotiations with ProMéxico to develop entrepreneurs and consolidation of micro and
    small enterprises with export potential.
    Cantorán explains that the aim is
    to set up two export consortia, one for
    food and one for agriculture, each with
    its guidelines and requirements to meet.
    The project presupposes a process of consultancies, analysis, brand registration,
    review of regulations, certifications and
    guidance on trade. It will bring together
    10 cluster member companies and others
    that ProMéxico will recruit in the state.
    Partnering: the reason for a cluster
    The issue of the internationalization of the
    work of the BioTQ cluster has a crucial relevance. Not only is it paving the way for
    Mexican biotechnology companies to offer their products abroad and participate
    in global supply chains, but also it seeks to
    connect, share experiences and find the best
    industry practices globally.
    The partnership between BioTQ and international clusters was established from the
    20
    September 2014
    September 2014
    start. In December, 2012, BioTQ organized
    a mission to France and the Netherlands to
    visit 10 food, plant and molecular analysis
    clusters. Collaboration agreements were
    signed with two of them that enable UAQ
    students to continue their training in biotechnology in these countries.
    “We have been working with the molecular analysis cluster on a model. The
    plan is for someone from there to come to
    Mexico to assess the sector clusters here,”
    concludes Cantorán.
    The same spirit of collaboration is evident in the conferences on biotechnology
    organized by BioTQ since 2013 and in the
    cooperation links with bodies such as the
    Franco-Mexican Chamber of Commerce
    and Industry and the Valle de México University, the Corregidora Tech University and
    the Tec de Monterrey. N
    The BioTQ cluster offers
    its partners comprehensive
    monitoring of changes
    in politics, economics,
    technology and industry,
    and documentation on
    official standards and
    government regulations,
    as well as assistance with
    developing business abroad.
    It will bring together all the
    elements for setting a robust
    industry on the right path.
    clusterbiotq.org
    21
    Negocios ProMéxico | Special Report
    photos
    courtesy of baja california state tourism
    Special Report | Negocios ProMéxico
    The Baja California Medical,
    Dental and Hospital Cluster is
    founded on the conviction of
    physicians, governments, and
    tourism-industry professionals
    that Tijuana and its neighboring
    municipalities are the ones best
    equipped to meet the rising
    demand for their health services
    in the US and Canada.
    countries –especially people from the US,
    who “are in the habit of getting regular health checkups” and who “live in
    a highly regulated environment where
    there is a culture of prolonging life”– are
    traveling abroad in search of medical
    and health care services that fall into the
    wellness tourism category, such as spiritual retreats and visits to spas and beauty
    clinics, among others.
    The 2013 Life Sciences Roadmap
    sketched out by ProMéxico states that demand is highest for heart, plastic and gastric
    bypass surgery, ophthalmological, oncological, dental, trauma, fertility and gynecological services. The same document estimated
    the value of this sector of Mexico’s economy,
    including the spa industry, at 2.85 billion
    Check In
    and Get
    Checked Up
    Tijuana and its neighboring
    municipalities are making a
    concerted effort to capitalize
    on their experience and gain a
    competitive edge in the health
    tourism sector.
    by omar magaña
    Baja California’s efforts to project a stable
    image and attract investors, holidaymakers and foreigners and Mexicans in search
    of quality medical services are paying off
    thanks to projects like the Baja California
    Medical, Dental and Hospital Cluster.
    This northwest state is a magnet for
    investment in the automotive, aerospace,
    22
    electronics, IT and logistics sectors and
    for the hospital services industries, but
    to get ahead in the health tourism sector, providers of these services have had
    to pool efforts, consolidate their operations, get certified, promote themselves
    as a group, and earn the trust of their
    prospective customers.
    The Baja California cluster constitutes
    the crystallization of those efforts and is
    founded on the conviction of physicians,
    governments, and tourism-industry professionals that Tijuana and its neighboring
    municipalities are the ones best equipped
    to meet the rising demand for their health
    services in the US and Canada.
    Doctor Adrián Murillo, executive coordinator of the project in Tijuana, underscores
    Baja California’s longstanding tradition as a
    provider of cross-border medical services,
    especially for Americans and Canadians in
    search of quality care at a lower cost than in
    their countries of origin. The cluster cashes
    in on that experience, unifies goals and calls
    on related sectors to help attract users with
    USD in 2013, with potential growth of 7%
    over the coming years.
    Welcome to Tijuana
    In Tijuana, the Anglo-Saxon market defined trends in the medical tourism sector
    between 2000 and 2008, but in the last five
    years or so, Latinos have been the predominant users of these services, either because
    they don’t have health coverage in the US
    or, in the case of native Mexicans, because
    this is a chance to visit friends and relatives
    on the other side of the border.
    This sector of the market resides within a radius that stretches from San Diego
    to Los Angeles, just a two-hour drive from
    the border. It’s a sector of the population
    whose purchasing power has increased,
    but that finds it more affordable to seek
    attention in Mexico than in the US, where
    medical services are costly.
    Latinos tend to make the most of their
    trips this side of the border and the “idea is
    to offer a range of alternatives,” says Murillo. These users visit the region in search
    of general or family medical services, dental
    treatment, orthopedic and aesthetic surgery.
    Given that most come for minor procedures,
    there’s a greater chance these patients will
    visit the local tourist attractions.
    “We need to invest more to make our
    service providers competitive and improve
    urban infrastructure, transport, and other
    areas that have the potential to attract users of those services and generate more revenues,” acknowledges Murillo.
    Strength in numbers
    “Gaining access to communications and
    marketing platforms is very expensive,”
    says Murillo, but the institutions that
    belong to the cluster say that working
    together has made it more cost-effective
    to launch publicity campaigns for their
    services in the US, where their prospective clients market is.
    As in other sectors, the primary goals of
    the cluster are to standardize processes and
    to certify the practices of its members. In
    the case of the Baja California cluster, funds
    have been put up to help members improve
    the quality and safety of their services.
    The cluster has two certified medical
    units, while another eight are currently
    being audited by the General Health
    Board. As regards legal aspects, the task
    at hand consists of “standardizing and
    adopting criteria to protect users. In the
    event the patient’s wellbeing is believed to
    have been compromised, the Baja California Medical Arbitration Commission will
    step in,” Murillo concludes. N
    clustermedicodental.com
    more and better accommodation, recreational and dining options.
    “Generally speaking, those who
    make use of services in the border zone
    make the two-to-nine-hour journey by
    car –the time it takes to drive from San
    Francisco to Baja California– but their
    needs and interests go over and beyond
    health services,” says Murillo.
    In the time it’s taken to set up the cluster,
    bodies like the Tourism and Conventions
    Committee, the Economic Development
    Council, the Tijuana’s Economic Development Secretary and the state government have come on board. By the same
    token, the relationship with ProMéxico
    has helped “highlight Baja California’s
    vast experience in the provision of medical
    services. Based on that experience, several
    strategic lines have been suggested that are
    very much in keeping with what the federal government is now proposing via different institutions,” says Murillo.
    According to ProMéxico, since 2000
    more and more people from developed
    September 2014
    September 2014
    23
    Negocios ProMéxico | Special Report
    Beach and
    stethoscope:
    medical
    tourism
    in western
    Mexico
    The Jalisco Medical Tourism Cluster
    is one of the leading centers in the
    country for attention to foreigners;
    it offers a wide range of specialties
    ranging from cosmetic surgery
    and care for chronic degenerative
    diseases to cancer and fertility
    treatments.
    24
    photos
    courtesy of jalisco medical tourism cluster
    by antonio vázquez
    Tourism and health: what better combination? The medical tourism industry in
    Mexico offers a wide range of health services, and Jalisco is home to one of the most
    important medical clusters in the country.
    In 2009, a number of private institutions in the state of Jalisco conceived the
    idea of forming a cluster to offer quality services in the healthcare market.
    Initially, the group focused primarily on
    cosmetic surgery services but over time
    the catalog was expanded.
    “There is a great demand as the global
    population begins to age. We are seeing an
    increasing prevalence of chronic diseases
    such as diabetes and those affecting the
    heart, the joints, the hips, and so on,” explains Carlos Rodríguez Zárate, president
    of the Jalisco Medical Tourism Cluster.
    Rodríguez Zárate explains that the
    leading consumer of health services, the
    US, represents a great opportunity for
    clusters focused on medicine in Mexico.
    The costs of coverage of different health
    systems in the US are high and the health
    reforms in that country have set restrictions on coverage.
    “That creates an important market
    for us. Another factor is the migration
    policy of the Obama administration,
    which is aimed at reaching millions of migrants; many Mexicans are waiting to become citizens of the US in order to come
    to Mexico and be treated in the health
    services here,” he adds.
    The quality of medical services in
    Mexico and the warmth with which
    Mexican doctors treat their patients are
    September 2014
    Special Report | Negocios ProMéxico
    added values that attract medical tourism
    from the US. Jalisco, in western Mexico,
    is a state with approximately 8 million
    inhabitants. Its capital, Guadalajara, is
    the second largest metropolitan area in
    the country, with just over 4 million residents, and an international airport with
    flights to 21 cities in the US.
    With mountain ranges and the sea,
    the state has wonderful tourism sites.
    Puerto Vallarta, on the coast of Jalisco, is
    one the most preferred beaches by American tourists. According to figures from
    the federal Ministry of Tourism, in the
    first half of 2014, about 600,000 tourists visited the destination, representing
    an increase of almost 20% compared to
    the same period in 2013.
    The Jalisco Medical Tourism Cluster is
    composed of 10 hospitals in Guadalajara
    that are renowned throughout the country
    September 2014
    and four hospitals in Puerto Vallarta.
    “Jalisco has extensive experience in
    treating emergency patients, people who
    are traveling on business, or people living
    in US and Canadian dominated neighborhoods on the shores of Lake Chapala,”
    Carlos Rodríguez Zárate points out.
    Medical tourism in Mexico is a market that brings major economic benefits
    to the country. Mexican exports of health
    services in 2012 exceeded 3 billion USD,
    according to figures from Euromonitor.
    Patients Beyond Borders estimates that
    every year over one million people travel
    to Mexico for health care.
    The Jalisco Medical Tourism Cluster
    offers an extensive portfolio of specialties.
    The cluster partner hospitals as offering
    cosmetic surgery, dental care, ophthalmology, obesity treatment, orthopedics, hip
    implants, oncology, cardiology and neurosurgery, as well as fertility and stem cell
    treatments, among other services.
    In March 2014, representatives of
    the most important medical clusters in
    Mexico met to map out a strategy that
    will project the sector onto the international stage. The main outline of the
    strategy, defined in conjunction with the
    federal Ministry of Health, is to work in
    a coordinated manner to provide quality
    service for foreign patients.
    “In Mexico and Jalisco there is a high
    level of quality among health professionals.
    Many of our doctors have qualifications
    The Jalisco Medical Tourism
    Cluster offers an extensive
    portfolio of specialties. The
    cluster partner hospitals as
    offering cosmetic surgery,
    dental care, ophthalmology,
    obesity treatment, orthopedics,
    hip implants, oncology,
    cardiology and neurosurgery,
    as well as fertility and stem
    cell treatments, among other
    services.
    and training from countries like the US,
    Canada, and some European countries. The
    network of hospitals, hospital infrastructure and services such as laboratories and
    radiology units fully comply with international standards,” states Rodríguez Zárate,
    who adds that, in the coming years, the
    Jalisco Medical Tourism Cluster will seek to
    position Mexico as one of the main destinations for health tourism in the world.
    “We are focused on international tourism and on developing a comprehensive
    approach as a country and as a State. Jalisco has been developing for several years as
    a major center for medical attention care
    in the country,” concludes the president of
    the Jalisco Medical Tourism Cluster. N
    25
    Negocios ProMéxico | Business Tips
    Investment in Mexico’s
    Pharmaceutical
    and Biotech Industries
    Recent changes in the Mexican health sector, its continually growing
    local market, state investments in biotech, and the country’s growing
    export potential, may well make the Mexican pharmaceutical and biotech
    industries the next hot investment opportunity.
    photo
    archive
    by johanna cronin* and pieter speksnijder**
    Notwithstanding, the increasing presence of generics is also good news for big
    pharma, since it opens up the market to
    new innovative products. A generic is not
    simply a copycat version of a branded
    drug, it can also provide an innovative alternative. According to Cortés, the latest
    trend in generic development is the creation of fixed combination products. These
    aim to incorporate multiple active ingredients into one pill, allowing patients with
    numerous common conditions to combine
    their treatments into one dose. Fixed combination products can reduce side effects
    and increases ease of use, but they do require large investments to develop. “Big
    pharma companies see the benefit of these
    products because they sell for higher prices
    than regular generics,” explains Cortés.
    In the last decade, Mexico attracted a yearly average of 23 billion USD in foreign direct investments (FDI) and drew a recordbreaking 35.2 billion USD inflow of FDI in
    2013. Traditionally, such successes are attributed to the usual suspects of the energy,
    mining, and automotive industries, since
    they jointly attract the bulk of foreign investment into the country. In the wake of
    major reforms in the telecommunications,
    energy, and financial sectors established by
    President Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico’s
    markets are capturing more attention than
    ever from foreign investors.
    Despite all this potential, the pharmaceutical sector has lagged behind other industries in terms of securing FDI, receiving
    an annual average of 400 million USD over
    the last eight years. However, recent changes
    in the Mexican health sector, its continually
    growing local market, state investments in
    biotech, and the country’s growing export
    potential, may well make the Mexican pharmaceutical and biotech industries the next
    hot investment opportunity.
    State of the industry
    Twenty of the world’s 25 largest pharmaceuticals are present in Mexico, with the
    total pharmaceutical market representing
    14.6 billion USD in 2013. According to IMS
    Health, biomedicine accounted for 5% of
    this market, amounting to 735 million USD.
    Over the next five years, the market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10%,
    driven by the extension of the state-run
    health insurance scheme, Seguro Popular, for
    which the government has vowed to increase
    spending from 7% to 10% of GDP. According to Dagoberto Cortés Cervantes, President of the National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (CANIFARMA), “this
    is a very special time for the pharmaceutical
    industry as the authorities have made it clear
    that the industry is a priority sector for development.” Furthermore, Cortés asserts that
    biotech products will become increasingly
    important in Mexico, saying that “in 20
    years, 47% of the Mexican population will
    be older than 45 years, and biotech products
    will provide the right answers to many of
    their healthcare problems.”
    Patented drugs currently represent 51%
    (7.4 billion USD) of the market, generics
    35% (5.1 billion USD), and over-the-counter
    drugs 14% (2.1 billion USD). Although patented drugs still dominate, it is expected that,
    26
    Business Tips | Negocios ProMéxico
    September 2014
    Mexico is an ideal location for clinical trials due to its large and
    ethnically diverse population, large volunteer base, improved
    regulations and low operational costs. This has led to a huge
    increase in the number of clinical trials held in Mexico, from two in
    2001 to 196 in 2012, ranking Mexico second in Latin America.
    in the next five years, they will gradually lose
    market share only to be overtaken by generics in 2018. The reasons behind this expected
    shift are increasing public demand for cheap
    drugs, and recent government programs
    aimed to counter consumer and prescriber
    misconceptions about generic medicine.
    Generics are pivotal to the development
    of the Mexican healthcare sector, especially
    since their better utilization could represent significant savings for the Mexican
    government. “The government now spends
    80% of its budget on innovative medicines
    which, in terms of units, only represent
    20% of purchased drugs. Generics represent 80% of all purchases, and yet the
    government only spends 20% of its budget
    on these,” explains Cortés. Maintaining
    healthcare costs manageable is going to be
    September 2014
    a challenge for the government as Mexico’s
    aging population is requiring healthcare at
    a higher frequency, complexity, and cost.
    Authorities from the Mexican Institute
    of Social Security (IMSS) confirm this by
    pointing out that the aging population is
    one of its largest long-term challenges.
    The market is under constant scrutiny
    by pharmaceutical companies that are ready
    to jump at the chance of introducing a new
    generic when the patent of an innovative
    product expires. Cortés explains that while
    Mexico has strong intellectual property
    laws, and that patent terms of 20 years are
    strictly respected, this does not mean that
    Mexican producers cannot start developing
    rival drugs three or four years before patent
    expiry in order to launch a generic alternative within 24 hours after a patent expires.
    Growth potential for the market
    An important element for the Mexican pharmaceutical industry has been the presence of
    similares: cheap drugs claiming to be generic
    but that actually differ from the original in
    terms of efficacy and side-effects. While some
    similares are still present today, the Federal Commission for the Protection Against
    Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) has done an
    impressive job cleaning up the market and
    reducing red tape in the system. Since 2010,
    COFEPRIS has introduced a number of efficiency improvements which have significantly reduced the backlog of registrations
    in the organization. This has been seen as a
    boon to the industry since in any sector the
    efficiency of a regulatory body often directly
    translates into that industry’s competitiveness. Pharmaceutical companies are in constant discussion with COFEPRIS in order
    to further improve efficiency, and indicators
    point to a positive relationship between the
    public and private sector. CANIFARMA and
    COFEPRIS collaborate on boosting industry competitiveness, combining sensitivity
    for the needs of the pharmaceutical industry with a constant awareness of the need to
    protect the Mexican population.
    Furthermore, in 2008 COFEPRIS removed the manufacturing presence requirement meaning that foreign drug producers
    are now allowed to enter the Mexican market without having to establish production
    here. These new regulations inspired drug
    producers like Sweden’s Meda AB, Italy’s
    Menarini, and Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo to enter Mexico, as well as allowing Indian generic giants Glenmark, Sun Pharma, and Ranbaxy to gain a foothold here while retaining
    27
    Negocios ProMéxico | Business Tips
    production in India. Recently, COFEPRIS
    was recognized as a national regulatory authority of regional reference of medicines
    and biological products by the World Health
    Organization (WHO), a sign that Mexico’s
    regulatory standards are among the highest
    in Latin America. “Six months ago, this led
    to new legislation being enacted, which enables a COFEPRIS approved product to be
    registered in El Salvador, Ecuador, Peru, and
    Colombia in just 35 days,” explains Cortés.
    Mexico’s free trade agreements with 45
    countries have also led to the country exporting over 1.7 billion USD of medicinal
    products in 2013, making the country Latin
    America’s leader in pharmaceutical exports.
    The main export destinations are the US,
    Venezuela, and Panama. These exports are
    only expected to grow further because of aging populations and a consequent increased
    demand for medicines in Mexico’s main
    trading partner, the US.
    Furthermore, leading Mexican pharmaceuticals like Genomma Labs, Laboratorios
    Silanes, and Laboratorios Liomont are successfully looking for space for growth outside of Mexico in order to increase their
    revenues all over Latin America. Increasing
    Mexico’s pharmaceutical exports is important to restore the sector’s current uneven
    trade balance. “Another key issue to be addressed is the reduction of the sector’s dependence on imports, with 95% of raw materials used to manufacture medicines currently
    being imported,” states Cortés.
    Research and development in Mexico
    Research and development are crucial to the
    future of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, but the leading multinationals present in Mexico have not yet made research
    and development part of their local operations. Limited investment combined with the
    focus of local pharmaceutical ventures on
    generics and over-the-counter products has
    resulted in innovative efforts remaining low.
    Cortés believes the government is taking note
    of this fact: “a couple of years ago, the total
    amount of investment in research and development in Mexico was just 0.37% of GDP,
    as compared to an OECD country average
    of 6%. Mexico is lagging behind but the
    government has announced plans to increase
    its spending by the end of this year.” The
    hope is that this will see more development
    take place, such as that carried out by Laboratorios Silanes, which was the first Mexican
    company ever to develop an an US Food
    and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved
    28
    photo
    drug. Its snake, scorpion, and spider antivenom drug Anascorp gained FDA approval
    in August 2011 and has already become a
    commercial success in the US. Laboratorios
    Silanes is a firm example of Mexico’s potential to become a leading research and development center in Latin America.
    State governments are also increasingly incentivizing research and development with the creation of biotech clusters.
    In 2011, the state of Morelos announced it
    would invest over 29 million USD to stimulate a pharmaceutical cluster specialized
    in biomedicine development. Today, Cuernavaca, Morelos is home to 39 research
    institutions and has the highest density of
    scientific capital in Latin America. While
    Mexico’s free trade agreements
    with 45 countries have also led
    to the country exporting over
    1.7 billion usd of medicinal
    products in 2013, making the
    country Latin America’s leader
    in pharmaceutical exports. The
    main export destinations are
    the US, Venezuela, and Panama.
    These exports are only expected
    to grow further because of
    aging populations and a
    consequent increased demand
    for medicines in Mexico’s main
    trading partner, the US.
    the state of Morelos represents only 1.5%
    of Mexico’s population, it is responsible
    for 10% of national science production.
    The state of Jalisco is equally as ambitious
    in stimulating research in the life sciences
    sector and its Biocluster de Occidente in
    Guadalajara currently consists of several
    research institutions and 35 multinational
    or national pharmaceutical companies.
    The pharmaceutical research and development center in Monterrey, Nuevo León
    hosts the country’s premiere private medical school that conducts FDA-grade clinical
    research. Stretching their contacts overseas,
    a group of Mexican pharmaceuticals led
    by Arriola recently went to South Korea to
    look for opportunities to transfer biotechnology expertise to Mexico. “The situation
    is moving very fast and we realized that
    archive
    to start from scratch would take too long.
    Therefore, we sent a team to South Korea
    in order to look for technology transfer opportunities with the full backing of national
    health authorities.”
    While Mexico might still not be developing new medicines at the rate of the US or
    Germany, the country is rapidly becoming
    an international hub for clinical research trials. These play a central role in the development of new medicines, since new medicines
    must successfully pass through at least three
    phases of clinical research before they can
    enter the public market, a process which can
    easily take up to 10 years.
    Mexico is an ideal location for clinical
    trials due to its large and ethnically diverse
    population, large volunteer base, improved
    regulations and low operational costs. This
    has led to a huge increase in the number of
    clinical trials held in Mexico, from two in
    2001 to 196 in 2012, ranking Mexico second in Latin America. The presence of international renowned clinical research organizations such as Kendle, Parexel and Quintiles confirms the importance of Mexico as a
    location for clinical research.
    Guest Opinion | Negocios ProMéxico
    The Pharmaceutical Industry
    IN MEXICO
    In Mexico, the pharmaceutical industry is of great economic importance, not far behind that of oil
    refining, production of basic petrochemicals and manufacturing of cars and trucks. It also is a growing
    market that requires new investment to address the ailments that afflict Mexicans in the 21st century.
    by maría cristina rosas
    Health is a broad concept. According to
    the World Health Organization (WHO)
    it is a state of complete physical, mental,
    and social well-being. That definition is
    the result of a conceptual evolution and
    emerged in place of a notion that was held
    for a long time, according to which health
    is simply the absence of biological diseases.
    Since the 1950s, the WHO reviewed the
    definition and finally replaced it with one
    in which the notion of human well-being
    goes beyond the merely physical. The Pan
    A great place to do business
    The sluggish performance of Mexico’s
    pharmaceutical and biotech industries in
    the 2000s seems to be at an end. The entry of global pharmaceutical leaders into
    the country has seen estimates for annual sector growth jump to 10%, spread
    across a wealth of opportunities. Recent
    improvements in regulation and Mexico’s
    close proximity to the US also provide the
    country with a solid export base to internationalize its efforts.
