Alliance 24 by USMCOC

EDITORIAL COUNCIL UNITED STATES MEXICO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Albert C. Zapanta, President & CEO, Binational Headquarters; Francisco López Espinoza, CEO, Grupo Gráfico Multicolor; Eric Rojo, Vice-President/ Mexico Liaison; Joseph R. Chapa, Vice-President, International Trade Development Centers; Gabriela Kenny, Director of Communications; Cecilia López, Publishing Manager; and Jill Martínez, Editor.

PUBLISHING COORDINATORS Executive Director PROMEXE Rafael López Rivera rafa.lopez@multicolorig.com Director of Communications Gabriela Kenny gabriela.kenny@usmcoc.org Publishing Manager Cecilia López ceci.lopez@usmcoc.org

CONCEPT & MAGAZINE DESIGN Editorial Coordinator Cecilia López ceci.lopez@usmcoc.org Graphic Designer Luis Alberto Cabrera Villanueva lcabrera@promexe.com

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Joseph Chapa Blanca Berthier Marlen Marroquin Claudia Vidal Nick Ortiz

Luis Morris Ruth Martinez Josie Orosco Pete Garcia Sergio Ponce

Editorial Dear Friends, Greetings and a warm welcome to our latest edition of Alliance Magazine. It has been a busy half year for us at the Chamber. With the summer, there come preparations for our Second Sustainable Economic Development Summit which will take place August 24, 2015, in Irving, Texas. This year, the theme of the event will be “Trade Regimes of the Americas.” We will discuss the potential implications of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Trans-Atlantic Partnership as well as the Pacific Alliance, an initiative led by Mexico with the objective of increasing commerce between Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia and Asia. North America should benefit from these agreements and we will follow their developments closely—especially after the U.S. Senate approved the Trade Promotion Authority which gave U.S. President Barack Obama the authority to negotiate trade agreements to present them to Congress to either accept them or reject without amendments. We have also been following the mid-term elections in Mexico. The National Electoral Institute (INE) reported that the election held on June 7, 2015, was the most competitive mid-term election in history resulting in a Chamber of Deputies with no absolute majority. Despite some concerns before the election, the highest number of voters since 1997 went to the polls. We wish the best to the future governors, legislators and mayors in our neighboring country and reiterate our commitment to keep working together for a stronger North America. One example of a successful collaboration with local authorities is the one established between the USMCOC and Phoenix, Arizona. Mayor Greg Stanton has led a dozen trade missions to Mexico and has played an important role in increasing Arizona exports to Mexico by 22 percent in 2014 over 2013. During the first quarter of 2015, exports grew by 28 percent. You will find more details about Phoenix on a range of topics in this issue.

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For advertising inquiries, contact: Rafael López rafa.lopez@multicolorig.com Executive Director PROMEXE Gabriela Kenny gabriela.kenny@usmcoc.org Director of Communications Cecilia López ceci.lopez@usmcoc.org Publishing Manager ALLIANCE is a quarterly publication of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and Promotora Mexicana de Ediciones S.A. de C.V. (PROMEXE), for the binational enterprise sector. Mexico office: Av. Jose Maria Chavez No. 3408, Ciudad Industrial; Aguascalientes, Ags., Mexico (www.promexe.com). United States office: United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, 5510 Cherokee Ave. Ste. 120, Alexandria, VA 22313-2320. Mailing address: P.O. Box 14414, Washington, D.C. 20044. Printed by Multicolor Gran Formato, S.A. de C.V. Av. Jose Maria Chavez No. 3408, Ciudad Industrial; Aguascalientes, Ags., Mex. Specifications: Total production, 3,000 units; covers: couche paper 135 grs; Varnish UV. Interiors: couche paper 135 grs. Impression: offset full color. The views expressed in this magazine are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, its members or supporters. Our goal is to present a broad range of perspectives on shared bilateral issues.

Also in this edition, you will find an interviews with Dr. Jesús Reyes-Heroles, president of EnergeA, who shared his viewpoints on the significance of the energy reform in Mexico and Marco Jimenez, CEO of Softtek, discusses how the cloud has changed the way to conduct business. Additionally, Carlos de Regules, executive director of Mexico’s National Agency for Security, Energy and Environment (ASEA) provides an overview of the newly created agency including its challenges and objectives. Sally Spencer from the International Boundary and Water Commission describes the cooperative efforts by Mexico and the U.S. in response to the recent drought. Another important contribution to this issue comes from the office of the Texas Land Commission, our partner and the host of the Border Energy Forum, an important event by and for those involved in the energy industry. The forum will take place October 14-16, 2015, in San Diego, California. We thank our collaborators, sponsors, members and friends for their contributions to this edition.

Un abrazo.

