12 NOV 2013
President Enrique Peña Nieto inaugurated the new Nissan A2 Automotive complex, during which he declared that Mexico is a country that creates certainty for foreign investment.
Investments like this, he said, prove that “Mexico is a reliable country for domestic and foreign investment, and is still proving to the world that it is a country where its labor force, Mexican workers, have guaranteed ability, training and skills to make this condition a force of competitiveness for our country.”
“This shows that there is confidence in our country,” he added, because companies “Are confident that Mexico will develop in the coming years, particularly because it has been proven that Mexican manpower is the best in the world.”
He declared that this new Nissan plant, built in just 19 months, creates three thousand direct jobs and nearly ten thousand indirect jobs, “and also accredits us in the world’s eyes as a space and a country to invest in.”
He reported that by the first half of this year, “Cumulative foreign direct investment was nearly $24 billion USD, a record in Mexico’s history.”
He expressed the importance of Mexico’s becoming, “A platform for growth and expansion for the new investments that decide to come to our country,” because, “In the end, this means benefits for Mexicans because they encourage development and wealth creation, and promote employment and areas of opportunity for more Mexicans.”
“That is why it is important for Mexico to attract investment, both domestic and foreign,” he said.
During a dialogue with the workers of the automotive company, prior to the opening ceremony, the president declared that just as they work to manufacture of parts that will be exported throughout the world, the government is, “Creating the conditions to make Mexico a better country for all Mexicans.”
The president noted that Mexico is now the eighth largest vehicle producer worldwide and the fourth largest automobile exporter. He expressed his confidence that the current condition will improve, “And that we will move up from being the eighth to the seventh largest vehicle producer in the next few years.” He added that the automotive industry in Mexico creates over 600,000 direct jobs annually.
He declared that in order to consolidate Mexico’s automotive industry, the government is promoting four policies:
• Strengthen our domestic market, with more credits for the purchase of new vehicles, and regulate the importation of used cars that are not in optimal conditions for being sold in the domestic market.
• Build a business environment that will increase productivity in the automotive sector. Through the Integral Proauto program, “We seek to create added value chains and a supply chain to strengthen the automotive industry in our country.
• Encourage technological development and innovation for this and other industries in the country.
• Gain access to new export markets, by consolidating its participation in destinations such as North America, but also through the Pacific Alliance and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement with South American countries, America and the Asian region where efforts are being made to expand the presence of domestic production.
NOW A LEADING PLAYER IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, MEXICO HAS ALWAYS OFFERED QUALITY WORKMANSHIP: CARLOS GHOSN
Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Company, declared that Mexico has become a major player in the automotive industry, adding that this nation has always provided quality workmanship and shown a commitment to quality.
He announced that, “With our plants in Cuernavaca, Toluca, Manzanillo, Mexico City and Aguascalientes, the total number of Nissan employees in Mexico will be over 14,500.”
He expressed his confidence that, “We will meet our goal of building over one million vehicles by 2016. Thanks to the contribution of our employees in Mexico, our suppliers and a network of distributors, government and community partners, Mexico is a Nissan flagship operation,” he said.
“We are proud that five of the 10 best-selling vehicles in Mexico are produced by Nissan, which has maintained its leading market position for over four years,” he said.
WHAT LEADS A COMPANY TO BELIEVE IN MEXICO IS, IN A WORD, CERTAINTY: ILDEFONSO GUAJARDO
Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal said that the business side of the Pacific Alliance regarding the automotive sector has been completed, “Which will incorporate us into a new Latin American market on favorable terms.” He added that he is about to complete negotiations regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) together with the negotiation process with this industry, “To continue to ensure the market access which now enables Nissan to export to over a hundred countries throughout the world.”
Regarding the auto plant opened today, he said that, “If there were a single word to summarize this success story, this story that led a company to believe in Mexico and invest enough to be in a position to produced 800,000 vehicles in the year 2014, I think that word would be certainty.”
Certainty, he continued, because by betting on our country, Nissan, “Knew that Mexico was a great platform with great competitiveness to conquer other markets.” He added that certainty is also reflected in the legal framework established in the country, “and the commitment to maintain firm, stable conditions.”
STRUCTURAL REFORMS WILL TRANSFORM MEXICO INTO A MORE COMPETITIVE NATION: LOZANO DE LA TORRE
Governor of the state of Aguascalientes Carlos Lozano de la Torre confirmed Aguascalientes residents’ recognition of the leadership and vision of President Peña Nieto, “In this new era of confidence for our country, in which he is promoting structural reforms in all areas of development beyond six-year periods, which will transform Mexico into a more competitive nation to release the enormous economic potential of the regions comprising it.”
He reiterated his willingness to work hand in hand with the government, “So that the changes required by the country continue to consolidate Mexico as a safe destination for investment around the world.”
He said the opening of the NISSAN A2 plant, “Means a future because it will continue to represent future economic growth, social peace, stability and security,” for the state and region.
Lozano de la Torre declared that the new plant represents an outlay of unprecedented economic and social benefits for all productive sectors and the region, particularly because of the high growth and specialization of its supply chain in the State of Aguascalientes, which includes fifth generation suppliers, “An unprecedented achievement in our country.”
MEXICO, HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN THE AUTOMOBILE WORLD: ARMANDO ÁVILA MORENO
Armando Ávila Moreno, Vice President of Manufacturing AT Nissan Mexicana, said that the Nissan A2 Automotive Complex represents a link in the growth plans of this global automotive company, since this adds an annual capacity of 175 thousand units, which will allow the company to maintain its leadership position in domestic automotive production.
In that sense, he trusted that, “Mexico will continue to be highly competitive in the automotive world.”
He thanked President Enrique Peña Nieto for the generous assistance provided by the various Federal Government agencies to ensure the timely completion of the project, whereby the company will produce over half a million vehicles annually in Aguascalientes.
He explained that in the future, it will be possible to consolidate 850,000 units per year, “A record figure in Nissan, that undoubtedly sets us on the path to reaching one million units, our ultimate aim, while maintaining the high competitiveness that distinguishes Nissan, Aguascalientes and Mexico, and above all, enhances Nissan’s commitment to Mexico.”