    The focus of state governments on research and development and the increasing
    number of clinical trials being outsourced
    here are destined to make Mexico an international competitor in terms of research and
    development as well. Cortés sums up this
    exciting time in three ways. “Firstly, Mexico
    has seen a good marriage between the government and the private sector. Secondly, the
    loyalty of the Mexican people and doctors
    for branded generics is very high and finally,
    the number of drugstores has been growing
    rapidly. All of these represent opportunities
    to place products in the market. Mexico is a
    great place for pharmaceuticals to do business,” he concludes. N
    *Editor of Mexico Health Review.
    **Industry Analyst of Mexico Health Review.
    September 2014
    September 2014
    *
    American Health Organization (PAHO)
    contributed to that the recognition that
    health also has to do with the environment
    around a person. Thus, health involves a
    coordinated effort by governments, society, international, governmental and nongovernmental organizations and, naturally, pharmaceutical companies.
    The development of the pharmaceutical industry first took place in Europe, beginning in 1870 and began its expansion
    in the face of the First World War. In the
    US, the industry took off after the Second
    World War and showed sustained growth
    until the 1960s, when the development of
    chemical-pharmaceutical products began
    to experience difficulties in the light of research and development processes.
    Competition on innovation and drug
    development, the increasing worldwide
    demand for these, as well as the facilities
    offered by markets and international and
    national regulations, have been instrumental factors in the development of the pharmaceutical industry.
    The sector sees considerable progress
    in countries like the US, the UK, Switzerland, France and Germany. These countries have a chemical industry with a solid
    foundation, making them exporters of
    pharmaceutical raw materials produced
    in bulk and distributed internationally
    through subsidiaries or licensing agreements. China recently joined that group,
    largely as the result of the effects of the financial crisis of recent years on European
    countries –which also explains why nearly
    half of global drug production is concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region.
    On the other side are the countries
    that have not developed a strong chemical
    industry. As a result, the pharmaceutical
    market in those countries faces constraints
    such as restrictive practices, price discrimination and managing the international
    patent system as a market instrument.
    Currently, one of the central issues of
    global public policy is to ensure that all
    citizens have access to the drugs they need
    to maintain and restore health and to alleviate the discomfort arising from different
    health conditions and diseases. Despite
    the efforts that have been made in that
    regard, enormous challenges remain and
    it is not yet possible to guarantee the right
    of everyone to health. Of particular note
    is the lack of universal coverage of public health services, inequality in access to
    primary and secondary level services and,
    29
    Negocios ProMéxico | Guest Opinion
    in particular, specialized care; conditions
    of marginalization and poverty; unequal
    geographical distribution of the world’s
    population; the lack of a culture of selfcare and prevention of diseases, and the
    emergence of new diseases.
    Paradoxically, in some regions the successful outcomes of public health systems
    have led to an overall lengthening of life,
    at the same time creating an aging population meaning that diseases requiring longterm, expensive care have become more
    widespread–heart and kidney ailments,
    obesity, mental illness associated with old
    age, among others. To that must be added
    the appearance of new public health problems related to the emergence of new or
    little known diseases –the epidemic caused
    by the H1N1 virus and, most recently, the
    Ebola virus illustrate those problems.
    The characteristics and structure of
    the pharmaceutical industry are also important for public health. While it is a
    sector that invests large amounts of human and material resources in the development of new products, those are surrounded by numerous controversial issues
    –such as intellectual property and patents,
    conditions for competition, content of
    regulatory frameworks, international collaboration to classify drugs, sanitary control and oversight policy on drug safety,
    the guarantee of supply in emergency
    situations, technological change, and the
    shared responsibility between the public
    and private sectors as well as between nations, in the research, production, delivery
    and access to medicines.
    In Mexico there are 224 laboratories
    for drugs or biological products, belonging
    to 200 companies. Of those, 46 are part
    of consortia or majority foreign-owned industries and the remaining ones have predominantly Mexican shareholders.
    According to figures from ProMéxico, with information from Hoovers and
    Marketline, 20 of the top 25 global pharmaceutical companies have operations
    in Mexico. The pharmaceutical industry
    produces 1.2% of gross domestic product
    (GDP) and about 7.2% of manufacturing
    GDP in the country. Also, according to
    data from ProMéxico with information
    from Global Trade Atlas, Mexico was the
    leading exporter in the pharmaceutical
    sector in Latin America in 2013.
    From 1993 to 2002, the manufacture
    of drug-chemical and pharmaceutical
    products increased at an average annual
    30
    photo
    rate of 4.85%. The Mexican pharmaceutical industry supplies most of the medicines consumed in the country: it produces
    86% of them and imports 14%. It is the
    ninth most important economic activity in
    Mexico and the fourth largest in the manufacturing sector. According to INEGI, in
    2013, production by the Mexican pharmaceutical industry exceeded 13 billion USD.
    Thus, Mexico is one of the main markets for health products in the world and
    the pharmaceutical industry established
    in the country is considered robust and
    competitive at a regional level. Together
    with Brazil, Mexico is the highest value
    market for pharmaceutical products in
    Latin America.
    In recent years, the deficit in the
    Mexican balance of trade for pharmaceutical products has grown significantly, from 52.8 million USD in 1995 to 2.76
    billion in November 2008. Today, 90%
    of Mexican exports are pharmaceutical
    raw materials. The increase in imports
    archive
    of finished products has been boosted by
    international innovation in pharmaceuticals around the world. As a result, Mexico has placed emphasis on investment
    to improve production processes, while
    recognizing the importance of engaging
    in more medical research.
    In 1986, with Mexico’s accession to the
    General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
    (GATT), lower tariffs were agreed for imported raw materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and the gradual
    elimination of those that were manufactured in Mexico. Simultaneously, the refusal of import permits if the material was
    produced domestically was removed. Consequently, many supplies began to be purchased in other countries while certain raw
    materials (intermediates) required for the
    manufacture of APIs continue to attract
    tariffs (0.7-5% in tariff codes 20 and 30),
    despite the fact they are made in Mexico.
    A new market currently showing
    strong signs of growth in the pharmaceuti-
    Guest Opinion | Negocios ProMéxico
    cal industry is that of generic drugs. Their
    success lies in their quality as well as in the
    savings they represent for consumers. One
    of the strongest limitations of these drugs
    is that in the implementation of new drugs
    on the market, the patent right is maintained for a predetermined period, meaning that people with lower incomes cannot
    easily access those products.
    Distribution on the private market is
    carried out by a number of wholesalers
    that have nationwide sales and is complemented by regional distributors; the latter
    serving small pharmacies and home-visit
    doctors–who charge the patient for consultation and the drug.
    Sale to the end customer focuses
    on pharmacy chains and supermarkets
    which, with fewer than 30% of existing
    outlets, sell about 80% of the total units
    sold. The latter has led independent pharmacies to reduce their presence in those
    areas where supermarkets and chains
    have a strong presence.
    A new market currently
    showing strong signs
    of growth in the
    pharmaceutical industry is
    that of generic drugs. Their
    success lies in their quality
    as well as in the savings they
    represent for consumers.
    As a result, there is a realignment underway that is seeing independent pharmacies creating negotiating groups. For
    many years, the complexity of distribution generated a significant space for traditional distributors to operate; with the
    rapid penetration of private labels several
    laboratories are now selling directly to
    chains, supermarkets, state-owned chains
    and independent pharmacies (grouped
    into purchasing groups).
    For the retail market, part of the sales
    are through direct sale by some laboratories to different government agencies and
    another part through dealers specialized in
    government, who bid on behalf of laboratories and deliver their products to where
    the institution requires them.
    The diseases affecting Mexican society
    are complex. On the one hand, there are
    communicable diseases; on the other, the
    so-called “diseases of modernity,” that is,
    non-communicable maladies that are related to urbanization and individual lifestyle,
    such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and
    cardiovascular, pulmonary and kidney diseases. That means Mexico requires a wide
    variety of medications and health services
    in order to address the various ailments
    that afflict the population.
    Since 1980, the Mexican authorities
    have made several changes to existing regulations in order to facilitate and improve
    the production and sale of drugs.
    One of the most important regulations
    is the Federal Law on the Promotion and
    Protection of Industrial Property, which enables the registration of patents –not previously allowed– on chemicals. Patents have
    a term of 20 years from the date of application and may be extended for three further
    years; in addition, the law allows brands
    to have a term of 10 years, which may be
    renewed for a similar period. Another key
    regulation is the General Law on Public
    Health, which stipulates that drugs for use
    and sale must be identified by their generic
    and distinctive names, so that doctors prescribe the active substance they contain
    and not the brand. Finally, the Regulation
    of Health Products defines the concept and
    characteristics of interchangeable generic
    drugs. With regard to the latter regulation,
    it is worth noting that the provisions relating to bioequivalents will open up greater
    opportunities for generic drugs, as opposed
    to similar drugs, which invites investment
    opportunities in the sector.
    According to ProMéxico figures with
    information from KPMG, Mexico is the
    most competitive country in the Americas
    for the manufacture of medical devices and
    pharmaceuticals. From 2005 to 2013, the
    foreign direct investment attracted by the
    Mexican pharmaceutical sector amounted
    to 3.46 billion USD. N
    *Professor and researcher in the Political and
    Social Sciences Faculty, National Autonomous
    University of Mexico (UNAM).
    September 2014
    September 2014
    31
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico In The World
    photos
    archive
    Mexican medical services
    for the world
    The health tourism industry in Mexico has been growing rapidly in recent years. This sector
    includes both health tourism proper and so-called wellness tourism, which refers to spa services
    and retirement homes for the elderly, among others.
    by cecilia ramos ávila*
    Mexico is one of the most popular destinations for medical tourism thanks to a fortunate combination of geographical, economic, and infrastructure factors, together
    with first class public policies.
    The medical services most demanded
    by foreign patients are in specialties such
    as cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, dentistry, cardiovascular, cosmetic, gastric, reconstructive, and eye surgery.
    According to a study by Patients Beyond Borders, Mexico is the country that
    serves more foreign tourists in dentistry and
    bariatric surgery (bypass and gastric band).
    The study indicates that during 2013, the
    Mexican health system attended about one
    million foreign patients, which places the
    country as the second largest destination in
    the export of medical services in the world,
    only behind Thailand that catered around
    1.2 million foreign patients during 2013.
    Medical tourism is an emerging industry that is not yet accounted for in domestic
    tourism figures, meaning in many cases is
    difficult to estimate numbers and the real
    economic impact that foreign patients leave
    when visiting an institution in the country.
    There are no sufficiently robust databases
    since health care providers do not maintain
    comprehensive statistics that distinguish
    domestic and foreign patients.
    Some sources estimate that a foreign patient leaves an average economic benefit of
    17,000 USD for an eight-day stay in a Mexican hospital or clinic.
    Added to that, it should be taken into
    account that foreign patients are usually accompanied and do not only spend money
    on the medical or surgical procedure they
    undergo but also on essential tourist services, having an impact on other industries
    such as transport, accommodation, food
    and beverages, among others.
    The use of health services impacts on
    the economic benefit that should be recorded as income from tourism in general. According to informal estimates, foreign pa-
    32
    tients coming to Mexico have an economic
    impact of close to 2.5 billion USD annually.
    It is estimated that figure could grow by
    7% a year, to the extent that the number
    of institutions with international certification increases. The growth will facilitate the
    generation of specific indicators for the sector which will provide more real statistics
    within a few years.
    Some of Mexico’s competitive advantages which make it one of the most attractive countries as a destination for medical
    services are costs, favorable geographical
    location in relation to Canada and the US, a
    high percentage of specialist doctors –many
    of them foreign educated– in proportion to
    the population of general practitioners, and
    a first class hospital infrastructure.
    The Medical Tourism Association
    (MTA) estimates that foreign patients
    treated in Mexico save between 36%
    and 89% over the cost of the same procedure in the US.
    In 1999, the General Health Council
    (CSG) of Mexico established a certification program for national hospitals and
    health clinics, with international standards. Currently, almost 85% of private
    September 2014
    Mexico In The World | Negocios ProMéxico
    hospitals and 14% of public hospitals in
    Mexico are accredited by the CSG, while
    in 2006, no Mexican hospital held international accreditation.
    In addition, 10 Mexican institutions
    hold international certification from the
    Joint Commission International (JCI) –the
    largest hospital accreditation body in the
    US. JCI certification allows Mexican hospitals to provide care to US patients insured
    with Medicare, as well as private insurers,
    which opens the door to a potential market
    of millions of American patients.
    The health institutions in Mexico that
    receive most tourists for medical purposes
    are concentrated in 10 states: Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua,
    the Federal District, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon,
    Quintana Roo, Sonora, Tamaulipas and
    Yucatan. Those states have approximately
    60 hospitals regularly providing health services to foreign patients.
    Baja California is a landmark case. According to the study “The profile of medical and health tourism and its impact on
    the economy of Baja California,” undertaken by the State Tourism Department
    between 2010 and 2013, the economic
    impact generated by medical tourism increased 21% due to the surroundings of
    the cities, the wider supply of services and
    competitive prices. Additionally, because it
    is a border state, many American patients
    can travel by land, which facilitates provision of those services. Of foreign patients
    coming to Baja California, 83% are from
    the US (41% are Hispanic born in that
    country) and 9% are Canadian; the remainder comprises other nationalities. It is
    very interesting to observe how the medical and hospital sector in Baja California
    has been attracting patients from other
    countries. In 2010, 98.1% of foreign patients receiving medical care in Baja California came from the US. The study also
    reveals that in 2013 the industry generated
    30,390 new jobs in the state.
    According to the National Institute of
    Statistics and Geography (INEGI), states
    such as Nuevo León and Jalisco have a
    very large workforce of medical staff:
    19.5% of the medical staff of hospitals
    and private clinics in the country live in
    Nuevo León, while 10.3% live in Jalisco.
    Quintana Roo and Yucatán –states that
    have a highly developed traditional tourism sector– have begun to improve their
    medical infrastructure and services to attract that segment of foreign tourists.
    September 2014
    Mexico has a highly qualified base
    of human capital working in medical services. According to the Organization for
    Economic Cooperation and Development
    (OECD), the proportion of medical specialists among general practitioners in Mexico
    is 62.3% –higher than the OECD average
    (57.7%)– which makes us the country with
    the 10th highest number of specialists as
    a proportion of the entire medical community among member countries. Furthermore, in Mexico, 11.6 physicians graduate
    per 100,000 inhabitants, higher than the
    OECD average (11.2) and the figure for
    countries like the US (6.9), Canada (7.6),
    South Korea (8.2) and France (9.0 ).
    The technological capital available is a
    window of opportunity in Mexico. For example, the number of magnetic resonance
    imaging (MRI) units per million population in Mexico is 2.2 units, while the
    OECD average is 13.9. The same is true in
    the case of other equipment such as brain
    scanners. In Mexico there are 5.1 brain
    scanners per million inhabitants, while the
    OECD average is 23.7. Another indicator
    for improvement is the number of hospi-
    tal beds. There are 1.6 hospital beds per
    thousand inhabitants in Mexico, while the
    OECD average is 4.8.
    There is no doubt that Mexico has an
    excellent hospital infrastructure and qualified medical personnel. However, there is a
    gap in technological capital. That represents
    a great investment opportunity in order to
    expand the capacity for attention and make
    the sector even more competitive. Mexico
    is a competitive destination for attracting
    foreign patients, essentially from Canada
    and the US. Costs and high level medical
    facilities, a broad base of specialized human
    capital and the country’s geographical location are elements that have made Mexico a
    suitable destination for medical tourism. If
    the investment needed to acquire specialized
    equipment is maintained, and the number of
    internationally certified health institutions
    continues to increase, Mexico will undoubtedly be a leading destination for international medical tourism, not only in North
    America but also throughout the world. N
    *ProMéxico’s representative in Boston,
    Massachusetts, US.
    33
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    Neolpharma,
    Quality Mexican
    Pharmaceutical
    Technology
    Neolpharma is preparing to take on new markets
    with an impressive catalogue of 600 medical
    products and a long list of certifications.
    34
    photos
    courtesy of neolpharma
    by antonio vázquez
    Manufacturing 600 different
    medical products is no mean
    feat, as Neolpharma, a Mexican pharmaceutical company
    that has built up an extensive
    catalogue of drugs over the
    last 20 years, will tell you.
    The company started out
    as a cottage industry in 1994.
    Two years later, it merged with
    a similar firm to create Neolpharma and today employs
    over 2,000 people.
    “It was a process of taking
    decisions and integrating technology, innovation and development to offer a more diversified
    product range. We produce
    drugs not only for the domestic
    market but also with export
    markets in mind,” says Neolpharma CEO Efrén Ocampo.
    The diversification Ocampo
    was referring to meant making
    the transition from manufacturing general drugs to specialized ones. The company’s labs
    and plants currently have the
    capacity to produce drugs for
    diabetes, Parkinson’s disease,
    schizophrenia and even drugs
    to treat cancer and neuropsychiatric conditions, although its
    main line is drugs for chronicdegenerative diseases.
    “We have some 200 active
    substances that are used to
    produce different drugs. In total, including active substances
    and presentations, we have
    almost 600 products designed
    to treat the diseases with the
    highest incidence in the country. We are particularly sensitive to the aging of the population, which is why we focus on
    drugs for chronic-degenerative
    diseases, heart conditions,
    September 2014
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    diabetes and cancer, and have
    several international patents,”
    says Ocampo.
    Mexico’s pharmaceutical
    market is fairly well distributed among large Mexican and
    international companies, with
    Neolpharma taking home 8%
    of the pie.
    One of the company’s
    main customers is the Mexican Social Security Institute
    (IMSS), which purchases
    some 130 million units of
    medicines a year.
    Right now, Neolpharma is
    in the process of broadening
    its range of generic drugs by as
    much as 50% and is working
    on new formulas in coordination with top experts from the
    Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav)
    at the National Polytechnic
    Institute (IPN), the faculties of
    Chemistry and Biology at the
    September 2014
    National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and
    the Autonomous Metropolitan
    University (UAM).
    “We have a team that
    works closely with these institutions, where there is enormous potential for the development of the pharmaceutical
    industry and a lot of room for
    innovation,” says Ocampo.
    In addition to its Mexican
    facilities, Neolpharma has
    offices and plants in Ecuador
    and Puerto Rico. Its Puerto
    Rican plant is certified by the
    US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has been
    something of an experience
    for the company and will no
    doubt facilitate its plans to
    export to other markets.
    As will the long list of
    certifications it boasts. Neolpharma has been certified in
    Good Manufacturing Practices
    by the Federal Commission for
    the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS),, as a
    Socially Responsible Company
    and complies with ISO 9000
    quality management and ISO
    14000 environmental management standards.
    According to Ocampo,
    agencies like ProMéxico have
    been instrumental in helping companies in the sector
    pinpoint these markets. “The
    next goal for Neolpharma,”
    he says, “is to conquer them.”
    “We have what it takes to
    compete on the international
    market. We are right next
    door to the US –the world’s
    largest pharmaceutical market– where Mexican products
    are perceived to be extremely
    reliable and of very high
    quality,” says Ocampo. N
    The company’s
    labs and plants
    currently have the
    capacity to produce
    drugs for diabetes,
    Parkinson’s disease,
    schizophrenia
    and even drugs to
    treat cancer and
    neuropsychiatric
    conditions, although
    its main line is
    drugs for chronicdegenerative
    diseases.
    www.neolpharma.com
    35
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    courtesy of vepinsa
    Industrias Vepinsa,
    natural color for human health
    This Mexican company produces natural pigments useful to various industries, but mainly for
    human health. It exports 40% of its annual production to some 10 nations.
    by antonio vázquez
    The color of natural raw materials is very useful to humans. That is something that
    Industrias Vepinsa, a Mexican company that for four
    decades has been devoted to
    the manufacture of pigments,
    nutraceuticals, ingredients
    and flavorings, knows well.
    Founded in 1969, Vepinsa started out producing
    36
    natural pigments used in the
    poultry industry. Over time,
    the company diversified its
    product portfolio, which today
    includes pigments used in the
    livestock and biotechnology
    sectors, such as nutraceuticals,
    says Rogelio Ramos, commercial director of the company.
    “We have invested a lot
    in biotechnology processes
    to obtain products known as
    nutraceuticals, which are sold
    at most drug stores and are
    of great benefit to health. For
    example, we have eye care
    products which prevent macular degeneration in which the
    active ingredient is lutein, a
    natural carotenoid found in
    vegetables, fruits and flowers,” says Rogelio Ramos.
    Gustavo Rodríguez, director of research and development at Industrias Vepinsa,
    claims that natural pigments
    (carotenoids) are highly useful
    for different industrial sectors.
    “What we’ve done is venture into areas like biotechnology. We are also exploring the
    use of biomass in the agricultural and fishing industries;
    September 2014
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    these masses –usually garbage
    or waste from industrial activities– can be used to produce
    value-added products. We are
    advancing in these two avenues in which we want to do
    business,” adds Rodríguez.
    Rogelio Ramos and Gustavo Rodríguez place special
    emphasis on the area of biotechnology in which Industrias
    Vepinsa currently operates.
    Using different types of flowers, the company has developed
    several products for human
    use. An important raw material
    for the company in its quest
    to create products that benefit
    human health is the marigold
    flower. The flower is endemic
    to states like Chiapas, Estado
    de México, Morelos, Puebla,
    Michoacán, San Luis Potosí,
    Oaxaca, Veracruz, Sinaloa and
    Tlaxcala, among others. It is
    often used for cultural purposes, especially for the Day of
    the Dead celebrations.
    From the marigold flower,
    Vepinsa obtains a concentrate
    of lutein, recommended for the
    pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and nutraceutical industries.
    The lutein obtained by the
    company helps, for example,
    to protect the skin from exposure to the sun, to reduce
    the formation of cataracts and
    inhibit macular degeneration
    (an eye disorder that affects vision), and to reduce the risk of
    colon, breast, and skin cancer.
    “We work with carotenoids
    from the marigold flower. We
    are venturing into new products
    such as anthocyanin, a pigment
    that ranges from red, to blue,
    to purple and has a lot of uses
    in the food and nutraceutical
    industries. There are pigments
    derived from tomatoes like lycopene, and from carrots, which
    have beta-carotene. We are
    exploiting all of these for food
    or nutraceuticals,” explains
    Gustavo Rodríguez.
    With a 12-hectare site located in the north of the state
    of Sinaloa, in northwestern
    September 2014
    Mexico, Industrias Vepinsa has
    a workforce of 140 people.
    The company has taken
    advantage of its geographic
    location to reach the US market.
    Currently, Industrias Vepinsa
    operates, in addition to the US,
    in some 10 countries in regions
    such as Central and South
    America, Europe, and Asia.
    Each year, the company exports
    40% of its production to those
    parts of the world.
    Gustavo Rodríguez says Industrias Vepinsa is the only one
    of its kind in Mexico that has
    a department for research and
    development of new products
    made with natural pigments.
    Today, the company owns more
    than 10 patents on products for
    the biotechnology sector.
    Synergies with universities and national research
    centers has been decisive for
    the growth of the company, as
    well as collaboration with the
    National Council of Science
    and Technology (CONACYT),
    according to Rogelio Ramos.