Albert Zapanta President & CEO

Contents / Contenido

CONTENTS 04 /

CHAPTER OFFICES OFICINAS DEL CAPÍTULO

20 /

BINATIONAL EVENT / EVENTO BINACIONAL Chamber holds Annual Conference and Good Neighbor Awards Gala

05 /

OF INTEREST / DE INTERÉS Mexico´s Financial Reform

24/

06 /

ADVERTORIAL PUBLIRREPORTAJE

Energy Mexico 2016

08 /

09 /

OF INTEREST / DE INTERÉS

30/

CHAPTER ACTIVITIES / ACTIVIDADES DEL CAPÍTULO

44/

SPECIAL FEATURE / CARACTERÍSTICA ESPECIAL

Mexican Stock Exchange Selects NASDAQ Smarts to Supervise MarKet

Border Energy Forum 2015

50 /

ADVERTORIAL PUBLIRREPORTAJE

UPDATE / ACTUALIZACIÓN Mexico Midterm Elections Results – June 2015

Border Philanthropy Partnership Facilitates Binational Charitable Giving

10 /

COVER / PORTADA

Phoenix Connecting the Americas

U.S. and Mexico Cooperate in Response to Drought The Initial Challenge of the National Agency for Security, Energy and Environment

OF INTEREST / DE INTERÉS

NMSU Leads Economic Development Efforts

56 /

INTERVIEW / ENTREVISTA Dr. Jesús Reyes-Heroles

11 /

ADVERTORIAL PUBLIRREPORTAJE

60 /

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS / MIEMBRO DESTACADO

62 /

UPCOMING EVENTS PRÓXIMOS EVENTOS

64 /

NEW MEMBERS / MEMBER DISCOUNTS

¿Cuándo me aplica la residencia fiscal en USA?

12 /

OF INTEREST / DE INTERÉS Areas of Mutual Cooperation Between Mexico and the UK Commentary on Tax Issues of the Mexican Energy Reform

16 /

TECHNOLOGY / TECNOLOGÍA Energy Competition Spurs Business Opportunities in Texas The Cloud: The Path to Disruptive Innovation

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CHAPTER OFFICES THE AMBASSADOR OF GOOD BUSINESS www.usmcoc.org Al Zapanta President & CEO zapantaz@usmcoc.org (469) 567-0921 F: (703) 642-1088

Joe Chapa Vice-President International Trade Development Centers jrchapa@usmcoc.org (469) 567-0922 F: (703) 642-1088

Gabriela Kenny Director of Communications gabriela.kenny@usmcoc.org (469) 567-0923 F: (703) 642-1088

Binational Headquarters / Oficinas Generales 6800 Versar Center. Ste. 450 Springfield, VA 22151 Mail to: P.O. Box 14414, Washington, D.C. 20044

California Regional Chapter Los Angeles, CA Jim MacLellan President Marlen Marroquin Executive Director 1800 Century Park East Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA 90067 (310) 598-4188 marlen@usmcocca.org

Mid-America Chapter Chicago, IL Gery Chico President Blanca Berthier Executive Director Blue Cross Blue Shield Building 300 E. Randolph Dr. 49th floor Chicago, Il 60601 (312) 729-1355 / (312) 729-1356 F: (312) 729 1354 blanca.berthier@usmcoc.org

Aguascalientes Chapter Aguascalientes, Ags. Jaime del Conde Ugarte Presidente Rodolfo Rodríguez Casillas Executive Director Av. Independencia 1602 Col. Fátima Aguascalientes, Ags. (449) 914-6863 y (449) 153-3553 www.usmcocags.com.mx

Noreste Chapter Monterrey, N.L. Dr. Eric W. Gustafson President Roberto Fuerte Executive Director Av. Fundidora No. 501. Edificio Cintermex P.B. Local 114 Col. Obrera Monterrey, N.L. 64010 (81) 8191-7800 rfuerte@usmcocmtymx.org rfuerte@gmail.com

Inter-American Chapter Miami, FL David B. Rosemberg President Ruth Martinez Executive Director 2 S. Biscayne Blvd 21st Floor, Suite 2100, Miami, FL 33131 (786) 631-4179 interamerican@usmcocfl.org

Northeast Chapter New York, NY Eduardo Ramos-Gómez President Alejandro Ramos Executive Director 1540 Broadway, Suite 1400 New York, NY. 10036-4086 (212) 471-4703 F: (212) 471-4701 alejandro@usmcocne.org

Golfo Chapter Veracruz, Ver. Andres Quiala President Jorge Alejandro Vega Executive Director Simon Bolivar no. 705. casi esquina con España. Despacho 3 Colonia Zaragoza C.P. 91910 Veracruz, Ver. México (229) 937-0598 F: (229) 100-3857 naftaforum@gmail.com aquiala@usmcoc.org

Inter-Mountain Chapter, Salt Lake City, Utah Keith Atkinson Executive Director Daniel Leifson Assistant Executive Director: 1123 Sandtrap Circle North Salt Lake City Utah, 84054 (801) 200 4714 keithjatkinson@yahoo.com

International Trade Development and Assistance Center Joe Chapa Executive Director 207 Mandalay Canal Irving, TX 75039 (469) 567-0922 jrchapa@usmcoc.org

Mid-Atlantic Chapter Washington, D.C. Vacant Trade Representative 6800 Versar Center, Suite 450 Springfield, VA 22151 (703) 752-4752 F: (703) 642-1088 gabriela.kenny@usmcoc.org

Pacific Northwest Chapter Seattle, WA Luis Morris Velarde President 15100 S.E. 38th Street # 728 Bellevue, WA 98006-1765 (253) 678-7696 lmorris@usmcocnw.org

Guanajuato Chapter León, Gto. Antonio Vargas Navarro President Sergio Ponce López Executive Director Blvd. Campestre No. 1215, Int. 12 Col. Panorama León, Gto. 37160 (477) 779-5670 sergio.ponce@usmcoc.org www.usmcocgto.org www.cplb.org