    Industrias Vepinsa is a
    company that has managed to
    exploit innovation in the field
    of biotechnology, according to
    Gustavo Rodríguez. “We will
    focus on new products derived
    from biomass that can be exploited given the region we are
    located in. It’s a cheap raw material from which many products can be obtained. We are
    also working on obtaining pigments from blueberries, purple
    corn and hibiscus. The implementation of biotechnology is a
    strategic focus of development
    for the company,” he says.
    In short, “Industrias Vepinsa is backing research and
    development in biotechnology,
    thereby increasing its portfolio
    of products that are of great
    benefit to human health,” concludes Rogelio Ramos. N
    Founded in 1969,
    Vepinsa started
    out producing
    natural pigments
    used in the poultry
    industry. Over
    time, the company
    diversified its
    product portfolio,
    which today
    includes pigments
    used in the livestock
    and biotechnology
    sectors, such as
    nutraceuticals.
    www.vepinsafoods.com
    37
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    courtesy of laboratorios tornel
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    equivalents. One of the top
    10 companies in its field on
    its home market, the company has ventured abroad
    and currently exports to
    the Middle East, the Caribbean and Central and South
    America, regions where it is
    in the process of registering
    its products.
    “Because ours are controlled, regulated products,
    they can’t be sold like other
    consumer goods,” says Bravo. “After having identified
    a market with potential, we
    begin the process of selling
    our products there,” which
    can take between six and
    12 months to get approval,
    depending on the laws of the
    country in question.
    Africa and the Middle
    East are key markets for Tornel, which currently sells its
    solutions in Egypt, Kuwait
    and the Arabian Peninsula.
    Here, cultural differences
    –which translate into very
    different ways of relating to
    animals– open up a whole
    gamut of possibilities. “In
    the United Arab Emirates,
    for example, there are lots
    of race horses and we have
    a series of products designed
    for that market. But if you go
    to Egypt, horse racing isn’t
    so popular and the market is
    geared more toward products
    for the livestock industry,”
    says Bravo.
    In the export arena, Mexico offers Tornel certain competitive advantages. “Mexico
    is free of many diseases, like
    foot and mouth, mad cow
    Tornel’s are quality,
    differentiated products
    that are competitively
    priced compared to their
    foreign equivalents. One
    of the top 10 companies
    in its field on its home
    market, the company
    has ventured abroad
    and currently exports
    to the Middle East, the
    Caribbean and Central
    and South America,
    regions where it is in the
    process of registering its
    products.
    Laboratorios Tornel,
    Leaving the Fold
    Now that it has a firm footing on the domestic market, Laboratorios Tornel is looking
    to make an incursion into the international market for veterinary pharmaceutical
    solutions. This Mexican firm has the drive and more than one advantage in its favor.
    by omar magaña
    Laboratorios Tornel has a
    substantial share of the domestic market for veterinary
    pharmaceuticals, but penning
    itself in would be to pass up a
    shot at double-digit growth.
    “Our strategy is to channel all our efforts and tenacity into our export markets
    and to continue to expand
    internationally,” says Tornel
    Director Mauricio Bravo, who
    estimates that its global operations will put the company on
    track for double-digit growth
    over the next 20 years.
    Diversity is a factor that
    works in this particular com-
    pany’s favor. Mexico is home
    to countless animal species, all
    of which have specific needs,
    hence Tornel’s portfolio of
    120 products. And now that
    the world is its oyster, the
    opportunities for innovation
    are as infinite as the number of
    species roaming the planet.
    “Our goal for 2014 –which
    we are close to achieving– is to
    export 15% of our output and
    sell the remaining 85% on the
    domestic market,” says Bravo.
    from Family Business
    to Export Giant
    Since the late seventies,
    Laboratorios Tornel has
    been a familiar name among
    animal health professionals
    due to its solutions for game
    fowl, race horses, small species, pigs and ruminants.
    The company produces
    hormones, antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatories,
    antiparasitics, expectorants,
    vitamins, supplements, vaccines and biological products
    at its three plants, each of
    which is dedicated to a specific product category: injectable drugs, antibiotics and
    biological products.
    The company’s most popular products are its “vitamins,
    which are suitable for all
    animal species” and its “antibiotics, with which we have
    made a name for ourselves on
    the domestic and international
    markets,” says Bravo.
    Tornel’s are quality, differentiated products that
    are competitively priced
    compared to their foreign
    38
    September 2014
    and others that are prevalent in other countries. That
    means we can export to many
    countries we can’t import
    from,” says Bravo. “In the
    case of biological products,
    that makes us an excellent
    candidate for exports to practically the whole world.”
    September 2014
    Prevention is better
    than the cure
    Tornel’s goal is to become
    Mexico’s fastest growing
    veterinary products company
    by 2020. The manufacture
    and sale of pharmaceuticals
    remains its core business but it
    is broadening its portfolio of
    preventive medicine to help reduce the risk of disease in the
    animal husbandry industry.
    The trend toward prevention has placed greater
    emphasis on the market for
    vaccines and Laboratorios
    Tornel has responded with
    innovation: a vaccine that
    recognizes the five most prevalent viruses in Mexico.
    Participating in the research and development of
    this new product are the National Institute of Forestry,
    Agricultural and Fishing
    Research (INIFAP) and the
    Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zoology at the National Autonomous University
    of Mexico (UNAM), with
    the support of the National
    Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT).
    “We have almost finished
    isolating these viruses, which
    are prevalent in the country
    and cause mortality and associated economic problems,”
    says Bravo, adding that a vaccine of this type “can create
    much greater immunity in animals than those that currently
    exist on the market because it
    targets specific diseases.”
    According to Bravo, this
    will be a highly differentiated
    product that will guarantee
    a better response and greater
    protection of animal species.
    Furthermore, it will be a viable export product because
    even though the viruses it
    targets were isolated in Mexico, these are also a threat in
    other countries. N
    www.tornel.com
    39
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    courtesy of liomont
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    Authorities from the US and Europe have
    visited the company’s plant in Mexico City
    to see for themselves the care with which
    Liomont’s products are manufactured.
    Liomont,
    A Long History
    of Conquests
    Rica, the Dominican Republic,
    Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela,
    Chile and Bolivia.
    “In the US, products like
    Conazol and Cicloferon are extremely popular and a year ago
    we launched a generic product
    based on Montelukast, an antiasthma drug, in Europe.”
    Two of the factors that
    have prompted Mexican companies like Liomont to make
    the leap onto the global scenario are the international trade
    agreements Mexico has entered
    into and its talented workforce.
    Liomont employs 1,500
    people and has a 2% share of
    the domestic market, which,
    Laboratorios Liomont is one of the top 10
    pharmaceutical companies in Mexico, with a 2% share
    of the domestic market and exports to the US, Europe
    and Latin America.
    by antonio vázquez
    One of the top 10 companies
    of its kind in Mexico, Laboratorios Liomont has gone on
    to conquer pharmaceutical
    markets in Europe, the US and
    Latin America.
    Luis Paniagua, manager of
    new businesses and exports,
    attributes its success to perseverance, namely as regards
    the quest for excellence and
    compliance with stringent
    quality standards.
    Thewse are the qualities
    that have enabled the company to gain a substantial share
    of global markets in the 75
    years of operation.
    “Over the decades, Liomont has persevered, especially in its drive to expand the
    company, not just in economic
    terms, but to be a worthy
    representative of Mexico’s
    pharmaceutical industry in an
    international context [...] It’s
    been a challenge to boost our
    market share and represent the
    domestic industry at home and
    abroad,” says Paniagua.
    Authorities from the US
    and Europe have visited the
    company’s plant in Mexico
    City to see for themselves the
    care with which its products
    are manufactured.
    These products meet the
    quality standards required
    by the global pharmaceutical
    40
    market and have been certified by the US Food and Drug
    Administration (FDA), among
    other bodies –certifications
    that have enabled Liomont to
    create synergies with companies in other countries for the
    sale of its products at competitive prices.
    Liomont’s extensive catalog includes over-the-counter
    (OTC) product lines and prescription drugs.
    Its best known OTC
    products are the painkiller
    Analgen, Cicloferon, which is
    used to treat oral infections
    caused by the herpes simplex
    virus, Conazol, for athlete’s
    foot, and Sensibit D, a powerful anti-flu drug.
    In the area of prescription
    drugs, Liomont manufactures
    a wide range of analgesics,
    anti-infectives, cardiovascular and respiratory drugs,
    antispasmodics, antivirals,
    antiparasitics, antidiabetics,
    antihistamines, contraceptives, odontology and urological drugs, bone calcium
    regulators, and drugs for
    erectile dysfunction and to
    combat obesity.
    Several of Liomont’s OTC
    products have met with wide
    acceptance in countries like
    the US, Portugal, Italy, Spain,
    Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa
    September 2014
    September 2014
    according to Paniagua, is worth
    an estimated 10 billion USD.
    The company manufactures
    some 60 million products a year,
    8% of which are exported.
    Innovation has been a
    constant in Liomont’s long
    lifetime, during which it has
    sought out the very best of
    human talent and forged alliances with government agencies and technological companies. It also has solid ties
    with prestigious universities
    like Tec de Monterrey and the
    National Polytechnic Institute
    (IPN) and has worked closely
    with the National Council
    of Science and Technology
    (CONACYT) on projects
    related to new global trends
    in therapeutic medicine.
    The company’s next step
    will be to explore the biotechnology market and that is the
    reason why it has set up a new
    life sciences area. The project
    is scheduled to come on line in
    three years and provides for alliances with international firms.
    “Liomont is a company that
    cares about Mexico, it takes
    care of it and aims to become
    the country’s top pharmaceutical company in the short term,”
    says Paniagua. N
    www.liomont.com
    41
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    Biograft,
    Muscling Up
    to Grab OpportunitieS
    Mexico is meeting growing global demand for skeletal muscle tissue
    implants that give recipients a new lease on life.
    by omar magaña
    Room to expand and increase
    its market share, coupled with
    rising demand for its products
    in developed economies are
    some of the buoys floating on
    Biograft’s commercial seas.
    “We are in a blue ocean
    surrounded by nothing but
    growth opportunities,” says
    Biograft CEO José Raúl
    Flores Fletes, who also happens to be a qualified chemist
    and pharmacist.
    Biograft is a biomedical
    technology company specializing in the processing and
    distribution of implants of
    human skeletal muscle tissue that have applications in
    sports medicine, traumatology,
    odontology, plastic surgery
    and spinal surgeries.
    As a pioneer in Mexico in
    the setting up of private sector
    tissue banks, Biograft spearheads a branch of the economy characterized by innovation, the use of state-of-the-art
    technology and strict oversight
    of safety processes.
    courtesy of biograft
    Over the last 11 years,
    Biograft has expanded on the
    strength of its reinvestment in
    orthobiologics research and
    the creation of new products,
    while winning over new markets with quality, Mexicanmade products in a highly
    regulated sector where certifications are mandatory.
    “We are exporting technology to several countries,” says
    Flores. “We receive bone tissue
    from Spain and the US and
    export the finished product to
    South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Guatemala and Peru.”
    The company is currently
    preparing to take on discerning markets like Germany. In
    October, the Biograft team,
    comprised of Flores, and the
    Master in Science Agustín
    Carrillo García, will be visiting Düsseldorf to engage in
    talks that could well mark the
    beginning of a fruitful business relationship.
    So what exactly does
    Flores see on the horizon?
    Based on the growing number of physicians who either
    use or recommend Biograft’s
    spongy and cuneiform bone,
    cartilage strips, diaphysis,
    iliac blocks, femoral and
    humerus heads and tendon
    implants, he foresees double
    digit growth and also anticipates broader coverage of the
    company’s tissue donation
    programs. That means Biograft will be able to manufacture more products for general hospitals throughout the
    country and give something
    back to society.
    A few months ago,
    Biograft was audited by
    the South Korean Ministry
    of Food and Drug Safety
    (MFDS), where it is currently
    negotiating a megaproject.
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    and ProMéxico, Biograft
    has continued to invest in
    research and development
    and expects to diversify its
    portfolio of solutions with
    the introduction of human
    cadaver skin tissue, cartilage
    and stem cells by 2020.
    “We belong to the National
    Chamber of the Pharmaceutical
    Industry (CANIFARMA) and it
    was through that organization
    that we came into contact with
    ProMéxico. Members of the
    ProMéxico’s team have already
    visited us and I see them
    assisting us with marketing
    and sales efforts on our target
    markets,” says Flores.
    The National Rehabilitation Institute, which generates clinical protocols based
    on Biograft’s products, and
    the Tecamac Technological University in Estado de
    México, where the company
    participates in a nanotechnology program, are the first
    and main links in its value
    chain.
    According to Flores, part of
    the research consists of identifying trends in other countries
    and taking them on board.
    Safe Product
    “Before we arrived on the
    scene, there was a lot of reticence toward Mexican-made
    products of this type, which
    were very scarce,” says Flores.
    However, Biograft quickly
    built up trust in medical
    circles following the creation
    of the first private tissue bank
    in 2003 –which required a
    transferal of technology from
    the US– and the implementation of a donation program
    in 2004, which disclosed the
    special processes the company
    uses to sterilize its products.
    “The first thing we insisted
    on was that this type of product
    be registered so consumers
    have a guarantee that our
    manufacturing practices are
    evaluated, audited and certified
    by an authority, in this case the
    Federal Commission for the
    Protection Against Sanitary
    Risks (COFEPRIS),” says Flores.
    The license and certification granted by Cofepris
    provide assurance that Biograft’s products meet market
    standards. The company has
    also been audited by the US
    Food and Drug Administra-
    tion (FDA), is registered with
    the American Association of
    Tissue Banks (AATB) and has
    ISO 9001-2008, ISO 134852003 and TÜV certification.
    The National Transplant
    Center is fully informed of
    Biograft’s agreements with
    health institutions for the
    donation of lower and upper
    cadaver extremities. Likewise, the company has an
    open doors policy vis-à-vis
    the lab practices it uses to reduce the bioburden of tissue
    and sterilize it without compromising the very properties
    that make it viable.
    Demand for Biograft tendons to repair anterior cruciate ligaments has increased in
    Mexico, followed by demand
    for spongy bone cubes, iliac
    blocks for spinal surgery and
    demineralized bone matrix.
    Abroad, says Flores, Biograft is viewed as a company
    that provides quality products,
    complies with the standards
    of each individual market it
    serves and ensures that the
    product is preserved in prime
    condition until it reaches the
    operating room.
    Over the last 11 years,
    Biograft has expanded
    on the strength of
    its reinvestment in
    orthobiologics research
    and the creation of new
    products, while winning
    over new markets
    with quality, Mexicanmade products in a
    highly regulated sector
    where certifications are
    mandatory.
    All that remains is to continue fostering the practice of
    donating, something that is becoming easier to the extent that
    society acquires knowledge and
    understanding of how it can
    change a person’s life, concludes
    Flores, adding that a tissue implant “may not save a life, like
    a liver or heart transplant, but
    it provides something equally
    valuable: wellbeing.” N
    www.biograft.com.mx
    Institutional
    Connecting Tissue
    With the support of the National Council of Science and
    Technology (Conacyt)
    42
    September 2014
    September 2014
    43
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    courtesy of enmex
    Enmex:
    Mexican Enzymes for the World Market
    Enmex, a company specializing in the production of microbial enzymes for different sectors, is one of the leaders
    in its field in Mexico; it exports six out of 10 of the products it manufactures to regions including North, Central and
    South America, the European Union, Asia, and the Middle East.
    by antonio vázquez
    With 40 years’ experience in
    the manufacture of enzymes
    for the industrial and food
    sectors, Enmex is a leading
    company in its field, with exports amounting to 60% of its
    annual production.
    Enmex was founded in
    1974 as a result of a joint ven-
    44
    ture between a Mexican company and a specialized laboratory.
    Since 1993, this 100% Mexican
    firm has been part of Grupo
    Industrial Arancia. From the
    outset, the company set itself
    the target of becoming a benchmark in the field of manufacturing microbial enzymes.
    “An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up,
    slows down or encourages
    certain biochemical reactions; they are produced by
    the fermentation of yeasts,
    molds and bacteria,” explains
    Fernando Puig, CEO of Enmex since 1983.
    Puig explains that corn
    and other grains kernels are
    composed of long chains of
    polysaccharides and proteins.
    These macromolecules, in
    turn, are composed of glucose and aminoacids chains.
    Enzymes help to break down
    these chains, thus releasing
    September 2014
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    smaller molecules. The resulting molecules can be used to
    produce syrups for sweeteners, fermentable sugars for
    brewing and biofuels, better
    livestock nourishment, and
    dairy products, among other
    products.
    “Enzymes are part of our
    daily lives; they are found in
    countless products. The body
    has enzymes that enable its
    biochemistry to function.
    Without them, certain biochemical reactions would not
    be possible and people would
    get sick,” Puig explains.
    The enzymes produced by
    Enmex are used in a number
    of different sectors. They
    are purchased by companies
    that make nutritional supplements, animal nutrition
    products, textiles, biological
    detergents, bread, beer, sugar,
    marinades, dairy, tanning and
    protein hydrolysis.
    Although Enmex does not
    directly reach the final consumer, many of the products
    commonly sold in supermarkets contain enzymes made
    by Enmex. Enmex is the only
    Mexican manufacturer of microbial enzymes at industrial
    scale and its offices and production facility are in Estado
    de México, in the center of
    the country.
    Enmex has a history dating
    back several decades, this year
    is accomplishing 40 years in
    the market, and maintains its
    own brand, unlike other similar companies that are only
    engaged in toll manufacturing
    to foreign brands.
    Currently, Enmex exports
    about 60% of its annual
    production to countries in
    North, Central and South
    America, the European
    Union, Asia and the Middle
    East. The company has distribution centers in Europe and
    September 2014
    Although Enmex does not directly reach the final consumer, many of
    the products commonly sold in supermarkets contain enzymes made by
    Enmex. Enmex is the only Mexican manufacturer of microbial enzymes
    at industrial scale and its offices and production facility are in Estado de
    México, in the center of the country.
    Asia. It is the only Mexican
    representative in the Enzyme
    Technical Association (www.
    enzymeassociation.org) and a
    founding member of EMBIOMEX, the Mexican Association in Industrial Biotechnology Companies.
    The factors that have
    enabled the company to enter
    these markets include its innovation spirit, its productivity and quality certifications
    in food safety, guaranteed by
    international agencies.
    Enmex is FSSC 22000
    (food safety management
    systems), ISO 9000 (quality
    management) certified, and
    holds specific certifications
    such as Kosher and Halal, for
    Jewish and Arab markets.
    “Trade agreements signed
    by Mexico have been very
    helpful in allowing us to
    enter other markets. A lot
    of competition has entered
    Mexico, undoubtedly, but for
    us it is better to have a 5%
    share of the global market
    than 100% of the domestic
    market. The treaties signed
    by the country have enabled
    us to enter the European
    Union, the NAFTA region
    and South America,” says
    Fernando Puig.
    Mexico’s geographical
    location and human capital, which Enmex avails of,
    have also been key factors
    for exports, highlights Puig,
    who adds that investment in
    innovation is very important
    for the company he runs. Enmex has a unit specializing in
    biotechnology development,
    focused on developing new
    products and integrating new
    bioprocesses. For that work,
    the firm has taken advantage
    of programs set up by the National Councif of Science and
    Technology (CONACYT).
    “We will continue to
    work to strengthen our presence in the global market
    and to attract young talent,
    develop it and ensure a base
    of highly-skilled staff,” concludes Fernando Puig. N
    www.enzymes.com.mx
    45
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    Össur,
    Accessing the
    Americas
    Through Mexico
    A few years ago, Össur, one of the world’s leading
    manufacturers of orthopedic products, opened a plant
    in the border city of Tijuana. Today, its manufacturing
    center in Mexico is increasingly vital to its global
    operations.
    photos
    courtesy of össur
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    by antonio vázquez
    Össur didn’t hesitate to
    choose Mexico as its operating base to serve the American continent. The country
    had everything it was looking
    for and, more importantly, it
    was close to its number one
    market: the US.
    After years of studying the best options for its
    expansion in America, it
    came down to Costa Rica or
    Mexico, but Mexico was the
    natural choice “due to factors such as its proximity to
    the US, which accounts for
    50% of the company’s sales.
    Also, the company’s corpo-
    rate headquarters are in Irvine, California, which is just
    two hours from Tijuana,”
    says Össur Americas Director
    Sergio Bermúdez.
    So, in 2010, Össur set up
    operations in Tijuana, Baja
    California, which is not only
    close to the US border but
    also has a consolidated medical cluster.
    The company’s catalogue
    is comprised of two main
    product families: below the
    waist prosthesis and orthopedic products like neck braces,
    ligament knee braces to support and help rehabilitate the
    articulation in the event of
    injury and knee braces to alleviate pain caused by a lack
    of cartilage in people with
    osteoarthritis. Each of these
    product groups represents
    50% of total sales.
    Globally, Össur’s products
    tend to be top sellers. In some
    cases, they are the number
    one product on the market,
    in others, the number two. In
    orthopedics, they are usually
    the number one product.
    What sets Össur apart
    from the competition is
    that, in addition to standard
    products that are sold by
    authorized stores in a variety
    of countries, it makes made
    to measure products, with a
    guarantee of delivery within
    three days, at most.
    Every month, its
    17,000-square-meter Tijuana
    plant churns out 85,000
    parts for the various products
    the company manufactures
    and in four years has chalked
    up a series of certifications,
    like the ISO 9000 quality
    management standard, the
    ISO 13485 standard relating to medical devices and
    the ISO 14000 environmental management standard.
    It is also a member of the
    46
    September 2014
    September 2014
    What sets Össur
    apart from the
    competition is that, in
    addition to standard
    products that are
    sold by authorized
    stores in a variety of
    countries, it makes
    made to measure
    products, with a
    guarantee of delivery
    within three days, at
    most.
    Customs-Trade Partnership
    Against Terrorism (C-TPAT),
    among other initiatives.
    The plant employs approximately 250 employees,
    whose talent and know-how
    have been key to productivity. “Employees from our
    Mexican plant are often sent
    to cover posts in other places. That has built up Össur’s
    trust in Mexico, motivating
    it to reaffirm its presence
    and accelerate its expansion
    here,” says Bermúdez.
    To ensure it gets the
    crème de la crème of the
    country’s graduates, the
    company has cooperation
    agreements with CETYS
    Universidad, among other
    institutions.
    Össur has consolidated
    its presence in Mexico practically since day one and its Tijuana plant is currently operating at 45% of its installed
    capacity, which means there
    is plenty of room for growth.
    In the medium term, the goal
    is to expand the plant, both
    physically and in terms of
    production volumes.
    “This plant produces
    the majority of Össur’s new
    products. Plus, we have an
    excellent relationship with
    corporate headquarters in
    California. We don’t just
    manufacture new product
    lines, we participate in their
    development and if this trend
    continues, several processes
    at the plant could be expanded. The Tijuana plant is the
    third most important to the
    company’s global operations
    in terms of production volumes and is on its way to becoming the second, if not the
    first, in the next five years,”
    concludes Bermúdez. N
    www.ossur.com
    47
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    courtesy of tdi
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    TDI:
    in the beginning
    was science
    Zapopan, Jalisco is home to a well-established medical
    instrument company with a history that combines a
    love for technology and innovation with a passion for
    business and market intelligence.
    by omar magaña
    The firm Tecnología y Diseño
    Industrial (TDI) was created
    on a platform of science and
    innovation and continues to
    be nourished by both, as it
    transitions from a small and
    medium size enterprise (SME)
    to a corporation and opens up
    to new lines of business.