Southwest Chapter Dallas, TX Vincent Chapa President Josie Orosco Executive Director 901 Main Street, 44th. Floor Dallas, TX 75202 (214) 651-4300 / (817) 881 0264 F: (214) 747 1994 swusmx@netzero.com

Michoacan Chapter Morelia, Mich. Nick Ortiz President nick.ortiz@usmcoc.org Lucy Chávez Executive Director usmcocmich@gmail.com Melo 166-B Morelia Michoacan C.P. 58000 (443) 353-2927 https://sites.google.com/site/ usmcocmco/

Houston-The Woodlands-Gulf Coast Chapter, Houston, TX Julie Charros-Betancor President Pete Garcia Executive Director 2211 Norfolk St. Suite 520 Houston, TX 77098 (713) 854-1577 pete@chambergc.org

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Pacífico Chapter Guadalajara, Jal. Francisco Castellanos President Daniel Nuño Trade Representative (33) 1813-1400 pacifico@usmcoc.org guadalajara@usmcoc.org

Puebla Chapter Puebla, Pue. Fernando A. Treviño President Vidaur Mora Executive Director 31 Poniente No. 4128 9º Piso Letra A Col. Ampliación Reforma Puebla, Pue. 72160 (222) 249-8828 F: 222) 249-2361 puebla@usmcocpue.org

Querétaro Chapter Querétaro, Qro. Mónica López Trade Representative queretaro@usmcoc.org

Valle de México Chapter Mexico City Jose Garcia Torres President Claudia Vidal Executive Director Av. Insurgentes Sur 1605 Torre Mural, Piso 25, Mod. 3 Col. San José Insurgentes Benito Juárez, 03900. México, D.F. (55) 5662-6103 F: (55) 5683-2700 c_vidal@usmcoc.org

Of Interest / De Interés

Mexico’s Financial Reform: Improvements to the Bank Deposit Insurance System

By Lorenzo J. Meade Kuribreña, Executive Secretary (CEO) of the IPAB, Mexico’s Deposit Insurance System.

he Institute for the Protection of Bank Savings (IPAB), established in 1999 by the Bank Savings Protection Act, introduced the first explicit Deposit Insurance System (DIS) for bank savings in Mexico. Since its creation, and for more than 15 years, the regulation of the bank savings protection system has been strengthened through three successive stages. The first reform, completed in 2004 when the Prompt Corrective Actions came into effect, allowed financial authorities to quickly identify banks with serious financial problems in order to require the implementation of corrective measures. In 2006, the Bank Resolutions scheme established the mechanisms to orderly and efficiently resolve failed banks at the least possible cost. Recently, the Financial Reform enacted in 2014 improved the IPAB’s resolution tools for insolvent banks. The reform combined the experience accumulated by Mexico’s financial authorities over the years with the best international practices developed within the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI). Additionally, the IPAB signed Memoranda of Understanding with other deposit insurers including the United States’ Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, among others, in order to share expertise about deposit insurance and bank resolutions. One of the main improvements of Mexico’s Financial Reform of 2014 is the establishment of a specialized liquidation scheme for insolvent banks (when its liabilities are greater than its assets) known as Judicial Bank Liquidation. This scheme replaces the bankruptcy process previously detailed in the bankruptcy law, Ley de Concursos Mercantiles.

The new program establishes clearlydefined actions and timeframes for the main stages of the liquidation process, maximizing the recovery on assets due to the prompt disposition of assets to benefit bank stakeholders, both creditors and depositors with savings that exceed the coverage limit. The Judicial Bank Liquidation scheme minimizes the possible fiscal cost of a bank resolution and provides adequate transparency through supervision by a federal judge. The Financial Reform also eliminated the requirement to file a deposit reimbursement form which means that depositors receive their insured deposits in an automated, safe, and expeditious manner. The payment of insured deposits is based on the information on the failed bank’s databases. Additionally, the reform expanded IPAB’s supervision powers and enabled it to fine banks that fail to comply with the deposit insurance regulations. These improvements to the legal framework allowed IPAB to efficiently address the insolvency of Banco Bicentenario, the first banking failure in Mexico in the last 20 years. It is noteworthy that the Financial Reform enabled IPAB to pay over 95 percent of insured deposits during the first week of the liquidation process. The recent international financial crisis and the constant evolution of increasingly complex and interconnected financial markets have underscored the need for continuous monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the necessary adjustments to the banking and deposit insurance systems. As a result, IPAB has solidified its position as insurer of Mexico’s bank deposits and as leader of international best practices, empowered to fulfill its mandate: protecting the bank savings of Mexican families.

Alliance

One of the main improvements of Mexico’s Financial Reform of 2014 is the establishment of a specialized liquidation scheme for insolvent banks (when its liabilities are greater than its assets).

Advertorial / Publirreportaje

Energy Mexico 2016: The Door to the New Mexican Energy Market

he Mexican energy reform has taken off. The official start became a reality with changes to the Constitution, secondary laws and regulations across the sector. On July 15, 2015, the first 14 exploration and production (E&P) blocks of Round One will be assigned to the winning bidders. These companies and consortia will carry out the first private E&P activity since the nationalization of the oil industry in 1938.

well as power, with a specific focus on upstream, midstream, downstream and retail. Second, it will combine a worldclass industry exhibit with an internationallevel conference, the latter with the support of Energy Intelligence Group, Inc. (EIG), a global leader in energy market intelligence and creators of the annual Oil & Money Conference.

Two more bidding rounds are already under way and results should be finalized before the end of 2015. At the same time, private investors are applying for permits to build new electric generation capacity to sell in a new open marketplace.

EIG’s presence will ensure that the conference agenda of Energy Mexico 2016 will have a good balance of national and international perspectives, helping attendees not only understand the new Mexican market, but to put it in a global industry context. The conference will also have a specific focus on the financial aspects of the energy sector, including financing solutions for new projects.

This is the reality of the new Mexican energy market: a panorama teeming with opportunities for the taking. Even though economic ties between the U.S. and Mexico have been extremely close for decades, many American companies never imagined the possibility of entering the Mexican energy sector. Today, their expansion strategies must take into account the considerable market and huge resource potential south of the border. The objective is not only to compete in Mexico, but to have the resources required to win.

For more information, including sponsorships is available at www.energymexico.mx or follow the event on Facebook: EnergyMxOilGasPower Twitter: @Energy_Mex and #EnergyMX2016

In this context, there is a need for platforms that enable companies to take advantage of all the opportunities afforded by the historic opening of Mexico’s energy industry. This is why a company like EnergeA—one of the foremost Mexican energy-project development firms—has teamed up with global event specialists E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc. to organize the first world-class event focused on the energy sector that is being coordinated by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs: Energy Mexico 2016, Oil + Gas + Power. Energy Mexico 2016 will be an unparalleled event in the Mexican energy field for several other reasons. First, it will be the first large-scale event to focus on all subsectors of the energy market: oil and gas, as 06

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Under the title “Global Solutions for the Development of New Energy Markets in Mexico,” the inaugural conference will be a valuable meeting point for national and international business leaders, authorities, regulators, and specialists. As a testament of the value of Energy Mexico 2016 to the nation’s energy sector, the Mexican Ministry of Energy has fully endorsed the event. Designed with a business-to-business mindset, its 75,000-square-foot exhibition floor will house more than 250 national and foreign industry-leading companies. Energy Mexico 2016 will be a unique gateway to access the opportunities of the Mexican energy markets. The event will be held January 26-28, 2016 at the Centro Banamex conference center in Mexico City.

Of Interest / De Interés

MEXICAN STOCK EXCHANGE SELECTS NASDAQ SMARTS TO SUPERVISE MARKET

By Communications Sub-Department of BMV Group

onvinced that technological innovation is fundamental to the healthy development of the stock markets worldwide, stock exchanges are seeking new technologies that will allow them to exist in large markets. For this reason, the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) recently announced a trade licensing agreement with NASDAQ OMX Group Inc., to use SMARTS, the leading platform in market oversight systems. This system was created by one of the leading suppliers of technology used by stock markets worldwide. Its tools which are used in more than 70 markets in 50 countries across six continents provide a portfolio of the latest-generation technology solutions. The BMV’s migration of its own oversight system in real-time to the SMARTS technology will strengthen the real-time monitoring of the capitals market, thereby ensuring due compliance with international standards in its different processes.

Díez also added that, “through the adoption of this technology, the BMV will remain in the forefront of the services it offers to the general investing public by enhancing transparency, ethics and security with the support of a world-class system.” One of the most important characteristics of this platform is that SMARTS offers scalability that will enable BMV to move forward in accordance with the projected growth of the operating capacity of its markets in a simple way and without having to make large investments. This means that advances will be seen in the short-, medium- and long-term. Moreover, Lars Ottersgard, the vice president, chief executive and markets technology director of NASDAQ, commented that, “Supporting the Mexican Stock Exchange is an opportunity of which NASDAQ is very proud.

The capital market oversight tasks will be consolidated with the new implementation of the SMARTS system, as well as increase the efficiency and efficacy of the processes.

“One of the most important responsibilities of any stock exchange is to maintain a transparent, open, and fair market that is highly monitored and operated with integrity. We hope to continue working with the BMV as it continues to work under these principles and focuses its efforts on market oversight.”

“SMARTS strengthens the ability of BMV to oversee transactions in our market and identify those processes that are contrary to sound market practices in the international environment,” explained Pedro Díez, Market Surveillance Director of BMV

In this way, the Mexican securities market continues to modernize its technical infrastructure to strengthen its operating and post-negotiation services, but, above all, to reaffirm the position of leadership to which the Mexican Stock Exchange is firmly committed.

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Advertorial / Publirreportaje

BORDER PHILANTHROPY PARTNERSHIP FACILITATES BINATIONAL CHARITABLE GIVING

oes your business support nonprofit organizations on both sides of the border? Do you know how to navigate the legal and fiscal requirements? The U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP) does and is ready to help you identify credible organizations worthy of your support.

Louis Escareño, general counsel , Duty Free Americas / UETA & BPP Board Member, and Andy Carey, BPP executive director at the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C.