    The history of the company founded by engineer
    José Adán Ortega Blanco in
    Jalisco in the year 2000 is
    marked by the production of
    solutions in orthopedics, traumatology and –most recently–
    biomedicine, with high added
    value and a wide competitive
    margin on global markets, as
    well as by a phased growth
    grounded in its reputation
    and in strategic alliances.
    In 2010, TDI attracted
    public attention after winning
    first place in the SME category
    for the technology innovation
    prize awarded by the Mexican
    Association for Applied Research and Technological Development (ADIAT). The jury
    for the award praised the firm’s
    “business management for the
    design and development of
    medical devices and implants in
    orthopedics and traumatology.”
    The following year it also
    won the SME award for most
    innovative product, granted
    by the federal Ministry of
    Economy (SE) for developing “cutting edge biomedical
    devices and techniques.” As
    the SE stated in its citation:
    “With the support of the SE-
    48
    CONACYT Innovation Fund,
    TDI developed the Luna-Fix
    percutaneous osteosynthesis
    system, which makes it possible to stabilize, reduce and
    immobilize fractures in different parts of the body with less
    discomfort for patients.”
    Ortega Blanco remarks:
    “We have patents, industrial
    designs and utility models.”
    The company, he points out,
    has seen periods of exponential growth, “sometimes
    around 300% to 400% per
    year,” and now that growth
    curve has stabilized, TDI
    expects to close 2014 with a
    growth of 50% over 2013.
    “We had to be well prepared in order to create a
    substantial, world class company structure, with all the
    departments and divisions that
    a German, Swiss or US firm
    has,” Blanco adds.
    Success story
    TDI was created at the turn
    of the new century and in its
    early years provided Mexican
    public health institutions
    with external fixing devices
    for bone fractures, notably
    for wrists. From 2003 to
    2006 it experienced its first
    period of growth, which
    would lay the foundations
    for its subsequent expansion.
    In 2006, TDI began to
    publish the first results of
    Luna Fix, a system that
    “enables the possibility of
    reducing the fragments of a
    In 2010, TDI
    attracted public
    attention after
    winning first place
    in the small and
    medium sized
    enterprise (SME)
    category for
    the technology
    innovation prize
    awarded by the
    Mexican Association
    for Applied Research
    and Technological
    Development
    (ADIAT).
    fracture without having to
    remove the device,” facilitates
    the placement of permanent
    implants in knee operations
    and reduces post operation
    pain and complications.
    At the time, TDI was
    seeking external support and
    establishing alliances that
    would enable it to avail of its
    innovations. It attracted funding from the National Council
    of Science and Technology
    (CONACYT), the National
    Finance Bank (NAFINSA), the
    SE and the Jalisco State Government. Until 2010, it was
    also part of the Technology
    Firm Incubator at the University of Guadalajara.
    That backing, together
    with strategic alliances with
    medics and engineers, the development of its own manufacturing plant, the launch of
    its technology –Luna Fix, and
    other brands it subsequently
    launched, registered and
    certified– TDI consolidated
    the world-class structure that
    now marks it out.
    In 2010, it opened its Biomedical Engineering Department and in 2013 it became
    the corporation Grupo IMT,
    which has now three divisions: “Medical devices, which
    undertakes research, development and manufacturing; a
    commercial division, which
    September 2014
    sells both our products and
    those of other companies, and
    a very important biotechnology division, which is very
    successful at an international
    level,” explains Ortega Blanco.
    “A team of medics with doctorates in molecular biology
    works in the Biomedical Engineering department, which is
    developing treatments for cell
    therapy,” he adds.
    The reinforcements
    of an exporter
    There can be no doubt that certification opens doors –but that
    is not enough: it is necessary
    to step through these doors
    and conquer new markets.
    September 2014
    Constancy is also required:
    incorporating innovation and
    continual training into the
    company culture. TDI is proof
    of that. Thanks to its policy of
    innovation and training, the
    Mexican firm has strengthened
    its position with regard to the
    Swiss, German and French
    companies who are its competitors for the Mexican and South
    American markets.
    TDI has developed the
    brands Luna Fix (minimallyinvasive percutaneous osteosynthesis system), New Fix
    (external fixing systems), Top
    Spine (devices and implants
    for the spine) and Corefix
    (internal fixing systems).
    The company is ISO 13485:
    2003, 9001-2008, and
    93/42EEC certified and has
    also registered its products
    with the US Food and Drug
    Administration (FDA).
    The company reinvests
    30% of its income in innovation and development and has
    set itself the task of maintaining the quality demanded by
    international markets, without
    losing its competitiveness in
    prices. With that calling card
    it has attended international
    trade fairs for which ProMéxico provides a platform for the
    Mexican industry.
    “ProMéxico has always
    supported us and we will
    continue to seek its backing
    to remain competitive at an
    international level because
    our aim is to enter the US
    and European markets,”
    remarks Ortega Blanco. He
    also reports that starting
    in 2015, TDI will work to
    organize a conference for
    Mexican and international
    experts to discuss the issues
    relating to the firm’s portfolio of interests and products.
    Finally, a clinic offering TDI
    solutions and two civil associations that will serve the
    low-income population will
    be shortly established. N
    www.tdi-sa.com
    49
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    courtesy of atramat
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    Atramat:
    Sutures That Link
    Mexico and the World
    Internacional Farmacéutica Atramat is the fourth largest
    manufacturer of surgical sutures in the global market. It
    offers over 2,000 different medical products and exports
    to 80 countries worldwide.
    by antonio vázquez
    In almost half a century, what
    started as a workshop in a spare
    room has become the fourth
    largest manufacturer of surgical
    sutures worldwide. Internacional Farmacéutica Atramat
    began as a family business in a
    private house. Its founder had
    the vision to make, by hand,
    quality surgical material. 45
    years later, the company employs 600 people who enable
    the production of over different models of surgical sutures
    with different combinations of
    threads and needles.
    Today, Atramat is the leader
    in sales in the domestic market
    and in Latin America, and ranks
    fourth in worldwide production
    of surgical sutures.
    “The strategy has always
    been quality. From the outset, the company philosophy
    has been to produce a quality product at a competitive
    price. We compete with the
    best, with the three largest
    companies, like Johnson &
    Johnson, among others,” says
    50
    Orlando Clúa Braun, export
    manager for the company.
    According to Clúa Braun,
    half of Atramat’s annual production is exported.
    The company’s products
    reach over countries in the
    Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. The
    company plans to enter the
    US market in the short term,
    and is already certified by the
    US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
    “We are always concerned
    with innovation and quality.
    Our materials are top notch,”
    says Clúa Braun. Atramat is
    ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 13485 (quality
    of medical devices) certified. It
    also holds certifications like the
    European Union CE Mark, the
    Mexican government’s good
    manufacturing practices issued
    by the Federal Commission for
    the Protection Against Sanitary
    Risks (Cofepris), Brazil’s
    ANVISA, and others issued by
    South Africa and Canada.
    Orlando Clúa points out
    that Mexico’s different trade
    agreements have allowed
    medical equipment manufactured by Internacional
    Farmacéutica Atramat to
    reach the whole world.
    “Another important aspect
    is skilled labor. Our product requires a lot of manpower, above
    all of a skilled nature. Mexicans
    tend to have well trained hands,
    and there is quality labor in the
    country at a relatively competitive price,” he adds.
    Another benefit Clúa Braun
    sees in Mexico –and which has
    been exploited by the medical
    devices sector– is the infrastructure of international airports
    and ports available for exporting to other global destinations.
    Internacional Farmacéutica
    Atramat has always been one
    step ahead in global trends;
    therefore, it has injected significant resources into its innovation department and has
    maintained close links with
    specialist medical colleges,
    which provide knowledge
    for it to address the different
    needs of surgical experts. Furthermore, the firm has worked
    closely with government
    agencies such as the National
    Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT). Through
    organizations like ProMéxico,
    the company has taken part in
    specialized trade fairs in countries like Germany and Spain.
    Orlando Clúa Braun
    explains that the main chal-
    September 2014
    lenge for the medical devices industry in Mexico is to
    continue to provide quality
    products, which makes it necessary to maintain a highly
    competitive workforce.
    “Going forward, our
    strategy is to continue to
    grow and maintain the
    strongholds and markets
    we have, as well as to open
    new markets; above all, to
    maintain the high quality
    standards that characterize the firm. The company’s
    philosophy is: best prices and
    best quality. We always apply
    that philosophy to our new
    projects and products,” he
    concludes. N
    The company’s products
    reach over countries
    in the Middle East,
    Asia, Africa, Europe
    and Latin America.
    The company plans to
    enter the US market
    in the short term, and
    is already certified by
    the US Food and Drug
    Administration (FDA).
    www.atramat.com
    September 2014
    51
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photo
    courtesy of industrias plásticas médicas
    Industrias plásticas médicas,
    Internationalization
    in Three Steps
    A major supplier of plastic products to Mexico’s health sector, Industrias Plásticas
    Médicas is making headway with its internationalization process and is already
    manufacturing products for leading multinationals in the pharmaceutical sector.
    by mariana morales
    Industrias Plásticas Médicas
    (IPM) was founded in 1967 by
    Dr. Luis Albarrán Boeuf, who
    was having difficulty finding
    suppliers of non-toxic medical
    equipment for his blood banks
    in Mexico and other countries
    like Costa Rica and Brazil.
    Back then, it wasn’t easy
    to get hold of equipment
    and bags for the collection,
    fractioning and transfusion
    of blood and its components
    in Mexico, so Albarrán did
    some research and, after
    identifying which medicalgrade plastic components
    were available on the market,
    began designing and manufacturing them himself.
    In 1982, the country’s
    private blood banks were
    closed following a government ban on the sale of blood
    and its derivatives in an effort to control diseases like
    HIV and hepatitis. By then,
    however, IPM was not only
    manufacturing products for
    its own blood Banks but also
    was selling similar products
    to hospitals and clinics, hence
    the decision to take the company in a new direction.
    IPM remains a Mexican
    company but is now managed
    by Dr. Luis Albarrán’s daughter,
    Laura Albarrán, who has explored new market niches both
    in Mexico and further afield.
    Operations were moved
    from Mexico City to the state
    of Morelos, just one hour
    from Mexico City International Airport, and the new
    IPM plant was subsequently
    52
    approved by the health authorities. Today, the company
    is one of the main suppliers of
    government institutions like
    the Mexican Social Security
    Institute (IMSS), the Health
    Ministry (SSA), the State
    Workers´ Security and Social
    Services Institute (ISSSTE),
    and the oil company Petróleos
    Mexicanos (PEMEX). In certain product lines, IPM has
    a 30% share of the public
    health sector market.
    In its bid to internationalize, IPM has implemented a
    three step plan, the first step
    of which entails consolidating
    itself on the domestic market
    as a supplier of public health
    institutions, with a view to increasing production volumes,
    creating economies of scale
    and developing new products
    based on the sector´s core list
    of medical supplies.
    “We have the capacity
    to manufacture virtually
    any product with plastic
    components that appears on
    the health sector´s core list,
    given the right volumes and
    reference prices,” says Laura
    Albarrán.
    IPM manufactures bags
    for the collection and fractioning of blood, the collection of urine, colostomy bags
    and enteral and parenteral
    feeding bags, among others, I.V. and pediatric sets,
    volumetric measuring devices,
    September 2014
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    equipment for blood transfusions and measuring central
    venous pressure, tubes for the
    administration of photosensitive solutions and oxygen,
    feeding and suction catheters.
    A vertically integrated
    company, IPM has developed
    its own PVC mix, designs and
    injects plastic components out
    of ABS, PVC, polystyrene and
    acrylic, extrudes medical-grade
    tubing in PVC, polypropylene,
    polyurethane and EVA, radio
    frequency seals bags in sizes
    that range from 50 milliliters
    up to 12 liters and assembles
    its products in clean areas before packaging, sterilizing and
    distributing them nationwide.
    “When we started operating in Morelos there were
    only three of us and now we
    have over 180 employees. The
    lack of services in the vicinity prompted us to vertically
    integrate our processes. A lot
    of the technology we use is our
    own, 100% Mexican. We have
    a very creative team that not
    only designs components but
    also highly specialized molds,
    tools and machinery. We have
    also bought computerized
    injection machines, modern
    extruders and diagnostics
    equipment, such as electronic
    microscopes and calibration
    equipment,” says Albarrán.
    The second step in IPM’s
    internationalization strategy
    has been to position itself as
    a supplier of quality plastic
    products for pharmaceutical
    companies specializing in the
    medical and veterinary sectors.
    “Customized manufacturing has allowed us to develop
    one new piece of equipment a
    month on average,” says Albarrán. IPM’s success on this market can largely be attributed
    to its ability to respond immediately to the client’s requests,
    since it designs the molds and
    tools and controls the quality
    of the final product.
    In 1998, IPM participated
    in MEDICA, the world’s larg-
    September 2014
    est medical equipment fair
    held every November in Düsseldorf. “While promoting our
    finished products at the fair,
    we realized the real key to our
    success lay in the components
    and services we could offer as
    an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), so the following year, we focused our
    efforts on the OEM sector,
    with excellent results to date,”
    says Albarrán.
    With the coming into effect
    of NAFTA, IPM was quick to
    understand the importance
    of joining the production
    chains of large multinationals
    in the medical sector, where
    the very best quality and
    service are essential. To meet
    those standards, the company
    worked hard to obtain ISO
    13485:2003 certification and
    register with the US Food and
    Drug Administration (FDA).
    “That gives our clients the assurance that our processes are
    standardized and of a guaranteed quality,” says Albarrán.
    IPM manufactures everything from special PVC compounds and medical-grade
    tubing to finished products
    like equine plasmapheresis
    apparatus, subassemblies for
    infusion pump equipment,
    bags to administer veterinary
    drugs and equipment to administer contrast dyes.
    “Because we are integrated into the production chain
    of a multinational, we don’t
    know for certain what percentage of our products are
    being exported to other countries, but I’m sure we have a
    presence throughout North
    and South America at the
    very least and I wouldn’t be
    surprised if there were components of ours in Africa and
    Asia,” says IPM Commercial
    Director Georges Belanger.
    “We export components and
    special products directly to
    the US, Australia and Argentina and regularly ship
    finished products to Central
    “When we started operating in Morelos there
    were only three of us and now we have over 180
    employees. The lack of services in the vicinity
    prompted us to vertically integrate our processes.
    A lot of the technology we use is our own, 100%
    Mexican. We have a very creative team that
    not only designs components but also highly
    specialized molds, tools and machinery,” says
    Albarrán.
    and South America. In 2011,
    we sent our first container of
    “private label” bags, i.e. bags
    manufactured under another
    company’s brand, to Brazil
    and growth projections for
    that sector are very promising,” says Belanger.
    The third step in IPM’s
    internationalization strategy consists of reentering
    the blood bank market, the
    company’s original business.
    IPM has designed highly specialized products for sale on
    international markets, such as
    bags for the collection of bone
    marrow and umbilical cord
    blood. “Those products are
    developed directly with their
    users. We don’t want to lose
    touch with the hematology
    market. A few decades ago,
    we even manufactured blood
    grouping sera but had to stop
    due to health regulations.
    Nonetheless, we are convinced
    that the market we started out
    in is where the best opportunities for developing export
    products are potentially to be
    found,” says Albarrán. N
    www.ipm.mx
    53
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    Mexico Injects Value
    into BD
    After almost six decades manufacturing quality medical
    devices, Becton, Dickinson and Company’s Mexican
    subsidiary has consolidated itself as an export platform
    and receptor of investment.
    by omar magaña
    Conditions on the domestic
    market and the global scenario
    indicate Becton, Dickinson
    and Company’s (BD) already
    lengthy relationship with Mexico will continue to thrive.
    Almost six decades after the incorporation of its
    Mexican subsidiary, the manufacturing activities that BD
    transferred to its first factory
    outside its native US have
    reached maturity. Together,
    Mexico and this manufac-
    54
    turer of hospital and lab
    devices have entered a new
    era in medical services that
    seeks to universalize health
    coverage with the aid of mobile technologies and remote
    communications.
    “We are about to launch
    portable equipment that can
    be used to perform mainly
    tuberculosis testing and HIV
    monitoring and that will
    benefit many communities,”
    says BD General Manager for
    Mexico, Central America and
    the Caribbean Kurt Wicker.
    The equipment –a clinical
    point-of-care system that runs
    on solar energy and whose
    use is in the process of being
    regulated by several countries– allows for the quick,
    timely diagnosis of patients
    in inaccessible regions. Haiti
    will be the first destination for
    this technology given the high
    incidence of TB and HIV.
    According to Wicker,
    trends in Mexico point
    toward the unification, universalization and portability
    of clinical services and even
    though this implies lengthy,
    complex processes, BD is
    eager to participate.
    “The public sector is a significant customer in Mexico,
    so we aim to meet the goals of
    the National Health Plan and
    public health priorities as best
    we can, by offering the most
    archive
    convenient, innovative and high
    quality customer services.”
    That strategy has required
    that BD undergo a transformation from a simple supplier to
    a provider of health-care solutions. To that end, the company helps governments better
    manage their suppliers in the
    interests of efficiency, thereby
    guaranteeing a broader crosssection of society access to
    health services.
    There is a close correlation
    between public health policies –which are shaped by the
    prevalence of certain diseases–
    and the products BD manufactures and sells in Mexico.
    These include devices for the
    monitoring and treatment
    of diabetes and HIV and the
    detection of cervical-uterine
    cancer, which are not only sold
    on the domestic market but in
    some cases are also exported
    to some 30 countries.
    September 2014
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    Another example of the
    clear link between domestic
    health policy and BD’s manufacturing activities in Mexico
    are the annual vaccination
    campaigns organized by the
    government. These require
    millions of syringes, many
    produced and marketed by BD
    under the Plastipak® brand.
    “It’s very satisfying to see
    how Mexico’s public health
    priorities are in sync with some
    of the product lines and solutions we offer,” says Wicker.
    BD’s strong arm
    BD has been operating in
    Mexico for 57 years and has
    three plants here that together
    employ approximately 8% of
    the corporation’s entire workforce, while some 85% of the
    output of its Cuautitlán Izcalli
    plant is destined for export.
    “The corporation values
    Mexico because of its history
    here and the results we have
    delivered in the country. The
    dedication of our Mexican employees and their ability to specialize has been another point in
    our favor,” says Wicker.
    Furthermore, the company’s
    Mexican operations have a
    competitive cost structure, putting it on an even playing field
    with manufacturers in countries
    like Brazil, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France,
    Canada, Italy and the US. According to the 2012 Medical
    Device Manufacturing Cost
    Index compiled by KPMG, and
    to which ProMéxico’s 2013 Life
    Sciences Roadmap refers, it is as
    much as 23% cheaper to produce these products in Mexico
    than in the US.
    BD began operating in
    Mexico in the mid-20th century, in the Doctores district
    of Mexico City, where it
    manufactured glass syringes,
    thermometers and materials
    for dressing wounds. In the
    nineties, it began building its
    plant in Cuautitlán Izcalli,
    Estado de México.
    September 2014
    “Although our most emblematic products, the ones
    we are still recognized for, are
    disposable Plastipak® syringes and Vacutainer® blood
    collection tubes, we have developed other important business areas,” says Wicker.
    These areas consist mainly of “prepared culture media
    for lab testing” and services
    for “all types of industries,
    including the food industry,
    to help verify that its products are free of bacteria.”
    BD has three global divisions –medical, diagnostics
    and bioscience– that sell
    everything from a 20 cent
    needle to cellular analysis
    equipment that can cost more
    than one million USD.
    The company’s Mexican
    operations remain its strong
    arm in terms of quality manufacturing and good practices,
    while its well developed mus-
    cle for audits explains why
    Mexico continues to receive
    the bulk of the corporation’s
    investments in the region.
    “In 2009, thanks to the
    intervention of ProMéxico,
    we were invited to Los Pinos
    to announce a 200-millionUSD investment. Five years
    later, we’ve doubled that
    figure, with the associated
    benefits,” concludes Wicker.
    The products BD manufactures in Mexico are exported to
    the US, France, Belgium, Latin
    America, six countries in Asia
    and sixteen in Central America
    and the Caribbean. N
    www.bd.com
    55
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    Flawless smiles,
    unique vacations:
    the perfect business
    Specializing in dental health care, this Mexican company offers over 300 treatments
    to foreign visitors. Quality and competitive costs position the company as a leader in
    medical tourism in Mexico.
    by antonio vázquez
    A perfect smile and a vacation break are possible
    thanks to Dentalia, a Mexican company that offers foreign tourists a wide range of
    dental health care services at
    accessible prices.
    56
    With more than 45
    branches in more than 10
    cities across Mexico, Dentalia is a successful company
    founded in 2006 with the
    purpose of improving the
    dental health of its patients.
    Dentalia’s business model
    has proved profitable during these eight years. This
    scheme covers three areas:
    attention in branches, medical tourism and dental plans
    for insurers and employees of
    courtesy of dentalia
    different companies. In that
    last area, Dentalia provides
    medical services to more than
    500,000 employees from different companies.
    “We have a solid infrastructure, a well positioned
    brand, very high quality standards, a serious staff recruitment process and few warranty claims,” says Joaquín
    Rivera, director of Dentalia’s
    medical tourism department.
    With a workforce of 780
    employees – out of which
    three quarters is medical
    staff– Dentalia provides services in various specialized
    areas of dental health.
    While consolidating its
    extensive network of branches
    September 2014
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    across the country, the company realized that citizens of
    other countries in search of
    quality medical services represent a profitable market. After
    a number of studies, Dentalia’s directors realized that
    tourists visiting the country
    to undergo medical tests seek
    the warmth and quality of
    Mexican health professionals.
    Added to that, the prices for
    such services in Mexico are
    lower than in countries like
    the US and Canada.
    In the area of medical
    tourism, Dentalia has focused
    its efforts on its offices in Tijuana –given its proximity to
    San Diego, California– and
    in the Riviera Maya. In those
    branches, the staff is fully
    bilingual and the firm offers
    a complete solution for tourists, according to Joaquín
    Rivera. “One big advantage
    over our competitors is that
    Dentalia covers the customer’s needs in one place, such
    as lodging, transportation
    and travel insurance. Also,
    we have a strict policy that
    if the patient does not need a
    treatment, Dentalia staff do
    not offer it nor try to sell it,”
    he explains.
    Dentalia offers tourists
    around 300 dental treatments ranging from a simple
    check-up and a root canal,
    to dental implants or even a
    full-mouth change.
    Of the foreigners who
    come to Mexico each year to
    undergo treatment with Dentalia, 70% come from the US,
    10% from Canada, and the
    rest from other countries such
    as Israel, Argentina, Germany
    and Sweden, among others.
    “Tourists know that Dentalia provides a quality service along the treatment. All
    our doctors are fully certified
    and trained accordingly.
    They know, of course, that
    Mexican dentists provide
    quality work, with a superior
    service” says Joaquín Rivera.