Our mission is to support a network of more than 220 organizations that build prosperity through leadership, collaboration, and philanthropy in the U.S.-Mexico Border region. Our members include academic, business and corporate partners, foundations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The 12-member board of directors and five staff members of BPP have more than 300 years’ experience leading nonprofits in the binational border region. BPP is the only binational, incorporated nonprofit organization promoting philanthropy along and across the 2,000-mile border region. Since 2008, we have cemented the foundation for increased charitable giving in the border by:

Andy Carey, BPP executive director giving a presentation on U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy before the Binational Board of Directors of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber annual meeting in Washington, D.C. in May 2015.

Contact us at info@borderpartnership.org to learn how we can inform and support your charitable giving in the U.S.-Mexico Border.

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Providing education and training opportunities to over 7,000 board and staff leaders in the 10 U.S. and Mexico border states on governance, development, communications, volunteerism, and cross-cultural understanding;

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Supporting the legal transfer of over $700,000 between the U.S. and Mexico in support of nonprofit organizations in the region;

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Granting over $150,000 in technical assistance funds to support the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors with strategic planning, governance, and resource development in U.S. and Mexico;

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Providing organizational coaching to nearly 100 nonprofit organizations in both countries to support challenges and craft solutions to issues facing their institutions; and

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Launching www.procapacidad.org to support the emerging nonprofit sector in Mexico by providing critical tools and resources to strengthen its ability to achieve their local missions of achieving 210,000 visits and over 100,000 downloads in just 18 months to benefit organizations all across Mexico.

usmbpp BorderBuzz www.borderpartnership.org

Alliance

Of Interest / De Interés

NMSU Leads Economic Development Efforts By Garrey Carruthers, Ph.D., President, New Mexico State University

n the classroom, in the laboratory and out in the community, New Mexico State University has the power to transform lives through discovery: We help our students discover their future; our researchers discover important advancements in science, engineering and other fields; and through various outreach programs, we work to discover and address the needs of our state. By tying these efforts together, we’re also able to do something more—transform lives through enhanced economic development, not just for our local community, but for the entire region. NMSU’s Arrowhead Center serves as the university’s engine for economic development. It was founded to help small businesses at all stages get established and grow by offering important resources, connections and expertise. Because it is part of NMSU, Arrowhead Center values working with students, researchers and the community outside of campus in its efforts to promote economic activity. Arrowhead Center gives students who come from around New Mexico—and the world—the opportunity to work with real businesses to learn firsthand about

economic development issues and solutions and to gain the experience necessary to be successful when they leave the university. Arrowhead Center has also established services to help university researchers as well as start-ups and entrepreneurs pioneer new technologies, businesses and partnerships. These efforts can be transported in both directions across international boundaries. That’s why I believe it’s fundamental for the United States to work to better engage with our friends in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America. Our nations have many things in common, not just our proximity. Our people speak the same languages, share the same values and have the same entrepreneurial spirit. By working together, we can make economic development advancements that benefit everyone. We can work to leverage the business and academic interests on both sides of the border. There is also much promise in exchanging faculty and students between U.S. institutions and the fine universities in Mexico. This will allow us to better engage with the business community in Mexico

to further promote entrepreneurship, develop intellectual property, and commercialize technologies. The U.S. can also learn a lot from Mexico in terms of international trade and developing business opportunities with the rest of Latin America. I serve as co-chair of the Borderplex Alliance, a nonprofit organization that works to maintain a healthy economy on both sides of the border by recruiting businesses and industry to our international region which includes El Paso, Texas, Southern New Mexico, and the state of Chihuahua. The group advises businesses interested in relocating or expanding their operations in the region. The work done by this group can be a blueprint for how the public and private sector on both sides of the border can work together to enhance economic opportunity. Our nations are side by side. It only makes sense for us to work together to further economic development regardless of geographic and political boundaries. By our combined efforts we can further transform lives through discovery.

On February 18, 2015, New Mexico State University and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and U.S.– Mexico Cultural & Educational Foundation signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the objective of creating a formal relationship between the parties to advance sustainable economic development, build a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, promote technologies supporting all industries, cultivate resources and opportunities in education and training, and enhance diversity across the border region, and Americas. By this agreement, the parties will assist individuals, companies, and communities overcome a host of challenges and take advantage of opportunities, making North America more globally competitive.

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Advertorial / Publirreportaje

¿CUÁNDO ME APLICA LA RESIDENCIA FISCAL EN USA? Sin duda estas y muchas otras preguntas pueden ser generadas a lo largo del proceso de emprender en USA. Es importante entender que la residencia fiscal en USA no necesariamente tiene que ver con la residencia migratoria es decir es posible que un individuo pueda tener una visa de turista pero sin saberlo se pudo haber convertido en residente fiscal en USA, mucho de lo anterior radica en la prueba sustantiva de número de días que la persona haya estado en USA de tal forma que la fórmula de aplicación es la siguiente: El número de días de estancia en USA del tercer año multiplicado por 1/6 El número de días de estancia en

USA del penúltimo año multiplicado por 1/3 El número de días de estancia en USA del año anterior multiplicado por 100% Si el resultado de esta fórmula genera más de 183 días entonces el individuo se convertiría en residente fiscal de USA y por consiguiente el ser residente fiscal implica el acumular todos los ingresos que haya generado en cualquier parte del mundo así como informar de aquellas cuentas bancarias del extranjero (fuera de USA) a su nombre o que sea co-titular o firme en dichas cuentas bancarias de la misma forma tendrá que informar los estados financieros de as empresas de las cuales es socio en un mas de 10% convertidos a USGAAP. Las multas y los envios tardíos de

la información a la autoridad hacendaria (IRS) es muy costoso por lo que es muy importante asesorarse debidamente para el correcto cumplimiento de las obligaciones fiscales. Para efecto de la residencia fiscal el número de días es importante. Las otras tres alternativas por las cuales la residencia fiscal aplica es cuando el individuo es ciudadano de USA, residente permanente (Green Card) o que voluntariamente decida aplicar la residencia fiscal independientemente de su condición migratoria. Afortunadamente USA y México mantienen un convenio para evitar la doble tributación donde más reglas relativo a esto podría aplicar a cada caso en particular.