    September 2014
    Dentalia offers tourists around 300 dental treatments ranging from
    a simple check-up and a root canal, to dental implants or even a fullmouth change. An orthodontic treatment can cost up to 70% less than
    in the US; a dental implant up to 60% less, and a change of teeth, may
    be up to 80% cheaper.
    At Dentalia an orthodontic treatment can cost up to
    70% less than in the US; a
    dental implant up to 60%
    less, and a change of teeth,
    may be up to 80% cheaper.
    But Joaquín Rivera emphasizes the quality of health
    professionals in Mexico, who
    are graduates of the country’s
    leading universities. He highlights the meticulous recruitment process at Dentalia.
    Each year the company receives CVs from about 2,000
    specialized dentists. The
    company accepts only 5%.
    The quality of the staff working in Dentalia explains why
    only one in 10,000 treatments
    carried out in the different
    branches of the company has
    recourse to a guarantee.
    Joaquín Rivera believes
    that medical tourism is a sector with great potential in
    Mexico, above all due to its
    proximity to the US, a nation
    that, according to Joaquín
    Rivera, consumes 40% of the
    world’s health services.
    “Mexico could be an immediate solution for the US
    medical needs. Medical tourism in Mexico has enormous
    potential and we should work
    together to take advantage of
    it. Cross disciplinary partnerships will enable exponential
    growth in the sector,” he says.
    Dentalia has established
    a series of agreements with
    agencies such as the National
    Foreign Trade Bank (Bancomext) and ProMéxico to access
    resources for innovation and development, as well as outreach
    programs in foreign markets.
    Dentalia’s plans are ambitious but far from impossible.
    The company aims to become
    an international referent in
    medical tourism, specializing in
    the dental area. Achieving such
    a feat will have a lot to do with
    the amalgam of public and
    private health institutions, in
    order to tap into a market that
    generates millions in income.
    Part of Dentalia’s success
    comes down to incorporating
    all the companies involved in
    tourism.
    “We have been successful
    in providing a complete solution for foreign visitors. Not
    only do we care about their
    treatment, but also for the hospitality, hotel, transportation,
    food, entertainment and protection they receive. By solving
    that, we generate economic
    benefit for other industries and
    meet the customer’s needs in a
    comprehensive manner,” concludes Joaquín Rivera. N
    www.dentalia.com.mx
    57
    Negocios ProMéxico | Mexico’s Partner
    photos
    archive
    monitor patient parameters
    and to take decisions in an
    emergency, because there is
    always an efficient communication between the doctor and
    the patient, “ says Luna.
    Among the technological
    creations of Neoteck is a system of tablets for public medical attention in areas of low
    economic development.
    From October 2012 to
    April 2013, the company undertook a titanic task for the
    Oaxaca State Health Department in southwestern Mexico.
    For six months, Neoteck recorded data to learn about the
    prevalence of diabetes mellitus
    among 42,000 state residents.
    On the tablets, the company
    recorded all sorts of data from
    each patient –from medical
    data to personal data such as
    their home address. Exchanging this information with the
    Neoteck:
    When IT
    Benefits
    Human
    Health
    Created less than a
    decade ago, this small
    Mexican company creates
    technology tools that help
    protect against risks to
    human health. Creator of
    applications for mobile
    devices, it has annual sales
    of over one million usd.
    by antonio vázquez
    Founded in 2005, Neoteck, a
    Mexican company dedicated
    to information technology,
    has launched a series of applications for mobile devices
    that protect against risks to
    human health. More than
    just a developer of specialized software, Neoteck has
    set itself the task of using
    patient information to enable
    patients themselves to know
    what steps they need to take
    to keep healthy.
    “Since 2005 we have been
    thinking about what is now
    known as ‘the cloud,’ thinking
    about the need for access to
    information and timely medical care at any time and anywhere,” says Fernando de Luna
    Márquez, CEO of Neoteck.
    Mexican law establishes
    a series of “locks” to ensure
    that medical information is the
    exclusive property of the patient. In that context, Neoteck
    created Virtumedik, a kind of
    user’s clinical record.
    Virtumedik is available in
    cyberspace (www.virtumedik.
    com). The application can
    also be downloaded from
    iTunes. It is a technological
    tool that supports the user
    58
    Mexico’s Partner | Negocios ProMéxico
    in interpreting vital signs.
    It registers a patient’s data
    regarding weight, height and
    BMI, among other information. The same application
    provides a risk assessment.
    Fernando de Luna says that
    while the results are not a
    medical diagnosis, they can
    be interpreted by a physician in order to recommend
    the patient follow a series of
    actions in order to improve
    their health.
    “We have developed
    these types of projects that
    interpret vital signs, but also
    have applications for prenatal care, for example, where
    pregnant women can measure
    the size of their uterus and
    see how their baby grows
    each week. All of these are
    models of care that enable
    patients to document their
    weight, height, heart and re-
    spiratory rate, and their waist
    and hip measurements, which
    also reveal their risk of obesity and of being overweight,”
    adds Fernando de Luna.
    One of the more recent
    tools created by Neoteck is the
    application My doc in home,
    which has three personal
    medical devices: a blood pressure meter, a glucose meter
    and a heart monitor. The three
    devices interface to a tablet,
    which sends the information
    to a monitoring center that
    will soon be available.
    “What we want is for
    all those people who have a
    chronic illness or are undergoing post hospital care to be
    attended at home and be able
    to measure parameters such
    as blood pressure and glucose
    levels also at home. What this
    tool does is reduce the workload for doctors, given they
    monitoring center, a prescription could be issued for each
    user. Last but not least, users
    who speak indigenous languages were shown the information in their own language.
    The model of medical care used by Neoteck in
    Oaxaca led the company to
    win recognition from the
    National Council of Science
    and Technology(CONACYT),
    which provided funds for further research and product development. “The road built for
    the purpose of diabetes may be
    used by other vehicles, such as
    heart disease and tuberculosis,”
    says Fernando de Luna.
    The CEO of Neoteck
    points out that the use of information technology in the
    field of medicine is still new in
    Mexico, but that the market
    is promising. He notes, for
    example, that in the US, where
    the field is well established,
    the Obama administration has
    gradually been granting tax
    breaks to health companies
    that incorporate the use of
    electronic records.
    With 52 employees and
    annual sales exceeding one
    million USD, Neoteck provides
    its services to bodies such as
    the State Health Departments
    in Oaxaca and Aguascalientes, as well as a number of
    national institutions specializing in health.
    Currently, the company is
    in the process of marketing
    its various products both in
    Mexico and in Latin America.
    “We want to win national
    recognition above all for the
    tools we offer in the field of
    health,” concludes Fernando
    de Luna Márquez. N
    One of the more
    recent tools created
    by Neoteck is the
    application My doc
    in home, which
    has three personal
    medical devices: a
    blood pressure meter,
    a glucose meter and
    a heart monitor. The
    three devices interface
    to a tablet, which
    sends the information
    to a monitoring
    center that will soon
    be available.
    www.neoteck.com.mx
    cannot monitor patients 24
    hours a day,” says de Luna.
    As Fernando de Luna reveals, My doc in home is very
    easy to use. All patients need
    is to have a tablet with the
    specialized program created by
    Neoteck installed. The device
    is delivered to the doctor at
    a reasonable rent of around
    12 USD. The specialist records
    patient data and programs
    the tablet. The patient can go
    home and monitor their blood
    pressure, glucose, and other
    parameters. The information
    is sent to the doctor and he or
    she makes a decision about the
    patient. It’s that simple.
    “Post operative monitoring in hospital costs about
    200 USD a day. If the chronic
    illness or post operative evolution allows the patient to
    be at home, this monitoring
    center is all that is needed to
    September 2014
    September 2014
    59
    Negocios ProMéxico | Figures
    infographic
    oldemar
    Figures | Negocios ProMéxico
    Healthy Businesses
    MEDICAL DEVICES INDUSTRY
    3
    1st
    5
    rd
    6
    th
    largest exporter of syringes,
    needles, catheters, cannulae
    and similar instruments
    largest exporter of medical,
    surgery and dentistry
    instruments and applicances
    Main
    investors
    th
    largest exporter of
    orthopedic appliances
    and equipment
    largest exporter of
    electrodiagnostic
    apparatus
    Main export
    destinations
    Main
    exported
    products
    Million USD, 2013
    Million USD 2000-2013
    15.67
    billion USD value
    of production
    in 2013
    Amount invested
    in 2013
    Main
    investors
    1.7
    Million USD, 2013
    13.98
    83
    177
    286
    26.4%
    billion USD value
    of production
    in 2013
    Source: INEGI, Global
    Insight and ProMéxico
    74.2%
    billion USD
    in exports
    2013
    Main export
    destinations
    Million USD, 2005-2013
    Million USD, 2013
    92.5%
    PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
    leading pharmaceutical exporter in Latin America in 2013
    7
    th
    15.3%
    Source: INEGI, Global
    Insight and ProMéxico
    5,112
    medical, surgical
    and odontology
    instruments
    and apparatus
    7.2%
    average annual
    growth rate
    2013-2020
    1,691
    134
    64
    37
    11
    6,369
    161
    151
    US
    GER
    ITA
    SPN
    SWN
    US
    FRA
    IRL
    Exports
    6,886
    in million USD
    economic
    units in 2013
    Source: INEGI
    DENUE
    7,000
    742
    700
    orthopedic
    devices
    economic
    units in 2013
    5,600
    1,338
    777
    367
    224
    179
    452
    263
    191
    105
    96
    US
    LUX
    IRL
    SPN
    NED
    US
    VEN
    PAN
    BRA
    COL
    Main exported products in 2013
    Million USD
    6.6%
    62%
    5.6%
    3.7%
    1,061
    5,064
    3.7%
    '05
    '06
    '07
    '08
    '09
    '10
    '11
    '12
    jobs created
    by the industry
    respiratory,
    mechanical
    and massage
    equipment
    '13
    Source: EMIM,
    INEGI
    Manufacturing costs in the medical devices industry
    63
    medicines
    containing
    alkaloids
    or their
    derivatives
    60,212
    456
    3,808
    3,500
    Source: Ministry
    of Economy
    5.6%
    5.2%
    6,072
    6,300
    4,200
    billion USD in
    Foreign Direct
    Investment,
    2000-2013
    6.1%
    6.5%
    Source: EMIM,
    INEGI
    4,900
    1.9
    compound
    annual
    growth rate
    2014-2020
    2.2%
    Source: Global Insight
    2,511
    11.1%
    Source: Global Insight
    10.8%
    2.3%
    9.6%
    63
    medicines
    containing
    vitamins
    or other
    products
    96
    antiserums
    broad-spectrum
    antibiotics made
    of imipenem,
    meropenem and
    cilastatin sodium
    Manufacturing costs in the pharmaceutical industry
    Compared to the US in 2013
    compared to the US, 2013
    Mexico
    -18.9%
    CAN
    -5.4%
    NED
    -5.0%
    UK
    -4.2%
    FRA
    -2.8%
    ITA
    -2.6%
    JPN
    -1.1%
    AUS
    -0.7%
    GER
    0.2%
    Mexico
    -14.4%
    ITA
    -1.9%
    NED
    -3.8%
    JAP
    -1.5%
    GER
    0.1%
    3.46
    billion
    in FDI,
    2005-2013
    -30
    -25
    -20
    -15
    -10
    -5
    0
    5
    10
    15
    20
    25
    30
    USD
    -20
    -15
    -10
    -5
    0
    5
    10
    15
    20
    Source: Ministry
    of Economy
    Sources: Global Trade Atlas and KPMG (Competitive Alternatives, 2014).
    60
    CAN
    -4.6%
    UK
    -3.3%
    FRA
    -2.2%
    AUS
    -0.7%
    Sources: Global Trade Atlas, KPMG (Competitive Alternatives 2014).
    September 2014
    September 2014
    61
    Negocios ProMéxico | Figures
    infographic
    BIOTECHNOLOGY:
    MEXICO IS GOOD BUSINESS
    Canada
    United Kingdom
    -12.3% -15.9% -18.5%
    -7.8% -10.1% -14.3%
    oldemar
    COSTS COMPARED TO THE US IN:
    biotechnology
    R+D
    Netherlands
    -15.1% -9.9% -20.0%
    The Complete Guide to the Mexican Way of Life
    clinical
    trials
    product
    testing
    The Lifestyle
    Germany
    2.1%
    9.0%
    -4.6%
    MEXICO
    -35.9%
    -31.5%
    Australia
    -2.9%
    -1.7% -10.0%
    Japan
    2.7%
    France
    4.4%
    -6.4%
    -4.1%
    Italy
    -21.1% -11.9%
    -1.7%
    2.1%
    -6.7%
    62
    photo
    Source: KPMG (Competitive Alternatives, 2014).
    courtesy of hacienda san antonio
    -39.3%
    September 2014
    Mexican Refuges
    of Yesteryear
    A great way to relax and soak up some history is
    to stay at one of Mexico’s stately old haciendas
    turned luxury hotels.
    68
    64
    The Lifestyle Briefs
    72
    66
    Diego Gómez Pickering,
    The Ambassador Who Loves Words
    Carla Fernández:
    “Mexico’s future is handmade”
    76
    Sun, Sea,
    and Surgery
    The Lifestyle Briefs
    The Lifestyle Briefs
    ARCHAEOLOGY
    CULTURE
    ARCHAEOLOGY
    Arditti + RDT
    at the Venice Biennale
    History
    in the Digital Era
    The Mexican architecture studio Arditti
    + RDT Arquitectos was invited to participate in the Time Space Existence exhibition by its curator, the architect Rem
    Koolhas, as part of the events being staged
    concomitantly to the official program of
    the 14th Architecture Biennale in Venice,
    Italy, which will end on November 2014.
    On show at Venice’s Palazzo Mora, the
    firm’s installation consisted of a collage of
    color photographs of its projects, which include the Memory and Tolerance Museum,
    the Reforma Diana, Scalia, Banorte and
    Telefónica corporate buildings in Mexico
    City, and Ciudad Gobierno, a complex of
    government buildings in Zacatecas, as well
    as a series of black and white photographs
    portraying universal ills like hate, slavery,
    inequality, and racism.
    The goal of the installation was to
    get spectators to reflect on the problems
    architecture has not been able to address and point out the contradictions.
    According to Arditti + RDT founding
    partner Arturo Arditti, you can’t talk
    about architecture without talking about
    The first stage in the digitalization of the
    works of the National Anthropology Museum (MNA) has almost been completed.
    Coordinated by the MNA –the most
    important museum of its kind in Latin
    America, located in Mexico City– in
    conjunction with the National Council
    for Culture and Arts and the National
    Institute of Anthropology and History,
    this first phase, which began in 2010
    consisted of photographing some 8,000
    artifacts recovered from archaeological
    digs. Between 12 and 24 photos were
    taken of each piece from different angles
    to offer a 360 degree perspective that
    makes it possible to appreciate their color, texture, and proportions. These 8,000
    pieces represent only half of the artifacts
    displayed in the museum’s 23 permanent halls and a mere six percent of the
    128,000 artifacts in its vaults.
    Parallel to that process, 6,000 pieces
    from the museum’s ethnographic halls
    and contemporary works and documents
    from its history archives were digitalized.
    As a result of these efforts, people
    from all over the world can now access
    64
    photo
    courtesy of arditi + rdt arquitectos
    ARCHITECTURE
    awareness of the world. In that respect,
    he says, architecture can be as transformative as any other art form.
    Time Space Existence features exhibitions by other prestigious interna-
    tional architecture firms such as Norman
    Foster+Partners (England) and Eduardo
    Souto De Moura (Portugal).
    www.ardittiarquitectos.com
    September 2014
    September 2014
    photo
    www.tepoztlán.gob.mx
    paradise on earth is home to 44% of all
    recorded bird species in Mexico, 23%of
    butterfly species, five of the six species of
    felines found in the country, including
    the largest population of jaguars, and 23
    species of orchid.
    According to UNESCO representative
    in Mexico Nuria Sanz no one single culture
    has as many heritage sites as the Maya: seven
    cultural, two natural and two mixed. Mexico, she said, leads the way in the area of conservation and makes a valuable contribution
    to the UN’s development agenda.
    whc.unesco.org
    vestiges of the cultures of Mesoamerica,
    such as the Sunstone and the Maya stelae
    in the MNA’s safekeeping.
    courtesy of mna-inah
    The ancient Maya city and tropical jungle of
    Calakmul in the state of Campeche feature
    on UNESCO’s list of Mixed World Heritage
    Sites, which means they meet the criteria for
    both natural and cultural heritage sites.
    Spread over some 750,000 hectares,
    Calakmul was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989 and a National Cultural
    Heritage Site in 2002. The site is located
    in one of the best preserved wild areas in
    the country and boasts the largest tropical rainforest in Mexico and the second
    largest in America after the Amazons. It is
    also the first site in Mexico to be granted
    mixed heritage status by UNESCO. This
    more from a private fund for the education
    of small local communities.
    This is the first fully sustainable
    center of its kind in the country and,
    as such, will also be the first to obtain
    LEED certification for its eco-friendly
    architecture. The building is oriented so
    as to maximize the collection, storage
    and distribution of solar energy, thereby
    reducing dependence on heating and air
    conditioning systems; it also has rainwater collection and purification systems.
    photos
    photo archive
    The magical town of Tepoztlán in the
    central state of Morelos has a new asset
    to boast: the recently inaugurated Pedro
    López Elías Cultural Center.
    In addition to promoting education,
    culture and arts in Tepoztlán, the center
    will be used to host cultural activities like
    film festivals.
    Its library –the first privately owned
    library in the country to be incorporated
    into the National Council for Culture and
    Arts’ (CONACULTA) Public Library Network–has over 45,000 books and audiovisual titles and will shortly be receiving
    archive
    Mexico’s Gift to the World:
    Calakmul, Natural and Cultural Heritage
    Sustainable
    Culture
    www.mna.inah.gob.mx
    65
    Negocios ProMéxico | The Lifestyle
    photos
    Diego Gómez Pickering,
    The Ambassador
    Who Loves Words
    Internationalist, journalist and writer, Diego Gómez Pickering has been
    heading the Mexican Embassy in the United Kingdom since January 2014.
    by karla bañuelos
    A full-time diplomat and an occasional
    writer, as he defines himself on his Twitter
    profile, “words and language” are the tools
    of Diego Gómez Pickering’s (Mexico City,
    1977) trades –tools that have served him
    well as Mexican Ambassador to the United Kingdom, one of the most prestigious
    posts in the Mexican Foreign Service.
    66
    A complex man in terms of both education and passions, he has proven himself
    capable of defending Mexico on diverse
    fronts, whether it’s organizing cultural
    activities or business meetings to promote
    the country’s fledgling aerospace industry.
    Gómez Pickering graduated from the
    Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi
    courtesy of ministry of foreign affairs
    with a Master’s in Development Journalism and from the University of Columbia
    in New York with another in Cultural Development. Prior to that, he had taken a
    Degree in International Relations at the
    Autonomous Technological Institute of
    Mexico (ITAM), which would appear to
    be more related to his current calling than
    his intellectual aspirations.
    Around the same time, he made his
    initial foray into the literary world as a
    contributor to the “Ciudades” section of
    the now discontinued cultural review Arcana and as a columnist for the “Club”
    section of the Mexican daily Reforma.
    Over the last eight years, he has regularly
    contributed to a long list of publications,
    including El Universal, Excélsior, Letras
    Libres, Proceso, Gatopardo, Travesías, El
    Huevo and Chilango. Since 2004, he has
    been writing a weekly column for the US
    Edition of El Diario de México and acting
    as an international correspondent for the
    Panamanian daily La Prensa.
    In 2006, he published his first novel,
    La foto del recuerdo (The Photo of The
    Recollection. Ediciones Hombre y Mundo), which received excellent reviews and
    made it onto the bestseller list. “A life
    story in which the author adeptly dominates emotions in the face of vicissitudes
    and the most heartfelt pain. A novel that
    captivates and satisfies the reader from
    its opening to its closing lines,” wrote
    the journalist and writer Sergio González
    Rodríguez in “Escaparate”, his column in
    “El Ángel”, the prestigious cultural supplement of Reforma.
    That same year saw the publication of
    Agua: usos, abusos, problemas, soluciones
    (Water: Use, Abuse, Problems, Solutions.
    Mapas) and México visto por sus niños
    (Mexico Through its Children’s Eyes. Concepto Gráfico-DGE Equilibrista) to which the
    ambassador contributed with investigative reports and poetic narrations, respectively.
    His second novel, Los jueves en Nairobi
    (Thursdays in Nairobi. Praxis), was published
    in May 2010 and was equally well received.
    “A rich, intense chronicle of the Kenyan capital,” wrote the critic Humberto Musacchio.
    Sergio González Rodríguez was also full of
    praise. “With Los jueves en Nairobi, Diego
    Gómez Pickering brings us one of the most
    valuable chronicles of contemporary Mexican literature […] An excellent work”.
    September 2014
    The Lifestyle | Negocios ProMéxico
    In December of that same year, Gómez
    Pickering won a Young Creator’s award
    and was invited to participate in the UNESCO-Aschberg artist-in-residence program
    at the Centre d’Art Marnay (CAMAC) in
    Marnay-sur-Seine, France, in 2011.
    September 2011 saw the publication of
    the tenth issue of El Puro Cuento, a review
    specializing in contemporary Arab literature, compiled and edited by none other
    than the Ambassador himself.
    His most recent novel, La primavera
    de Damasco (The Damascus Spring. Plaza
    y Valdés, 2013) has met with resounding
    success. The title points us to the recent
    social movements of the Arab world, while
    the narrative introduces us to an almost
    mythical city impregnated with fragrances
    and colors. A multicultural, multiethnic and
    multifaceted city unable to disentangle itself
    from its tortuous past.
    Founded 8,000 years ago, the ancient
    Syrian capital is home to six million inhabitants and today finds itself at the center of
    a seemingly endless armed conflict that has
    claimed thousands of lives.
    La primavera de Damasco is comprised of two chronicles –The Moons of
    Damascus and The Heart of Damasco–
    September 2014
    in which the author weaves a tapestry of
    the city’s intricate identity.
    “The heart of Damascus is at the very
    epicenter of the city, in plain sight but at
    the same time concealed from prying eyes.
    […] It is a young, throbbing heart, even
    though it has been beating for thousands
    of years and on more than one occasion,
    like now, has experienced attacks and arrhythmias. […] A resistant, exemplary
    heart, always ready and available to anyone who needs it whenever it is needed.
    But above all, the heart of Damascus is a
    living one, despite being presumed dead
    by many,” writes Gómez Pickering.
    The author, as it turns out, is also a fulltime diplomat with ambitious goals and a
    firm commitment to issues related to the
    environment and human rights.
    A man of many interests –film, music
    and gastronomy– Gómez not only speaks
    English, French, Italian, and Portuguese,
    but is also fluent in German. These skills
    no doubt came in useful when he began
    his diplomatic career as Cultural and
    Press Attaché at the Mexican Embassy in
    Kenya in 2007. After that, he went on to
    become a consultant and advisor to several United Nations agencies, like the Re-
    A complex man in terms
    of both education and
    passions, he has proven
    himself capable of
    defending Mexico on
    diverse fronts, whether
    it’s organizing cultural
    activities or business
    meetings to promote
    the country’s fledgling
    aerospace industry.
    lief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), where
    he acted as a communications consultant
    from 2008 through 2011.