Photo Credit: Roger Alarcón.

Areas of Mutual Cooperation Between Mexico and the UK Action items announced during Peña Nieto’s State visit By Yves Hayaux du Tilly

Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto paid a state visit to the United Kingdom in March as a guest of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The visit was in conjunction with 2015 being designated as the Year of Mexico in the UK. The trip was an opportunity to reaffirm and renew the relationship and mutual commitments between the two countries. It also strengthened the two countries’ cooperation in international matters and confirmed that the bilateral relations are at a high point. Furthermore, the state visit helped identify new areas of collaboration between the governments, businesses and civil society’s organizations. SUMMARY OF ISSUES AND ACTIONS Some of the most relevant decisions and outcomes of the state visit are: • The High-Level Economic Talks and Trade Task Force will continue to work together. The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico and HM Treasury will engage in knowledge sharing, infrastructure investment, and insurance services to promote and increase bilateral trade and economic growth. • Both countries acknowledged the importance of developing common global standards and sharing best practices to increase transparency and accountability in the use of natural resources. They will also share information and expertise about complying with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

• Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills established a visiting chair position funded by the joint UK-Mexico Newton Fund of approximately $34 million. The three-year position is a platform for cooperation in research and innovation and will facilitate academic mobility for both countries’ universities. • Mexico and the UK signed the Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Awards, Titles, Diplomas and Academic Degrees which will benefit approximately 170,000 individuals. • The Foreign and Commonwealth Office increased the number of Chevening

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scholarships granted to Mexican students from 20 to 100 students. The Mexican government granted 20 annual scholarships to British students. • The United Kingdom is the most important European tourism market for Mexico, while Mexico is the UK’s second most-visited country in Latin America. Due to the importance of tourism and its economic and social impacts, a Specific Programme of Cooperation 2015-2016 was signed by the Secretariat of Tourism and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The agreement will strengthen bilateral cooperation in many sectors including training and education.

Of Interest / De Interés

• The Mexican Ministry of Energy and the Department for Energy and Climate Change signed a memorandum of understanding to promote and encourage companies and academic institutions to work together to meet the shared challenges of energy reform in Mexico and the transition to a low carbon. • Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) and the UK Export Credits Guarantee Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a new credit line worth up to $1 billion to finance capital goods and services supplied by businesses in the United Kingdom. The funds will assist the Mexican energy sector as well as PEMEX. • PEMEX and the University of Aberdeen signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build capacity, support

academic exchange, and strengthen the relationship between the University of Aberdeen and PEMEX University. • The Mexican Secretariat of Government and the UK’s Home Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will ensure best practices and cooperation on issues of safety including cyber security, policing, child protection and justice, police training, and information sharing to support reform of the justice system in Mexico. • The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to design a new agreement that would limit climate change under the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change and adopt such an agreement at the 21st Conference of the Parties Convention in Paris, France, in December 2015. They also agreed

to work jointly to promote a transition to a low-carbon economy that is resilient to climate change and to continue their joint efforts for sustainable urban development. • Mexico and the United Kingdom agreed to work together to prepare for the Global Summit of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to be held in Mexico in October 2015. Both countries understand that open government and accountability are critical for development and plan to implement their respective current OGP National Action Plans. In this regard, they committed to transparent dialogue and tackling corruption pursuant to the G20 and UN Convention Against Corruption. By promoting the OGP internationally and domestically, the countries are making a strong statement about addressing these challenges at all levels of government.

YVES HAYAUX DU TILLY IS A PARTNER AT THE MEXICAN LAW FIRM OF NADER, HAYAUX & GOEBEL, S.C. AND HEAD IF ITS LONDON OFFICE. HE IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE MEXICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Alliance