    He has also acted as consultant and
    advisor to the United Nations PublicPrivate Alliance for Rural Development,
    the International Labour Organization
    (ILO), the United Nations Office for
    the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Committee on the
    Elimination of Discrimination Against
    Women (CEDAW).
    To that wealth of experience he can
    also add a stint as International Media
    Director for the Mexican Office of the
    Presidency and International Press Coordinator during the presidential campaign
    and transitional period of President Enrique Peña Nieto.
    In December 2013, he was appointed
    Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Mexico to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. “Mexico comes with me wherever I
    go. I’m a person with the capacities, the
    academic and professional training, the
    will, the conviction and, above all, the
    commitment to work in the interests of
    this country’s project.”
    As ambassador, one of his goals is to
    ensure Mexico remains at the forefront
    of the international agenda, particularly
    on issues related to culture, the economy
    and foreign investment. Due to its growing dynamism, competitiveness and role
    as an emerging market, there couldn’t be
    a better time to invest in Mexico, says
    Gómez Pickering. N
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    The Lifestyle | Negocios ProMéxico
    Negocios ProMéxico | The Lifestyle
    das that have featured in more than one
    Golden Age film.
    There are some 4,000 surviving haciendas in Mexico, a number of which have
    been renovated or restored to their former
    glory, reemerging as boutique hotels offering
    world-class amenities. Here, guests are guaranteed an unforgettable experience, steeped
    in authentic Mexican history and set against
    breathtaking natural backdrops.
    Luxury is waking up in the morning to
    a steaming cup of freshly ground and
    brewed coffee as you admire the tropical
    forest and mountains that envelop Hacienda San Antonio in the municipality of
    Comala, Colima.
    The hacienda was built in 1890 by a
    German called Arnoldo Voguel, who discovered here the perfect coffee-growing
    conditions. The Fuego and Nevado de
    Colima volcanoes stand guard on either
    side of the estate, whose main building
    is made primarily of volcanic rock and
    houses 25 comfortable, well-lit guestrooms, decorated with handicrafts that
    pay homage to Mexico’s rich and diverse
    artistic traditions.
    Guests are welcomed by a beautiful,
    sprawling garden that merges with the
    outlying mountains and volcanoes. As far
    as pastimes go, the options are endless:
    enjoy a refreshing drink at the Yellow Bar
    or in the garden as you watch the sun go
    down, read a novel in the Mirador Lounge,
    explore the foothills of the volcanos by bicycle or visit the nearby town of Comala.
    Coriander soup and caramelized pears
    doused in tequila are just some of the dishes on Hacienda San Antonio’s delectable
    menu, which, like all the others, are prepared with fresh, local ingredients.
    courtesy of hacienda san antonio
    The cinema photographer Gabriel
    Figueroa captured magnificent Mexican
    skies, skies that reflect the surface of
    lakes, age-old trees and active volcanoes,
    the elongated shadow of archways on
    the dusty ground, the faces of beautiful
    women framed by shawls, horsemen galloping across the fields. Through his lens
    we get a sense of a bygone Mexico lingering on in the sturdy walls of hacien-
    courtesy of hacienda san andrés
    A great way to relax and soak
    up some history is to stay at one
    of Mexico’s stately old haciendas
    turned luxury hotels.
    Hacienda San Antonio
    Comala, Colima
    by pola sáenz
    photos
    Mexican
    Refuges
    of Yesteryear
    www.haciendadesanantonio.com
    Hacienda San Andrés commands impressive views of the Popocatépetl volcano,
    outlined by fluffy clouds and capped
    with a thick layer of snow, like wax melting in the sun.
    This was the image that inspired La
    Era (The Threshing Floor), Diego Rivera’s first registered oil on canvas that
    perfectly replicates the blue hues of the
    68
    distant sky and rolling green valleys that
    enfold this 16th Century hacienda.
    Located just forty kilometers from
    Mexico City, today Hacienda San Andrés
    is a luxury fifteen-suite hotel where guests
    can kick back and relax at the in-house spa
    with a quartz-stone massage, detox in a
    herbal steam bath or soak in a tub scented
    with rose petals and essential oils.
    After treating your body, treat your palate to a selection of traditional Mexican
    dishes made with fresh, organic ingredients.
    The invigorating mountain air is best
    enjoyed astride a horse or a bicycle as
    you explore the labyrinth of cedar trees
    in the environs and the hotel’s pristine
    gardens. Other activities include hot air
    balloon trips and excursions to the IztaPopo Zoquiapan National Park, Tlamanalco’s open chapel and the Paso de
    Cortés mountain pass between the Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl volcanoes.
    www.haciendasanandres.com
    September 2014
    courtesy of hacienda santa cruz
    Hacienda San Andrés
    Ayapango, Estado de México
    photo
    photo
    Hacienda Santa Cruz
    Mérida, Yucatán
    September 2014
    Under a serene sky, concealed by the long
    branches of leafy peacock flower shrubs,
    sits a fiery red estate surrounded by exotic
    gardens. Located in the very heart of Mérida, Hacienda Santa Cruz began life in the
    17th Century as a Franciscan monastery
    and in the late 19th century produced henequen, a type of fiber made from the maguey plant, often referred to as the “green
    gold” of the Yucatán.
    In 2007, this southern belle metamorphosed once again, this time into a
    luxury, colonial-style hotel with every
    conceivable modern-day convenience.
    Past and present brought together under
    a cloak of palm, orange, flamboyant and
    other ancient trees.
    Take a dip in one of the hotel’s two
    pools, enjoy a revitalizing or therapeutic
    massage or maybe a facial or honey and
    chocolate exfoliating treatment at the spa
    or in the privacy of your own room. If you
    want to get out and about, visit one of the
    nearby cenotes or Santa Cruz, where we
    recommend you visit the Cuxtal nature
    reserve, a refuge for migratory birds and
    native plants.
    And if you fancy sampling the local
    cuisine, the hotel restaurant, Creóle, serves
    up dishes like lime gazpacho and tuna panuchos marinated in annatto.
    www.haciendasantacruz.com
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    The Lifestyle | Negocios ProMéxico
    Negocios ProMéxico | The Lifestyle
    www.haciendaxalostoc.com
    thomassin mickaël
    soul with a relaxing hot stone massage,
    wine therapy and holistic treatments or
    a Reiki session. Horse riding, barbecues
    in the garden and bonfires by the light of
    the moon are some of the other activities
    guests at Hacienda Sepúlveda can enjoy.
    photo
    and a giant ash tree. The hotel has eight
    spacious suites and ten elegantly appointed guestrooms that immediately
    put you at ease and invite you to relax.
    A novel way to take in the scenery is on
    horseback or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, in a hot air balloon.
    luciy nieto
    courtesy of hacienda santa maría xalostoc
    Hacienda Sepúlveda stands on the old silver route to Zacatecas in northeast Jalisco.
    It was built in the late 17th Century and
    is named after its original owner, Juan de
    Sepúlveda of Spain, who was given the
    land as a gift. Today it is a fabulous boutique hotel with 23 guestrooms.
    Historic figures like Miguel Hidalgo
    y Costilla and Pancho Villa have seen the
    inside of this hacienda, whose decoration
    remits us to the past with hand carved
    wooden and tin sculptures, candelabras,
    antique stoves and radios.
    Fresh air and clear skies made this the
    perfect place to sit back and take in the
    view or relax with a good book. The hotel
    spa is housed in “El Aventadero,” originally an old winnowing barn dating from
    1890. Here, guests can pamper body and
    photos
    Hacienda Santa María Xalostoc’s story
    goes right back to the mid-16th Century,
    when its 3,500 hectares were dedicated to
    agriculture, maguey plantations and cattle
    farming. If you listen carefully, you can
    still hear the echo of revolutionary cavalcades, the whistling of a passing train and
    the tolling of church bells.
    After years of neglect, the estate was
    purchased and lovingly restored by the
    Baer family with the help of acclaimed
    architect Luis Ortiz Macedo, recipient of
    the National Restoration Prize in 2000
    and an expert in the conservation of colonial buildings.
    A pretty fountain greets you as you
    cross a heavy wooden door, which opens
    up onto a courtyard of maguey plants
    Hacienda Sepúlveda
    Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco
    photo
    Hacienda Santa María
    Xalostoc
    Tlaxco, Tlaxcala
    www.haciendasepulveda.com.mx
    www.haciendasantarosa.com
    70
    September 2014
    luciy nieto
    A path lined with palm trees leads to a
    blue façade with elegant archways illuminated by candles. In the distance, the last
    rays of sun disappear behind violet tinged
    clouds. This 19th Century hacienda was
    meticulously restored using Maya construction techniques for the floors and
    walls. High ceilings and wooden beams
    add character to spacious guestrooms
    bathed in warm light, while elegant pools
    that reflect the sky and fairytale gardens
    are just some of the amenities guests at
    this luxury hotel can expect.
    What better way to start the day than
    to wake to the sound of birdsong and
    enjoy breakfast in the botanical garden?
    Come afternoon, how about a leisurely
    stroll through the courtyards and gardens
    or a trip to the community workshops
    that produce arts and crafts made of silver,
    henequen fiber and other materials found
    locally? Bring the day to a close with an
    intimate dinner at the foot of an ancient
    tree as you commune with the sounds and
    smells of the night. And if you have some
    time to spare, we suggest you join an excursion by bicycle or on horseback to other haciendas in the region, like Granada,
    Santo Domingo and Chunchucmil.
    photo
    photos
    courtesy of hacienda santa rosa
    Hacienda Santa Rosa
    Santa Rosa, Yucatán
    September 2014
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    Negocios ProMéxico | The Lifestyle
    photo
    courtesy of carla fernández
    The Lifestyle | Negocios ProMéxico
    Carla Fernández:
    “Mexico’s future is handmade”
    One of Mexico’s most interesting designers, Carla Fernández has garnered a reputation
    on international runways with experimental, vanguard collections that pay tribute to the
    traditional textiles of the country’s indigenous communities.
    by karla bañuelos
    A samurai warrior à la Kurosawa, but not
    so far removed. A cascade of multicolored
    threads. Confetti falling slowly on a body.
    A two-tone poncho that invites you to
    lose yourself in Escher’s labyrinths. A deconstructed rebozo, home to a watchful
    gecko. Tradition and vanguard synthesized in a unique personality.
    According to Carla Fernández (Saltillo,
    Coahuila, 1973) fashion is the first language
    we use to communicate with others. Creator of the brand that bears her name and
    founder of Taller Flora –a demi-couture textile initiative in which Fernández works with
    indigenous women and artisans–, this Mexican designer has garnered recognition both
    at home and abroad, and her creations are
    sold in Great Britain, Spain, and the US. All
    as a result of her interest in the textile traditions of Mexico’s indigenous peoples and her
    efforts to document and preserve them.
    Amongst other accolades, these efforts won her the Prince Claus Award in
    2013 “for adapting traditional techniques
    and styles to create surprising contemporary fashion; for empowering communities, especially women, channeling their
    knowledge and skills into modern design;
    for reviving Mexico’s native textile traditions and creating a detailed record as a
    lasting legacy for generations to come and
    for coming up with an ethical production
    model that fully respects the intellectual
    property rights of indigenous peoples.”
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    September 2014
    September 2014
    Other Mexicans who have received
    this Dutch award for outstanding
    achievements in the field of culture and
    development include writer Carlos Monsiváis, artist Francisco Toledo, architect
    and designer Óscar Hagerman, photographer Maya Goded, and contemporary
    artist Teresa Margolles.
    In 2008 the British Council presented
    Fernández with the IYCE Fashion Award
    for her exceptional work as a businesswoman. She has published a book, The
    Barefoot Designer: A Handbook, and her
    work has been displayed at the Isabella
    Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
    At Taller Flora, Fernández works with
    communities from Chenalhó, San Juan
    Chamula, Aldama, San Juan Cancuc and
    Santa Martha in the state of Chiapas; artisans from Xochistlahuaca in the state
    of Guerrero; Hñä hñü (Otomí) women in
    Nante, Hidalgo; rebozo weavers in Estado
    de México; tailors who make charro suits
    in Mexico City, and leather bag manufacturers in León, Guanajuato.
    Her vision transforms textiles and
    traditional patterns into sophisticated,
    geometrical garments that borrow from
    architects like Luis Barragán and Juan
    O’Gorman, photographer Graciela Iturbide, with whom she has collaborated
    on several publications, and the work
    of other fashion designers like Rick Owens, Dries van Noten, Raf Simons, Limi
    Feu (Yohi Yamamoto’s daughter), the
    legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga (whom
    she considers “the great designer”) and
    Rei Kawakubo of Japan, whom she has
    worked with for Comme des Garçons.
    Holder of a degree in art history and
    haute couture, Fernández also has a quality Mexican-inspired prêt-à-porter line.
    But the seed of her passion for the textile traditions of Mexico was sown long
    before she saw the inside of a university
    lecture room. The daughter of a historian
    and museographer, as a child her father’s
    job as director of the museums of the National Institute of Anthropology and History took them all over the country.
    “Where there are archaeological sites,
    there are indigenous communities that create some of the best textiles in the world.
    Mexico has fabulous textiles. I’d spend
    hours studying the clothes worn by indigenous people in each zone. Then I’d try and
    buy the items of traditional dress I’d seen
    at the little markets in and around the archaeological sites and combine them with
    my everyday clothes,” she says.
    Experimentation has been another of
    her life-long obsessions, one that is reflected in her creations. As a university student,
    she did her community service at the now
    nonexistent Serfín Museum of Indigenous
    Dress. That gave her access to the museum’s collections and the chance to study
    how the garments were put together.
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    Negocios ProMéxico | The Lifestyle
    “I approach the construction of my garments much
    as an architect would approach the construction of a
    building. For instance, one of my star pieces is called
    Barragán because it imitates the play of light and
    shadow created by opening and closing the windows
    of one of his houses. I love architecture and modern
    and contemporary art and they are a constant source
    of inspiration for me.”
    photos
    courtesy of carla fernández
    “That exercise in deconstruction
    helped me gain an in-depth understanding
    of the clothes. To my surprise, nearly all
    of them were based exclusively on squares
    and rectangles. Each and every piece of
    cloth was a parallelepiped. My interest in
    the geometrical origin of clothing tied in
    with the fashion studies I’d taken as part
    of my Art History degree. I was especially
    interested in the first avant gardes, specifically those that had made an incursion
    into the apparel area. It was from that perspective that I began to view indigenous
    pattern design not as something primitive
    but as a creative art form,” she recalls.
    —How did you come to choose fashion
    design as a profession and what does it
    mean to you?
    From a young age I realized that clothes
    were important in all cultures, in the
    sense that they’re the first language we
    use to communicate with others. Before
    you even speak to someone, you notice
    how they choose to dress. Clothes are one
    of the ways in which we decide how others perceive us and beautifying ourselves
    is how we express our creative side.
    Fashion is a highly complex system.
    Creating a brand requires a lot of geniuses
    working toward the same goal: it has to be
    a good idea, a good business, have good
    advertising, and good managers. One of
    the catalysts of the Industrial Revolution
    was the need to manufacture textiles and
    many of the milestones in world history
    are related to the apparel industry.
    —How did Taller Flora come about and
    what was your vision when you started it?
    Taller Flora are workshops we run in various municipalities and regions of Mexico,
    like Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, Estado
    de México, and Guanajuato, among others, in collaboration with their indigenous
    communities and artisans or sometimes
    even individuals.
    I know Mexico like the back of my
    hand. I was born in the north, have traveled extensively in the south, and live in
    Central Mexico. Mexico’s cultural wealth
    is an asset very few other countries can lay
    claim to. I’m interested in carrying the cultural diversity expressed in the traditional
    dress of our indigenous peoples into the
    future. Mexico needs to turn its past into a
    business of the future. That’s why I always
    say Mexico’s future is handmade.
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    The Lifestyle | Negocios ProMéxico
    September 2014
    —How does your work with indigenous
    communities foster social and economic
    integration?
    Convinced as we are that Mexico’s future
    is handmade, we believe the most skilled
    hands and the most creative minds are to be
    found in indigenous communities and that
    is what we need to cultivate. It’s what the
    world wants from Mexico. In countries like
    ours, design and the creative industries can
    account for as much as 15% of GDP.
    —The cut of your garments has an oriental aesthetic. How would you sum up
    your influences?
    A major source of inspiration for me is the
    Mexican huipil, while the Japanese take
    their inspiration from the kimono. Their
    origin is similar. If you do your research,
    the huipil has cuts that resemble those of
    the kimono, except it’s very Mexican.
    I approach the construction of my
    garments much as an architect would approach the construction of a building. For
    instance, one of my star pieces is called Barragán because it imitates the play of light
    and shadow created by opening and closing the windows of one of his houses. I love
    September 2014
    architecture and modern and contemporary
    art and they are a constant source of inspiration for me. I particularly like O’Gorman.
    I’m very linear. My creative process is inspired by geometry, by the square and the
    rectangle, by traditional Mexican shapes
    and from there, I move on to the body.
    —Do your clothes contain references to modern and contemporary art?
    I live with an artist and am always visiting
    museums, so my references are more related
    to art than to fashion. I’m always going to be
    obsessed with Pedro, my husband, because he
    has opened my eyes to the world of artists,
    new and old. My 2014 Fall-Winter collection
    is inspired by O’Gorman and Jodorowsky.
    —Can you describe your creative process?
    It’s very unpredictable. My 2015 SpringSummer collection, for example, is inspired by 16th-century mosaics from Atlixco, and we’re going to show it as the
    grand finale to our partnership with the
    Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
    Design is thought to be the last link in
    the chain of creativity and ingenuity, and I
    don’t see any difference between what I do
    “Mexico’s cultural wealth
    is an asset very few other
    countries can lay claim to.
    I’m interested in carrying the
    cultural diversity expressed
    in the traditional dress of our
    indigenous peoples into the
    future. Mexico needs to turn
    its past into a business of the
    future. That’s why I always say
    Mexico’s future is handmade.”
    and what an architect or doctor does. The
    creative industries fuel economic growth, but
    people who live in rural communities don’t
    have many job opportunities. If we don’t create jobs for them, then who will? We have to
    start putting people to work at what they do
    best because this is also a way of preserving
    traditions that lay the foundations for a prosperous future. N
    75
    Negocios ProMéxico | The Lifestyle
    Sun, Sea,
    and Surgery
    These days, tourists are visiting
    Mexico not only for its pyramids
    and white-sand beaches. Many are
    including a visit to the country’s
    world-class plastic surgeons and
    consultations with expert health
    professionals in their vacation plans.
    photos
    archive
    The Lifestyle | Negocios ProMéxico
    by patricia peña
    Many people return from their vacations
    to Mexico rested and looking better than
    ever… after having paid a visit to one of
    the country’s expert cosmetic surgeons and
    been pampered post-op in paradisiacal surroundings. The scalpel can do miracles for
    the physique, but listening to the lapping of
    the waves as you rock in a hammock, sunbathing on the beach, or taking in the local
    culture in one of the country’s cosmopolitan
    cities sure does wonders for the spirits.
    The number of tourists who come to
    Mexico for plastic surgery or some other
    type of cosmetic procedure is on the rise.
    In fact, according to the 2012-2013 World
    Travel Trends Report compiled by Internationale Tourismus-Börse, Mexico is among
    the top five medical tourism travel destinations in the cosmetic surgery category.
    Advanced technology, quality services, accessible prices, and special postop facilities in unrivaled locations may
    be the reason 1.1 million people visited
    Mexico in 2013 for some form of medical treatment, according to Patients Beyond Borders, an international organization specializing in health tourism. And
    demand for these services is growing to
    the tune of seven percent a year.
    ALL-INCLUSIVE
    Several hospitals in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana offer package
    deals that include round-trip plane tickets,
    surgery, and a nurse to oversee post-op care
    in a hospital or hotel room for three days.
    Discounts of between 10 and 40% on
    prices that are already low compared to
    other countries account for the appeal of
    these packages, but it’s the care provided
    during recovery that has made them a hit
    among overseas patients.
    And by care we’re not talking your
    run-of-the-mill nursing home, but full service villas fitted out with kitchen, dining
    room, bedrooms, Jacuzzi, and swimming
    pool, where patients are looked after by a
    trained nurse and can hire a chauffeur for
    transfers. Some packages even provide for
    a travel companion.
    Another point in favor of Mexico’s
    burgeoning medical tourism industry is
    that cosmetic procedures are generally
    more affordable than in other countries.
    Not only do you get to spend your convalescence in surroundings on a par with
    some of the best spas in the world, but also
    most clinics offer financing plans.
    Tummy tucks, breast augmentations,
    eyelid lifts, wrinkle reductions, hair implants,
    and tooth whitenings are among the cosmetic services in highest demand in Mexico.
    So whether you choose to heal on a
    white-sand beach splashed by a turquoise
    blue ocean, in a cosmopolitan city with
    beautiful colonial architecture, or breathing in the fresh air of the mountains, you’re
    guaranteed a pleasant and speedy recovery.
    76
    September 2014
    September 2014
    BOARD-CERTIFIED MEDICAL CARE
    Mexico has 470 private hospitals that are
    Master of Public Health (MPH) certified
    and is rated second in the world in the
    practice of cosmetic surgery of a high standard, according to data furnished by the
    Mexican Association of Plastic, Cosmetic,
    and Reconstructive Surgery (AMCPER).
    Based on the findings of the 2013 Biannual Global Survey conducted by the
    International Society of Aesthetic Plastic
    Surgery (ISAPS), the most popular procedure worldwide is liposuction (18.8%),
    followed by breast implants (17%), eye
    lifts (13.5%), rhinoplasty (9.4%), and
    the removal of excess skin from the abdominal area (7.3%).
    Travel agencies have been quick to respond to demand, offering special package deals that include accommodation,
    meals, transfers, and medical care provided by board-certified surgeons.
    The reason Mexico enjoys such international prestige in this market niche is
    because its plastic surgeons are well prepared and the profession is strictly regulated, says the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), whose list
    of the top surgeons in the world features
    no less than ten Mexicans.
    Aside from its experienced surgeons,
    Mexico is ranked third worldwide in
    terms of non-surgical treatments like
    Botox and autologous fat injections,
    the application of hyaluronic acid, laser
    waxing, and tooth whitening, which are
    available at practically every specialized
    clinic in the country.
    Treatments like tooth whitening, facials, lymph drainage, and other minor
    procedures are extremely popular in
    Mexico’s border cities, where high standards of care, easy access, and affordable
    prices have turned the international surgical spotlight on the country’s specialized
    physicians and certified clinics.
    Technology & Experience
    “What will I look like afterwards?” is the
    question most frequently asked by people
    considering cosmetic surgery. To dissipate their doubts, one of Mexico’s most
    reputable physicians, Fernando Molina
    Montalva, uses an innovative computer
    system that generates before and after
    images in 3D.
    Designed by the hospital where Molina works, the system is called Crisalix
    and is intended to reassure patients they
    will emerge from the operating theater
    satisfied with the outcome. Crisalix can
    simulate nose jobs, and Botox and fat injections. Needless to say, all patient information remains strictly confidential.
    77
    Negocios ProMéxico | The Lifestyle
    photo
    archive
    Negocios ProMéxico
    Para Exportadores
    The financial factor is another reason more and more foreigners are visiting Mexico for liposuction, tummy tucks,
    and breast and gluteus implants. According to AMCPER, breast implants cost
    5,350 USD on average in other countries,
    but only 1,900 USD in Mexico. And if you
    want bigger booty, you’ll pay 6,100 USD
    elsewhere, compared to only 2,680 USD
    in Mexico. An abdominoplasty, or tummy
    tuck as it is more commonly known, will
    set you back as much as 7,650 USD in
    other countries, but you can have one in
    Mexico for around 2,300 usd.
    And with all the money saved, you
    can afford to relax and enjoy some postop pampering before returning home to
    awe friends and family with your rejuvenated image. Only Mexico offers the
    whole package! N
    Top Surgeries
    According to AMCPER, the most
    popular surgeries are:
    1. Liposuction
    2. Breast implants
    3. Gluteus implants
    4.Rhinoplasty
    5.Facelifts
    Close runners-up are MACS
    facelifts, tummy tucks, eye lifts, postbariatric surgery, and hair implants.
    www.cirugiaplastica.org.mx
    foto
    archivo
    HI-TECH, LOW-COST
    Cosmetic procedures are a lot less risky
    today than a few years back, due to the
    introduction of less invasive techniques. A
    decade ago, it took surgeons about seven
    hours to do a facelift; today, most operations of that type take only a couple of
    hours, including the first phase of recovery.
    Some European procedures are performed in Mexico under local anesthetic,
    which implies fewer complications and renders better results. Botox injections, laser
    surgery, endoscopic surgery that requires
    only small incisions, and more specialized
    operations like post-bariatric surgery (to remove excess skin after dramatic weight loss)
    are just a few of the many treatment choices
    available, all of which comply with the highest operating and recovery standards and
    employ state of the art technology.
    Las reformas
    y su incidencia para un México
    más competitivo
    Durante las últimas décadas diversos países han impulsado la modernización de sus
    gobiernos para agilizar la apertura y el funcionamiento de las empresas. México no se
    ha quedado al margen y en paralelo a las recientes reformas estructurales ha sentado
    las bases para mejorar la apertura y administración de empresas.
    94
    Mezcal:
    Servicios médicos
    86
    90
    Una bebida que ha
    trascendido fronteras
    Logística y transporte:
    78
    September 2014
    de México
    para el mundo
    México:
    hacia una América del Norte
    más competitiva
    promesa mundial
    para el turismo médico
    88
    92
    Negocios ProMéxico | Para Exportadores
    de
    proméxico.
    Las bebidas nacidas en México son cada vez más demandadas en el mercado internacional. La cerveza y el tequila
    no son los únicos productos
    reconocidos en el exterior. El mezcal se ha
    posicionado como una bebida mexicana
    que ha trascendido fronteras y forma parte
    significativa del mercado internacional de
    bebidas espirituosas.
    Durante varias décadas el mezcal fue
    considerado como un producto regional,
    apreciado solo por las comunidades productoras y cuya expectativa de negocio era
    muy baja. Sin embargo esta perspectiva ha
    cambiado drásticamente; como se analiza
    en una breve nota sobre el tema, en la actualidad esta bebida se exporta a más de
    30 países. Durante 2013 los principales
    destinos de exportación fueron Estados
    Unidos, Australia, Chile y Reino Unido.
    Actualmente se busca posicionar esta bebida insignia en otros mercados.
    Asimismo, se publica en esta edición una
    nota sobre la competitividad en el escenario
    global, basada en conceptos como innovación y logística, y en la productividad de
    las diversas regiones que conforman el país.
    En este sentido se publica una nota sobre la
    importancia de fortalecer políticas públicas
    que impulsen el intercambio comercial en
    América del Norte mediante iniciativas que
    incidan en el desarrollo y la especialización
    del capital humano, así como con medidas
    que incentiven la interconexión, la logística y
    el transporte, en aras de concretar un mayor
    dinamismo regional.
    El turismo médico es un sector sumamente representativo para México. El país se ha
    consolidado como un destino competitivo
    para atraer pacientes extranjeros –principalmente de Canadá y Estados Unidos– debido a
    su posición geográfica, bajos costos, alto nivel
    de instalaciones médicas –la certificación de
    clínicas y hospitales ha sido un componente
    representativo– y disponibilidad sustantiva de
    capital humano especializado, entre otros factores. En este sentido se incluyen dos colaboraciones que abundan sobre este tema, en las
    que se resaltan las ventajas y oportunidades
    de esta industria tanto para la exportación de
    servicios de salud como para canalizar más
    inversión productiva en el país.
    Por último se publica una reflexión sobre
    la relevancia de las reformas en el entorno
    empresarial, haciendo énfasis en las recientes
    modificaciones a la Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles (LGSM) en México, con el
    propósito central de facilitar la creación de
    empresas y promover la atracción de inversión extranjera. Estas adecuaciones a la norma impactarán sin duda alguna en el posicionamiento y participación de las empresas
    mexicanas en el mercado internacional.
    Esperamos que los contenidos incluidos
    en esta edición sean de su interés.
    ¡Bienvenidos a Negocios ProMéxico!
    80
    Septiembre 2014
    BREVES
    COMERCIO ELECTRÓNICO
    de hacerlo, con los principales proveedores de servicios en el país. Además,
    se mostrarán aspectos relevantes sobre
    infraestructura, estrategias de mercadotecnia y financiamiento.
    3. E-Commerce Day (9 de octubre). Es
    la conferencia con mayor trayectoria
    en México, organizada por la AMIPCI
    desde hace casi una década con la
    participación de los expositores más
    reconocidos en la materia.
    4. Seminario (10 de octubre). Consiste
    en un seminario en el que participan
    ponentes nacionales e internacionales
    para intercambiar ideas y puntos de
    vista sobre mercadotecnia digital.
    www.ebusinessweek.mx
    archivo
    La Asociación Mexicana de Internet
    (AMIPCI) realizará la Expo Comercio
    Electrónico AMIPCI, del 7 al 10 de octubre
    de 2014, en las instalaciones del World
    Trade Center en la Ciudad de México. Se
    trata de la primera exposición dirigida a
    empresas que desean incursionar en el
    comercio electrónico, y su propósito es
    vincular a especialistas en negocios online
    con quienes han decidido iniciar o mejorar
    sus negocios a través de Internet. Este
    evento se organiza con apoyo del Programa
    de Desarrollo del Sector de Servicios de
    Tecnologías de Información (PROSOFT 3.0)
    impulsado por la Secretaría de Economía.
    El programa de Expo Comercio Electrónico AMIPCI está compuesto por cuatro grandes actividades:
    1. Dominios en América Latina (7y 8 de
    octubre). Se analizará el futuro y los
    efectos de las transformaciones que se
    han registrado en la mecánica de los
    dominios en los últimos años. También se analizará el impacto comercial
    y social de la creación de nuevos dominios en América Latina.
    2.Exposición de comercio electrónico
    (8, 9 y 10 de octubre). Se trata de la
    primera exposición en México enfocada de manera exclusiva al comercio
    electrónico. Su objetivo es reunir a las
    empresas que acaban de incursionar en
    el comercio electrónico o tienen planes
    foto
    Una semana dedicada
    al comercio electrónico
    83
    BREVES
    BREVES
    AUTOMOTRIZ
    Impersealco: en expansión
    En remodelación
    El Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte
    (OMA), realizará una inversión de 350
    millones de pesos para remodelar el aeropuerto internacional de Acapulco Guerrero, como parte de su programa de modernización aeroportuaria para 2014.
    El proyecto contempla dos etapas; la
    primera comenzará en octubre de 2014 y
    consistirá en la demolición de un edificio
    y la construcción de uno más moderno
    que se adecue a las necesidades de los miles de viajeros que transitan por ese aeropuerto cada año.
    Modernización aduanal
    archivo
    archivo
    foto
    AHMSA y Siemens FIRMAN CONTRATO
    millones de dólares y tendrá capacidad
    para procesar dos millones de toneladas
    métricas de acero líquido al año.
    www.sat.gob.mx
    INDUSTRIAS CREATIVAS
    www.cementosfortaleza.com
    cinemex.com
    foto
    Cementos Fortaleza inició operaciones
    en su nueva planta El Palmar, en el estado
    Hidalgo, para la que requirió una inversión
    de más de 300 millones de dólares.
    La empresa, filial del consorcio mexicano Elementia especializado en el ramo de la
    construcción e industrial, proyecta producir
    un millón 100,000 toneladas de cemento
    al año, en la que es considerada como una
    de las plantas productoras de cemento más
    modernas de América Latina.
    Grupo Cinemex planea abrir 11 salas de cine
    en Miami, Florida, donde espera a cerca de
    400,000 asistentes al año. De este modo, la
    cadena inicia su expansión internacional.
    El primer complejo de la cadena fuera de
    México estará ubicado en Brickell City Center –el complejo inmobiliario en desarrollo
    más importante de Miami, localizado en el
    distrito financiero de la ciudad. El cine contará con 11 salas tipo Platino con capacidad
    para 622 asientos y una asistencia estimada
    de 400 mil personas al año. El nuevo complejo abrirá sus puertas a principios de 2016.
    Este crecimiento internacional permitirá fortalecer la posición de Cinemex como
    la sexta cadena de cines a nivel mundial. En
    los últimos cinco años la empresa ha tenido
    un crecimiento de 38% anual, pasando de
    44 a 271 cines y 2,360 pantallas.
    CRECIENDO con la
    fortaleza del cemento
    archivo
    Luces, cámara…
    ¡internacionalización!
    foto
    archivo
    www.ahmsa.com
    www.industry.siemens.com
    CONSTRUCCIÓN
    cortesía de siemens vai
    El Servicio de Administración Tributaria
    (SAT) invertirá aproximadamente 9,300 millones de pesos en los próximos cuatro años
    para mejorar la infraestructura de aduanas en
    el país y facilitar el procesamiento aduanal.
    El objetivo es fortalecer el dinamismo que
    ha mostrado México durante los últimos 20
    años, en los que ha duplicado su participación
    en el comercio mundial y se ha convertido en
    el principal exportador de mercancías y manufacturas en América Latina.
    foto
    METALÚRGICA
    foto
    www.impersealco.com.mx
    LOGÍSTCA
    www.oma.aero
    Altos Hornos de México (AHMSA) contrató a Siemens VAI para que construya
    una planta de desgasificación de acero al
    vacío dentro de la Siderúrgica 2. La nueva
    planta, que entrará en operación en octubre de 2015, requerirá una inversión de 83
    archivo
    INFRAESTRUCTURA
    industria automotriz; su nueva planta se
    especializará en la producción de piezas
    plásticas termoformadas que serán vendidas a clientes como Bombardier, DINA
    Camiones, Volvo, y Nissan, y exportadas a
    países como Suecia, Perú, Colombia, Estados Unidos y Canadá.
    foto
    Impersealco invertirá 100 millones de
    pesos en la construcción de una nueva
    planta –la tercera de la compañía–, en
    Atotonilco de Tula, Hidalgo, donde producirá plásticos de alta tecnología para la
    industria automotriz.
    La nueva planta generará alrededor
    de mil empleos en tres etapas. Impersalco
    produce piezas plásticas y de acero para la
    Negocios ProMéxico | Para Exportadores
    Mezcal:
    Una bebida que
    ha trascendido
    fronteras
    El mezcal representa la historia,
    la cultura y la diversidad del país.
    La bebida que hace tres décadas
    era considerada como un producto
    regional con poco valor económico ha
    cambiado de paradigma por completo.
    Hoy día esta bebida representa
    una fuente de ingreso para miles de
    familias de distintas comunidades
    rurales del país.
    86
    fotos
    archivo
    por lizeth balderas martínez*
    Mezcal es el nombre de la bebida mexicana tradicional obtenida por destilación y
    rectificación del mosto, preparada con los
    azúcares extraídos de las cabezas de agave,
    previamente cocidas, molidas y sometidas
    a fermentación.
    Dado que el maguey es endémico de
    América, se ha demostrado que desde hace
    más de 9,000 años nuestros antepasados
    utilizaban el maguey como alimento. Existen más de trescientas especies de maguey
    y México concentra más de 75% –35% de
    dichas especies son endémicas del país.
    El agave también es llamado maguey.
    Nuestros ancestros lo utilizaban para múltiples propósitos. Era utilizado como alimento y bebida, también para fabricar calzado, utensilios e inclusive para construir
    techos y paredes. Ha estado presente en la
    vida religiosa, social y cultural de todo el
    país. Tan importante era, que algunas culturas tenían deidades que representaban al
    maguey, como Mayahuel, la diosa mexica
    del maguey. Desde hace varios siglos, el
    mezcal fue incorporado en los rituales de
    diversas comunidades; en algunas zonas,
    por ejemplo, se bebe mezcal para celebrar
    el nacimiento o para despedir a los seres
    queridos que fallecen.
    El mezcal y su diversidad
    El mezcal es una bebida emblemática de
    México. Durante mucho tiempo se le consideró como bebida sagrada. Es una bebida con una vasta tradición nacional. Cada
    pueblo desarrolló capacidades técnicas
    específicas para su producción a partir de
    ciertos utensilios y materiales disponibles
    en cada región y tomando en cuenta las
    distintas especies de agave. Por ello, hablar
    de mezcales de México implica un universo de sabores y sensaciones. Las variedades
    de mezcal se distinguen por:
    • Las especies de maguey utilizadas en su
    elaboración.
    • Los grados alcohólicos que contienen.
    • La maduración de los magueyes.
    • Las condiciones ambientales en los cultivos de maguey y el aprovechamiento
    de especies silvestres.
    Septiembre 2014
    Para Exportadores | Negocios ProMéxico
    • Las formas de producción artesanales
    y tradicionales, así como la tecnología utilizada –desde hornos de piedra,
    tierra, mampostería y autoclaves,
    hasta fermentaciones en las que se
    emplean microorganismos disponibles en la región, o bien procesos de
    destilación para definir las características organolépticas del mezcal.
    • La tendencia por establecer mezclas o
    ensambles de diferentes tipos de maguey para producir mezcales con características peculiares.
    • El empleo del gusano de maguey, chile, frutas secas y maduras, hierbas,
    carnes, colorantes naturales y animales; los procesos de maduración, reposo y añejamiento –en vidrio, maderas
    locales e incluso en roble blanco americano o francés–, además la preservación de algunas tradiciones en la elaboración de la bebida –como enterrar
    el mezcal por un tiempo determinado
    en diferentes tierras y climas.
    Certificación y exportación
    En 1995 el mezcal obtuvo su denominación
    de origen (DO) al quedar registrado ante la
    Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI), con sede en Ginebra, Suiza.
    Actualmente, bajo el estricto cumplimiento de la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM070-SCFI-1994, los territorios y productores
    exclusivos de mezcal corresponden a ocho
    estados del país: Durango, Guanajuato,
    Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas y Zacatecas, que engloban
    más de mil municipios.
    Esta norma oficial establece la reglamentación de los procesos para producir,
    envasar y comercializar el mezcal. Asimismo reúne los criterios de calidad adecuados para su exportación. La DO y la aprobación de la (NOM) fueron fundamentales para el desarrollo de la industria del
    mezcal, sin restar importancia a la constitución del Consejo Mexicano Regulador
    de la Calidad del Mezcal (COMERCAM),
    organismo encargado de evaluar el cumplimiento de la NOM, así como promover,
    organizar y proteger la DO de la bebida.
    Según datos del COMERCAM, en
    2013, la producción total de mezcal ascendió a 2.5 millones de litros, lo que representó un incremento de 140% respecto a
    2012; en tanto, la comercialización en el
    mercado doméstico ascendió a 814,000
    litros, lo que representó un incremento de
    150% respecto a 2012.
    Septiembre 2014
    Los atributos que hacen del mezcal un producto exportable
    son su carácter artesanal, ser una bebida 100% natural y las
    concentraciones altas de alcohol que refuerzan su sabor y lo
    distinguen de otras bebidas espirituosas.
    Se estima que alrededor de 65% de la
    producción de mezcal se destina a la exportación. En los últimos cinco años la exportación de la bebida ha registrado una
    tasa de crecimiento promedio anual mayor
    a 18%. El crecimiento en la demanda y los
    cambios en los hábitos de consumo en los
    mercados nacional e internacional, harán
    que este incremento sea aún más significativo durante los próximos años.
    Los atributos que hacen del mezcal un
    producto exportable son su carácter artesanal, ser una bebida 100% natural y las
    concentraciones altas de alcohol que refuerzan su sabor y lo distinguen de otras
    bebidas espirituosas.
    Durante 2013 México exportó 740,000
    litros de mezcal –3.2% más que en 2012–,
    con un valor total de 7.5 millones de dólares –según cifras del Global Trade Atlas,
    2.7% más que en 2012 (considerando la
    fracción arancelaria 22089005).
    El mezcal se exporta a más de 30 países. Actualmente hay más de 280 marcas
    registradas en operación. En 2013, 142
    empresas exportaron mezcal; Baja California, Oaxaca y el Distrito Federal concentraron, en conjunto, 49% del valor total
    del mezcal exportado. Al menos 33 empresas mezcaleras están exportando a Europa,
    30 de ellas son de Oaxaca.
    Durante 2013 los principales destinos de exportación de mezcal fueron
    Estados Unidos (con una participación
    de 55%), Australia (9%), Chile (4%) y
    Reino Unido (3%).
    Las categorías más demandadas por
    el consumidor extranjero son el mezcal
    joven, joven con gusano, reposado y reposado con gusano –en conjunto representan
    93.3% del mezcal exportado. N
    *Analista del sector agroalimentario, Unidad
    de Inteligencia de Negocios (UIN), ProMéxico.
    87
    Negocios ProMéxico | Para Exportadores
    fotos
    archivo
    Para Exportadores | Negocios ProMéxico
    empleos, así como la especialización de
    los trabajadores mexicanos. Esta dinámica entre inversión y productividad ha sido
    sumamente significativa. Al principio la
    industria mexicana tuvo que sortear distintas dificultades con su contraparte en el
    norte, por ejemplo. Sin embargo, la apertura comercial ha sido un elemento fundamental para su apuntalamiento.
    América del Norte es uno de los bloques
    económicos más competitivos a nivel mundial. La región del TLCAN representa un
    producto interno bruto (PIB) de 19.2 billones de dólares, que constituyen más de 25%
    del PIB mundial. Su intercambio comercial
    se estima en más de 100 millones de dólares
    por hora. A 20 años de la entrada en vigor
    del TLCAN, el comercio de los tres socios se
    ha triplicado. Esto se ha logrado gracias al
    compromiso político y económico de los países que conforman la región –especialmente
    México, donde el fortalecimiento de la industria nacional se logró pese a que el país
    estaba en condiciones de desventaja competitiva frente a sus socios al momento en que
    entró en vigor el acuerdo.
    Con el objetivo de promover políticas
    públicas que impulsen el intercambio comercial en la región, se creó la North American
    Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO), una
    coalición y plataforma que tiene como objetivo promover la competitividad de América
    del Norte a través de iniciativas relacionadas
    con el desarrollo y especialización de capital humano, así como con otros temas como
    suficiencia energética, logística y transporte.
    NASCO tiene como socios a diversas
    instancias gubernamentales, privadas y
    académicas de Canadá, Estados Unidos y
    México, así como a representantes de los
    tres órdenes de gobierno –federal, estatal y
    municipal– que trabajan en la generación
    El Sistema Logístico Nacional permitirá la detección de zonas
    prioritarias en el país, con el objetivo de impulsar el desarrollo
    de corredores logísticos que incentiven la interconexión con
    otros corredores existentes en Canadá y Estados Unidos.
    Logística y transporte:
    hacia una América del Norte más competitiva
    La competitividad en el escenario global se basa en la conjunción de tres elementos clave: innovación, logística
    y productividad. Estos conceptos han sido piedra angular para el desarrollo regional, así como para impulsar
    la integración económica mundial.
    por josé pablo maauad pontón*
    En las últimas décadas el papel de México en el escenario global ha tenido una
    gran transformación, resultado de un crecimiento en las actividades industriales,
    logísticas y de exportación del país. En algunos casos el desarrollo regional ha sido
    impulsado por la apertura de la economía
    nacional al mercado global. En un periodo
    relativamente corto México cambió de ser
    una economía cerrada –bajo fuertes controles gubernamentales ejercidos a través
    de empresas paraestatales, monopolios y
    regulaciones aduaneras–, a un verdadero
    campeón del libre comercio en el mundo.
    La apertura económica del país comenzó en 1986, cuando México se convirtió en
    88
    miembro del Acuerdo General de Aranceles y Comercio (GATT), y estableció el camino para incrementar la competitividad
    de su sector industrial. Este incremento en
    la productividad nacional vino acompañado de procesos que transformaron la vida
    social, económica y política del país. Este
    gran momento de cambio para México se
    vio reflejado en una nueva política económica nacional cuya flexibilidad permitió
    la llegada de nuevas inversiones de origen
    extranjero, fortaleciendo la reciente capacidad productiva nacional.
    Este fue el primer gran paso hacia el establecimiento de una región económica más
    integrada, en donde el impulso al intercam-
    bio comercial entre Canadá, Estados Unidos
    y México representaba una oportunidad
    única para los tres países, con el propósito
    de crear un bloque económico productivo
    frente a la creciente competitividad registrada en Europa y Asia. Al concretarse la firma
    del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América
    del Norte (TLCAN), México ingresó a la era
    del libre comercio y las economías interconectadas. Este mecanismo sirvió para detonar un intercambio de mercancías, bienes y
    personas más intenso.
    El proceso de liberalización de la economía mexicana y la apertura a mercados
    globales propició la llegada de inversiones
    productivas que han generado múltiples
    Septiembre 2014
    de propuestas con el objetivo de incrementar la competitividad en la región. Es un
    referente obligado para la formulación de
    políticas públicas que incrementen el desarrollo de capital humano orientado al
    trabajo, la autosuficiencia energética, logística y eficiencia en la distribución.
    En México el comité NASCO tiene la
    finalidad de apoyar a los sectores público
    y privado en un esfuerzo por coordinar y
    promocionar un sistema logístico de clase
    mundial en el país, así como para consolidar su posicionamiento en la región como
    un excelente destino para hacer negocios.
    Asimismo, está enfocado a difundir mejores
    prácticas y uso de tecnologías de punta sobre
    infraestructura de transporte y logística para
    el beneficio de sus socios.
    NASCO se ha involucrado en el desarrollo de políticas públicas a nivel nacional. Se
    puede mencionar, por ejemplo, la creación y
    el desarrollo de un Sistema Logístico Nacional (SLN), el cual se ha basado en el estudio
    Sistema de Plataformas Logísticas, elaborado de manera conjunta con las secretarías
    de Economía (SE) y de Comunicaciones y
    Transportes (SCT), con financiamiento del
    Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID).
    El SLN permitirá la detección de zonas prioritarias en el país, con el objetivo de impulsar
    el desarrollo de corredores logísticos que incentiven la interconexión con otros corredores existentes en Canadá y Estados Unidos.
    Se trata de una política pública –alineada
    con las directrices planteadas por el Gobierno de la República– que busca transformar
    a México en una potencia logística y comercial de primer nivel, con fundamento en el
    Programa para Democratizar la Productividad y en el Plan Nacional de Infraestructura.