Of Interest / De Interés

COMMENTARY ON TAX ISSUES OF THE MEXICAN ENERGY REFORM

he energy reform resulting from the December reform (exploration and production, license, profit2013 amendments to the Mexican Constitution that sharing, production-sharing and service contracts), shall allow the participation of the private sector in the be required to make the following types of payments to oil and gas market, once again changed the paradigm the government. Payments may vary depending on the of the energy industry in Mexico. This is probably the contract: most important reform to the industry since the 1938 expropriation by President Lázaro Cardenas. • A signing bonus; Mexico’s tax system was not designed to tax • A contractual quota for the exploratory phase; private companies engaged in the exploration and and extraction of hydrocarbons. Since the principle that hydrocarbons obtained from Mexican soil are owned • Royalties; and a payment consisting of by the Mexican state remains in place, there was a percentage of the contract value of the need to create a structure requiring companies hydrocarbons produced. to make payments from revenue derived from the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons. In Assignment holders are also required to make other addition, the onerous tax structure that applied to types of payments to the government. PEMEX was in urgent need of replacement with one that affords PEMEX, now a state productive In addition to the payments listed above, contract company, a more flexible taxation applicable to holders are subject to the general corporate income the private sector. tax which is applicable to companies at a rate of 30 percent. Dividends paid to Mexican individuals and To upgrade the Mexican tax laws and nonresident shareholders are subject to an additional to address the issues previously income tax withholding of 10 percent. described, on August 11, 2014, the Hydrocarbons Revenue Law was The Hydrocarbons Revenue Law includes some published. Among other things, this changes to the general income tax rules such as the new law sets forth the rules under establishment of different deduction schedules for which the private sector and the certain types of investments, and, in certain cases, State Productive Companies contract holders engaged in deep-water activities can make payments from revenues apply their tax loss carry-forward for 15 years instead of associated with contracts or applying the standard 10-year rule. This new law also assignments, to the Mexican includes a broader definition of what activities constitute federal government through a permanent establishment. With respect to the valuethe newly-formed Mexican added tax, there are no cash flow disadvantages since Petroleum Fund. the Hydrocarbons Revenue Law provides that payments to be made by contract holders to the Mexican state These assignments shall only shall be subject to a zero percent value-added tax rate. be granted to PEMEX or other state productive companies. In Due to the novelty of these rules, it is still to be seen general terms, holders of the new how certain aspects will be construed by the Mexican contracts allowed by the energy tax authorities and courts.

Roberto Arena (rarena@gardere.com) and Fernando Camarena (fcamarena@gardere.com) are partners of the tax section of Gardere, Arena y Asociados, S.C., the Mexico City office of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP.

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UNITED STATES-‐MEXICO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CÁMARA DE COMERCIO MÉXICO-‐ESTADOS UNIDOS

SECOND NORTH AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT “TRADE REGIMES OF THE AMERICAS” Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas at Las Colinas ! August 24, 2015

Following our First North American Sustainable Economic Development Summit held in August of 2014, this year’s event will focus on “Trade Regimes of the Americas.” The way trade is conducted in the Western Hemisphere continues to evolve, and the initiatives of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) continue to bring together the economies of the United States, Mexico, Canada and the region. Now the world’s largest free trade regime connecting 450 million people producing $17 trillion worth of goods and services annually, North America stands to benefit greatly with the potential implementation of the Trans-‐Pacific Partnership and the Trans-‐Atlantic Partnership, which are currently being debated and negotiated.

Topics in this year’s summit include:

• • • • •

Trade Regimes in The Americas Multimodal Transportation Infrastructure and Sustainability Energy IT Innovation and Cybersecurity

Invited Keynote Speakers ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

José Angel Gurría, secretary general, Organization for Economic Co-‐operation and Development Greg Abbott, governor of the State of Texas Miguel Márquez Márquez, governor of the State of Guanajuato Ildefonso Guajardo, Secretary of Economy of Mexico Cecilia Alvarez-‐Correa, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism of Colombia Magali Silva, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru Luis Felipe Céspedes, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism of Chile George P. Bush, commissioner, Texas General Land Office Guillermo E. Rishchynski, ambassador and permanent representative of Canada to the United Nations Amb. Juan Sosa, Consul General from Panama in Houston Richard Fisher, former president of the Federal Bank Reserve in Dallas

Sponsorship opportunities available

For more information go to usmcoc.org or email info@usmcoc.org

Technology / Tecnología

Energy Competition Spurs Business Opportunities in Texas By Rebecca A. Klein It’s not often that 20 energy-related companies and organizations come together to try and find solutions to a common, yet complicated problem: How to best manage disposal of waste water produced by hydraulic fracturing. These entities include primary power-generating and, transmission companies, municipal utilities, and consumers of large amounts of electricity. These companies have come together as members of Power Across Texas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (www.poweracrosstexas.org), whose mission is to “advance the understanding and conversation on issues critical to the industry through helping to find solutions, learning from experts and exchanging information, and networking and connecting with peers and policymakers.” 3rd Biennial Texas Innovation Challenge One of the programs initiated by Power Across Texas is the Texas Energy Innovation Challenge (TEIC), an annual competition comprised of teams of graduate students from interdisciplinary fields of study from Texas’s premiere universities. Team members spend an academic year focusing their efforts on developing innovative and significant solutions to energy issues in the state.

and production to unleashing domestic energy resources, particularly from unconventional resources. As fracking escalates throughout Texas and other states, the use of water also increases. Finding commercially viable solutions for managing or utilizing water produced by fracking wells that can lessen production costs or provide additional streams of revenue, is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for our oil and gas industries as well as other industry sectors. Benefits to Other Businesses Why are other businesses interested in this issue? Although Power Across Texas members are a diverse mix of companies, they are all affected greatly by the price of natural gas. In the electric power market across ERCOT, wholesale natural gas generation prices contribute to the market pricing of electricity. On one hand, low-fuel supply costs create opportunities to pass on savings to customers and rate payers. On the other hand, higher gas prices provide financial resources that enable power companies the capability for more generation to keep up with our ever-increasing demand for electricity. Moreover, the stakeholders in the power industry are, like their oil and gas brethren, marginal users of water. Everyone in Texas wants to ensure we maintain affordable and reliable water sources.