    En este contexto, en septiembre de 2014,
    México será sede de la conferencia anual organizada por NASCO, en la que se reunirán
    líderes internacionales con el propósito de
    debatir sobre la cooperación y asociación
    económicas, así como para ofrecer perspectivas innovadoras sobre temas relacionados
    con comercio y transporte, entre otros temas.
    El intercambio de ideas para la generación de políticas públicas modernas, transversales y de alcance regional, es la clave para
    detonar la competitividad en la región, para
    convertirla en un espacio que cuente con un
    desarrollo logístico, comercial, energético y
    educativo mucho más consolidado. N
    *Secretario de Desarrollo Económico del Estado
    de Hidalgo y Presidente del Comité NASCO,
    México.
    Septiembre 2014
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    Servicios
    médicos
    De acuerdo con algunas estimaciones, los pacientes
    extranjeros que se atienden en México dejan una derrama
    económica cercana a los 2,500 millones de dólares
    anuales. Se estima que esta cifra podría crecer 7% al año,
    en la medida en que aumente el número de instituciones
    mexicanas con certificación internacional.
    de México para
    el mundo
    México es un destino competitivo
    para atraer pacientes extranjeros
    –principalmente de Canadá y
    Estados Unidos. Los bajos costos
    comparativos, el alto nivel de las
    instalaciones médicas, una amplia base
    de capital humano especializado y una
    posición geográfica conveniente, son
    elementos que han hecho que México
    sea un destino preferido por el turismo
    médico.
    por cecilia ramos ávila*
    En los últimos años la industria del turismo de salud ha crecido rápidamente
    en México –esta industria incluye tanto
    al turismo propiamente médico como al
    denominado turismo de bienestar, que
    incluye servicios de spa y casas u hogares
    de retiro para personas de edad avanzada,
    entre otros servicios. Así, México es hoy
    uno de los destinos más populares para el
    turismo médico gracias a una combinación
    muy afortunada de factores geográficos,
    económicos, infraestructurales y de políticas públicas de primer nivel. Los servicios
    médicos que más demandan los pacientes
    extranjeros en México son cardiología, oncología, ortopedia, odontología y cirugías
    cardiovascular, cosmética, gástrica, reconstructiva y oftalmológica.
    Según un estudio de Patients Beyond
    Borders, México es el país que más turistas
    extranjeros atiende en odontología y cirugía bariátrica (bypass y banda gástrica). El
    estudio señala que durante 2013 México
    atendió a más de un millón de pacientes
    extranjeros, lo que coloca al país como el
    segundo destino de servicios médicos en
    el mundo –después de Tailandia, país que
    atendió a 1.8 millones de pacientes.
    El turismo médico es una industria
    emergente que se contabiliza dentro de
    las cifras del sector turístico nacional,
    por lo que es difícil estimar números
    exactos, así como el impacto económico
    real que dejan los pacientes extranjeros
    90
    cuando visitan una institución en el país.
    A la fecha no hay bases de datos confiables, ya que los proveedores de servicios
    de salud no llevan estadísticas exhaustivas que distingan pacientes nacionales y
    extranjeros, por lo que la derrama económica proveniente del uso de servicios
    de salud se contabiliza como ingreso por
    conceptos del turismo en general.
    Algunas fuentes calculan que un paciente extranjero deja una derrama económica promedio de 17,000 dólares por
    una estancia de ocho días en un hospital
    o clínica mexicanos. Aunado a ello debe
    considerarse que los pacientes extranjeros generalmente vienen acompañados,
    por lo que no solo gastan en procedimientos médicos, sino también en servicios turísticos relacionados con servicios
    como transporte, hotelería, alimentos y
    bebidas, entre otros.
    De acuerdo con algunas estimaciones,
    los pacientes extranjeros que se atienden
    en México dejan una derrama económica
    cercana a los 2,500 millones de dólares
    anuales. Se estima que esta cifra podría
    crecer 7% al año, en la medida en que
    aumente el número de instituciones mexicanas con certificación internacional. Sin
    duda, este crecimiento propiciará la generación de indicadores específicos, lo que
    en unos años permitirá contar con estadísticas más confiables sobre el turismo
    médico en México.
    Algunas de las ventajas competitivas
    que colocan a México como uno de los
    países más atractivos para el turismo
    de salud son los costos de los servicios
    médicos, la proximidad geográfica con
    respecto a Canadá y Estados Unidos, la
    alta proporción de médicos especializados –muchos de ellos con estudios en el
    extranjero– y una red de infraestructura
    hospitalaria de primer nivel.
    La Medical Tourism Association
    (MTA) calcula que los pacientes extranjeros que se atienden en México ahorran
    entre 36% y 89% con respecto a lo que
    costaría el mismo procedimiento en Estados Unidos.
    Septiembre 2014
    En 1999 el Consejo de Salubridad
    General (CSG) de México inició un programa de certificación de hospitales y
    clínicas nacionales de salud con estándares internacionales. Actualmente casi
    85% de los hospitales privados y 14% de
    los hospitales públicos en México están
    acreditados por el CSG.
    En 2006 ningún hospital mexicano
    estaba acreditado internacionalmente,
    actualmente son 10 instituciones las que
    tienen certificación internacional por parte de la Joint Commission International
    (JCI), el organismo de acreditación de hospitales más importante en Estados Unidos.
    La certificación de la JCI permite a
    los hospitales mexicanos dar servicio a
    pacientes de Estados Unidos asegurados
    con Medicare, así como con aseguradoras privadas, lo cual abre la puerta a un
    mercado potencial de millones de pacientes estadounidenses.
    Las instituciones de salud en México
    que reciben más turistas con fines médicos
    se concentran en 10 entidades: Baja Califor-
    Septiembre 2014
    nia, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Distrito Federal, Jalisco, Nuevo León, Quintana
    Roo, Sonora, Tamaulipas y Yucatán. En
    conjunto, estas entidades federativas cuentan con aproximadamente 60 hospitales
    que prestan servicios de salud de manera
    regular a pacientes extranjeros.
    De acuerdo con el estudio Perfil de turismo médico y de salud y de su impacto
    en la economía de Baja California, realizado por la Secretaría de Turismo de dicha entidad, entre 2010 y 2013 la derrama
    económica que generó el turismo médico
    aumentó 21% debido al entorno de las
    ciudades bajacalifornianas, a la mayor
    oferta de servicios y a sus precios competitivos. Adicionalmente, por tratarse de un
    estado fronterizo, muchos pacientes estadounidenses llegan por vía terrestre, lo que
    facilita la proveeduría de estos servicios.
    De los pacientes extranjeros que reciben servicios médicos y se atendieron en
    Baja California, 83% proviene de Estados
    Unidos (41% es hispano nacido en ese
    país), 9% de Canadá, 7% son mexicanos
    residentes en Estados Unidos y el resto
    proviene de otros países. Resulta muy interesante cómo la industria médica y hospitalaria de Baja California han atraído
    progresivamente a pacientes de otros países; en 2010 98.1% de los pacientes extranjeros que visitaron el estado en busca
    de servicios médicos provenía de Estados
    Unidos. El estudio también revela que en
    2013 la industria de turismo médico generó 30,390 empleos en Baja California.
    Según cifras del INEGI, entidades federativas como Nuevo León y Jalisco cuentan con una plantilla de personal médico
    muy alta; 19.5% del personal médico de
    hospitales y clínicas particulares del país
    reside en Nuevo León, mientras que en
    Jalisco se encuentra 10.3%. Quintana
    Roo y Yucatán, estados que cuentan con
    un sector turístico altamente desarrollado,
    también han empezado a mejorar su oferta
    e infraestructura médica para incrementar
    su participación en el turismo médico.
    México tiene una base de capital humano altamente calificada en servicios
    médicos. Según datos de la Organización
    para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), la proporción de médicos especialistas entre médicos generales
    en México es de 62.3% –proporción superior al promedio de la OCDE (57.7%)–,
    lo que nos coloca como el décimo país con
    más especialistas dentro del total de la comunidad médica entre los países miembro.
    Asimismo, en México se gradúan 11.6 médicos por cada 100,000 habitantes, –cifra
    superior al promedio de la OCDE (11.2)
    y también superior al promedio de países
    como Estados Unidos (6.9), Canadá (7.6),
    Corea del Sur (8.2) y Francia (9.0).
    Sin embargo, una ventana de oportunidad es la oferta de capital tecnológico existente en el país. Por ejemplo,
    el número de unidades de resonancia
    magnética (MRI) por cada millón de habitantes en México es de 2.2 unidades,
    mientras que el promedio de la OCDE es
    de 13.9. En el mismo caso se encuentra
    la disponibilidad de otros equipos como
    escáneres cerebrales. En México hay 5.1
    escáneres por cada millón de habitantes,
    mientras que el promedio de la OCDE
    asciende a 23.7. Otro indicador por mejorar son las camas de hospital. En México hay 1.6 camas de hospital por cada
    mil habitantes, mientras que el promedio
    de la OCDE es de 4.8.
    Lo anterior representa una gran oportunidad de inversión para ampliar la capacidad de atención y hacer todavía más
    competitivo al sector. Si se mantienen las
    inversiones necesarias para adquirir equipos especializados y continúa el número de
    instituciones de salud certificadas a nivel
    internacional, México será sin duda un
    destino internacional líder para el turismo
    médico, no solo en América del Norte sino
    en el mundo entero. N
    *Consejera de ProMéxico en Boston,
    Massachusetts, Estados Unidos.
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    México:
    promesa mundial para el turismo médico
    La infraestructura de servicios médicos del sector privado, la cercanía con Estados Unidos y la fuerte
    demanda de servicios médicos de calidad posicionan a México como potencia líder en el sector.
    por guillermo wolf*
    En los últimos años el incremento a nivel global del flujo de pacientes y profesionales de la salud, así como los avances en la ciencia médica, las tecnologías de la información, el financiamiento de
    capital y los regímenes regulatorios en las fronteras internacionales han dado lugar a nuevos patrones de consumo y producción
    de servicios de salud.
    Cada vez más pacientes cruzan fronteras en busca de tratamientos y atención médica. El fenómeno, que de acuerdo a la
    Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos
    (OCDE) se denomina turismo médico, abarca una amplia gama
    de servicios médicos pero se concentra principalmente en tratamientos dentales, cirugías, terapias y rehabilitación.
    a la vanguardia
    Según estadísticas publicadas en Patients Beyond Borders, México ocupa el segundo lugar como destino de turismo médico a
    nivel mundial –detrás de Tailandia–, con más de un millón de
    pacientes extranjeros al año, entre los cuales destacan visitantes estadounidenses, canadienses y de algunos países europeos
    y sudamericanos. Los pacientes de Estados Unidos provienen
    principalmente de tres estados sureños: California, Arizona y
    Texas.
    De acuerdo con datos de la Secretaría de Turismo, México
    tiene más de una docena de destinos especializados en este tipo
    de turismo, industria a la que también se unen otros prestado-
    Para Exportadores | Negocios ProMéxico
    res de servicios turísticos y de atención médica de la más alta
    calidad para atender cirugía general y plástica, así como especialidades como oncología, ortopedia, cardiología y gastroenterología, principalmente.
    Son varios factores los que favorecen a la industria del turismo médico en México; entre ellos: la proximidad geográfica
    con Estados Unidos, la calidad del capital humano –prestadores
    de servicios de salud altamente capacitados–, las certificaciones
    internacionales de hospitales y clínicas de atención médica, además del costo de los tratamientos –en algunos casos hasta 80%
    más baratos que en Estados Unidos.
    Aunado a lo anterior, el Consejo Mexicano de la Industria
    del Turismo Médico (CMITM) fue aceptado en 2013 como socio de la Organización Mundial del Turismo (OMT), consolidándose como el organismo representante del turismo médico
    en México y como único interlocutor autorizado para tener contacto con empresas de todo el mundo que brinden estos servicios
    de salud, al mantener un acercamiento con expertos en el tema
    y aliados de los sectores público y privado a niveles nacional e
    internacional.
    La acreditación internacional es un elemento importante
    para determinar la calidad y seguridad dentro las instituciones
    de salud, garantizando así que los procesos y resultados del cuidado del paciente sean adecuados. Entre otros organismos, la
    Son varios factores los que favorecen a la industria del turismo médico en México; entre ellos:
    la proximidad geográfica con Estados Unidos, la calidad del capital humano –prestadores de
    servicios de salud altamente capacitados–, las certificaciones internacionales de hospitales
    y clínicas de atención médica, además del costo de los tratamientos –en algunos casos hasta
    80% más baratos que en Estados Unidos.
    Joint Commission International (JCI) se encarga de certificar a
    las instituciones de salud en el mundo para que puedan considerarse como destinos de turismo médico. La JCI identifica, mide
    y comparte con el mundo las mejores prácticas relacionadas con
    la calidad y la seguridad de los pacientes.
    El Consejo de Salubridad General de México ha certificado
    (hasta julio de 2014) un total de 90 hospitales privados y 119 están en proceso de certificación para poder ofrecer servicios vinculados con el turismo médico. Dentro de estos establecimientos
    certificados se encuentran grupos líderes como el Centro Médico
    ABC y Médica Sur, entre otros.
    Líderes en el mercado
    En su misión por contribuir al fortalecimiento de la industria
    mexicana y la consolidación y facilitación del comercio con Estados Unidos, la American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico
    (AmCham) promueve políticas públicas que permitan impulsar
    una mayor prosperidad económica en la región. En este sentido, se ha identificado al turismo de salud como industria con
    grandes oportunidades que crece y evoluciona a un ritmo muy
    rápido y que representa un segmento económico muy próspero
    que no debe pasar desapercibido.
    Socios de AmCham participan activamente en la promoción
    del turismo médico. Tal es el caso de Médica Sur, complejo hos-
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    Septiembre 2014
    Septiembre 2014
    pitalario que ha generado ingresos considerables en México.
    Se ha mencionado en los medios que “México tiene las condiciones idóneas para rebasar a Tailandia, principalmente por la
    cercanía geográfica con Estados Unidos, el mercado de turismo,
    que representa 40% del total del turismo de salud en el mundo”.
    En su publicación Doing Business in Mexico: Turismo, PwC
    –otro socio de AmCham– señala que un sector importante al
    que puede dirigirse el turismo médico son los ocho millones de
    adultos en proceso de retiro en México, además de los cinco
    millones de ciudadanos estadounidenses que residen en estados
    colindantes con la frontera de México. En este estudio se sostiene que 250,000 estadounidenses salen de su país para recibir
    servicios de atención médica, lo que representa un gasto anual
    de 5,500 millones de dólares –considerando que 47 millones de
    estadounidenses no tienen seguro o cobertura médica.
    Finalmente, un grupo importante que impulsa esta industria
    es el de las compañías aseguradoras, las cuales buscan ofrecer
    planes de cobertura que ayuden a reducir los costos de tratamiento y tener una mayor cobertura de servicios a escala internacional, beneficiando a los pacientes con ahorro en los costos
    de primas, copagos o deducibles. N
    *Director General y Vicepresidente Ejecutivo de American Chamber of
    Commerce of Mexico (AmCham).
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    Las
    reformas
    y su incidencia
    para un México más
    competitivo
    Durante las últimas décadas
    diversos países han impulsado la
    modernización de sus gobiernos
    para agilizar la apertura y el
    funcionamiento de las empresas.
    México no se ha quedado al margen
    y en paralelo a las recientes reformas
    estructurales ha sentado las bases para
    mejorar la apertura y administración
    de empresas.
    por moisés flores gómez*
    Las recientes reformas estructurales en
    México tienen como uno de sus propósitos convertir al país en un destino cada
    vez más atractivo para la inversión extranjera y para el establecimiento de inversiones productivas en distintos sectores. A la par de estas modificaciones sustantivas, México –siguiendo recomendaciones puntuales del Banco Mundial– ha
    realizado cambios y mejoras regulatorias
    con el propósito de modernizar y simplificar la apertura de nuevas empresas, así
    como su administración.
    El Banco Mundial señaló que en los
    países donde existe un gobierno electrónico eficiente, las empresas tienen una mayor
    facilidad para hacer negocios. El gobierno
    electrónico surgió en la década de 1980
    y se ha convertido en el mecanismo más
    efectivo para impulsar el desarrollo de las
    empresas a nivel mundial.
    Hace un par de meses se publicaron
    en el Diario Oficial de la Federación
    (DOF) varias reformas en materia de
    derecho mercantil. Destacan las modificaciones realizadas a la Ley General de
    Sociedades Mercantiles (LGSM), con el
    propósito central de facilitar la creación
    de empresas y negocios y promover la
    atracción de inversión extranjera, así
    como la creación de fuentes de empleo.
    Un componente importante de dichos
    cambios radica en la modernización,
    94
    Septiembre 2014
    flexibilización e incorporación de reglas
    más eficientes para el tipo de sociedad
    mercantil más común en México: la Sociedad Anónima (SA).
    De acuerdo con la Comisión Federal de
    Mejora Regulatoria (COFEMER), con estas
    reformas a la LGSM los costos financieros
    de las empresas disminuirán aproximadamente en un monto equivalente a 0.07%
    del Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) del país, es
    decir, alrededor de 8,739 millones de pesos.
    La Secretaría de Economía, a través
    de la Subsecretaría de Competitividad y
    Normatividad, ha señalado que con estas
    nuevas regulaciones México podrá avanzar varias posiciones en el rubro “facilidad
    para hacer negocios” del reporte Doing
    Business del Banco Mundial –en este análisis se desglosa una medición objetiva de
    las normas que regulan la actividad empresarial, así como su puesta en práctica en
    189 economías y ciudades seleccionadas.
    La nueva sociedad anónima
    en México
    A continuación se enlistan las modificaciones más representativas realizadas a
    la LGSM, las cuales tienen como propósito modernizar, flexibilizar y optimizar
    el gobierno corporativo:
    1. Objeto social flexible. Antes de estas
    reformas, las empresas solo podían reali-
    Septiembre 2014
    zar las funciones expresamente establecidas en sus actas constitutivas. Para llevar
    a cabo actividades distintas a las contempladas en su objeto social, era necesario reformar los estatutos. Esto no era
    congruente con las prácticas comerciales
    actuales. En la actualidad las empresas
    pueden cambiar de giro repentinamente
    y en ocasiones requieren llevar a cabo actos que no se encuentran especificados en
    sus estatutos. En esas situaciones, con la
    legislación anterior, las empresas tenían
    que modificar sus estatutos para cambiar
    de giro o incluir nuevas facultades, lo
    que representaba costos notariales y de
    tiempo.
    2. Fedatarios Públicos. Se actualizaron los
    artículos de la LGSM en los que se alude
    a notarios y corredores públicos, quienes
    tienen facultades para realizar ciertos actos jurídicos. De esta manera se aclaran
    algunas controversias sobre las facultades
    de los corredores públicos, lo que generará una mayor competencia y calidad en la
    prestación de los servicios fedatarios.
    3. Libertad contractual, mejoras al gobierno corporativo y derechos de minorías. Antes de las reformas, el régimen de
    las sociedades era rígido –por ejemplo, la
    celebración de acuerdos entre accionistas
    y la organización de los órganos societa-
    Hace un par de meses se
    publicaron varias reformas
    en materia de derecho
    mercantil. Destacan las
    modificaciones realizadas
    a la Ley General de
    Sociedades Mercantiles,
    con el propósito central
    de facilitar la creación
    de empresas y negocios y
    promover la atracción de
    inversión extranjera, así
    como la creación de fuentes
    de empleo. Un componente
    importante de dichos cambios
    radica en la modernización,
    flexibilización e
    incorporación de reglas
    más eficientes para el tipo
    de sociedad mercantil más
    común en México: la Sociedad
    Anónima.
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    Negocios ProMéxico | Para Exportadores
    rios–, lo cual generaba cierta desventaja
    con respecto a otros países para atraer
    inversión. La legislación mercantil en
    materia de gobierno corporativo y derechos de minorías se diseñó hace décadas
    y, a pesar de que en la práctica se realizaban convenios entre accionistas, no
    había libertades como las que se contemplan en la reformada LGSM. Ahora las
    SA pueden pactar restricciones respecto
    a la transmisión de acciones, la exclusión
    de accionistas y la emisión de acciones
    que no confieran derecho de voto, entre
    otras medidas. Asimismo, la ley permite
    que se amplíe, limite o niegue el derecho
    de suscripción preferente, con lo que
    podrán incluirse candados en los estatutos sociales correspondientes, además
    de limitar la responsabilidad en daños y
    perjuicios ocasionados por consejeros y
    funcionarios.
    Aunado a lo anterior, los accionistas de
    las SA podrán convenir entre ellos sobre:
    • Derechos y obligaciones que establezcan opciones de compra o venta
    de acciones.
    • Actos jurídicos relativos al ejercicio de
    derecho de preferencia para la suscripción de acciones en el caso de aumentos al capital social.
    • Acuerdos para el ejercicio del derecho
    de voto.
    96
    foto
    • Acuerdos para la enajenación de acciones en oferta pública, entre otros.
    Respecto del derecho de minorías, las
    reformas dotan de mejores derechos a los
    accionistas que tengan una participación
    minoritaria en la empresa, sin comprometer la operación de las sociedades. Asimismo, ahora es factible tener acciones con y
    sin derecho a voto. En suma, los derechos
    de minorías se ven reflejados básicamente
    en los siguientes supuestos:
    • Disminución del porcentaje necesario
    para ejercer una acción civil en contra
    de los miembros del consejo de administración, de 33% a 25%.
    • Reducción del porcentaje necesario
    para aplazar por tres días y sin necesidad de nueva convocatoria, la votación
    de cualquier asunto respecto del cual
    no se consideren suficientemente informados, de 33% a 25%.
    • Disminución del porcentaje necesario
    para oponerse judicialmente a las resoluciones de las asambleas generales, de
    33% a 25%.
    Asimismo, antes de las reformas las
    SA tenían que publicar en el DOF o, en
    su caso, en los periódicos de mayor circulación donde estuviese el domicilio social de la empresa. Esto provocaba que
    archivo
    los costos de publicación fueran sumamente altos y muchas empresas no acataban esta norma, o publicaban en periódicos con bajo tiraje, lo cual provocaba
    incertidumbre jurídica, irregularidades y
    fomentaba los litigios.
    Con las modificaciones a la LGSM se
    optimizan las actividades comerciales de
    las empresas. En este sentido se establecerá
    un sistema electrónico regido por la Secretaría de Economía, que deberá publicarse
    el 14 de junio del 2015 en el DOF.
    Algunos de los temas que antes se publicaban en diarios impresos ahora deberán difundirse en medios electrónicos. Son
    los casos de reducciones y aumentos al
    capital social, convocatorias para asambleas, acuerdos sobre fusión de empresas,
    resolución de escisión de empresas, balance final de liquidación de compañías y
    balances generales de las sociedades extranjeras en México, entre otros.
    Sin lugar a dudas, estas modificaciones modernizan la legislación mercantil
    mexicana, acercándola a las mejores prácticas internacionales. Esto se traducirá en
    una simplificación administrativa para las
    empresas y en mayor competitividad. N
    *Abogado corporativo en Basham, Ringe y
    Correa, S.C.
    Septiembre 2014