The charge of the 3rd Biennial Texas Innovation Challenge was to “research, evaluate and develop the most creative and economic use for water produced from hydraulic fracturing of wells, whether that solution includes recycling, disposal Team Reports or discharge.” Each team is paired with a mentor company to ensure their technology proposals are workable, pragmatic and fit the realities of the industry. Competing teams describe their results through oral and written presentations to a prestigious panel of judges held at the Texas State Capitol, enabling the students to interact with elected and appointed officials in our state government that have a vested interested in helping usher in the future of Texas energy. The winning team receives a $10,000 scholarship. A Growing Problem Water is key in terms of costs

Interested in these innovative business opportunities? Below are the teams’ reports which are available online at www.poweracrosstexas.org/2015-tx-energy-innovation-challenge. 1st Place: University of Houston:

“GeoThermH2O: From Produced Water to Producing Water.” 2nd Place: Texas Tech University: “Waste to Wealth: Reducing the Water Footprint of

the Oil and Gas Industry.”

3rd Place: University of Texas at Austin

“Frac Flowback Water Opportunity Across the Eagle Ford Shale.” 4th Place: University of Texas at El Paso

“Evaluation of produced waters in the Permian Basin for economic development including water treatment and potential mineral commodity mining processes.” 5th Place: Texas A&M University “Texas Energy Competition 2015 Report.”

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Technology / Tecnología

THE CLOUD The Path to Disruptive Innovation By Marcos Jimenez CEO Softtek North America

hen cloud services emerged, businesses envisioned the technology as a way to reduce costs by streamlining their operations. However, as we better understood the cloud and its benefits, we began to see it for what it really is: an innovative and disruptive technology. Cloud applications changed the way we do business while at the same time provided opportunities to streamline operations. In response, we got creative. Instead of simply asking how the cloud could save us money, we wanted to understand how the cloud could transform our companies into more competitive and lucrative businesses. Any business owner knows that data is critical to the company’s growth. Understanding consumers’ patterns—what motivates them, their purchasing patterns—can make or break a business. The challenge, however, has always been in mining available data to extract the truly valuable information. Before cloud technology became widely accessible, companies relied heavily on IT departments to provide the data and then other team members would analyze the information. This system was effective for decades but organizations were limited in how fast they could access and process the data. Now, due to cloud technology, that same data is readily available and accessible from anywhere in the world. Another major change is a shift in resources. Companies now look to third-party providers with cutting-edge services that can supply much more

The cloud has transitioned from a source of cost savings to one of great innovation. As we learn more about the applications of the cloud, we are able to produce creative solutions and design cuttingedge applications to grow and develop our businesses.

information about consumers than was previously available, e.g. they can scan millions of social media posts and instantly describe the overall sentiment of a company’s customers. These vendors have also displaced other functions of in-house IT departments. They can install, configure and tailor software applications on computers anywhere in the world from any place in the world. The cloud’s impact goes beyond software and data access—it has changed how companies do business in almost every industry. For example, a major fitness company uses the cloud to provide services to their customers through a cloud-based mobile application. Users can schedule fitness classes, track progress, and find club locations. Local or regional companies have used the cloud to expand globally and make their businesses more agile, responsive, and flexible. The cloud has also leveled the playing field for smaller companies. Resources and technologies that were once only available to industry giants are now within reach of any company, allowing for disruptive competition for companies of any size. Although the cloud has already transformed the way so many organizations operate, we have only begun to understand its potential. With the shift from the traditional massive computer servers to the expansion of the cloud, companies have grown their operations more than they ever thought possible. How are you using the cloud for your organization? Have you found your disruption?

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CHAMBER HOLDS ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARDS GALA

l Zapanta, president & CEO of the Chamber, opened the conference by welcoming the attendees and thanking Benjamin Boyd, co-managing partner in the Washington, D.C. office of the DLA Piper law firm, for providing the use of their Washington office meeting facilities for the conference, and then introduced the first panel of the conference.

DLA Piper Gallastegui y Lozano combines the best of a global law firm and a renowned boutique Mexican boutique firm to create a unique model based on the strengths and experiences each brings to their clients—a clear example of both global and personalized services. Our lawyers in Mexico advise a wide variety of public and private companies. We have been recognized as one of the best law firms by the Best Lawyers International rankings, with practice areas for corporate law, telecommunications, maritime law, health and commercial arbitration among others.

Immigration & Border Facilitation Once again, immigration was at the forefront of binational discussions, especially as campaigning for the 2016 U.S. presidential election begins. Meanwhile, the increase in trade among the countries of North America demands increased attention, investment, and bilateral cooperation to maintain current levels of efficiency, let alone provide the improvements that stakeholders are demanding. This panel addressed some of these issues and opened with a presentation by Dr. Marc Rosenblum, deputy director of the U.S. Immigration Program, Migration Policy Institute, followed by David Aguilar, a partner with Global Security & Intelligence Strategies; Dr. Carlos De La Parra Renteria, coordinator for Ecoparque, Colegio de la Frontera Norte; and Jason M-B Wells, executive director of San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce who provided a business and border area perspectives.

Supply Chain & Infrastructure DLA Piper, Gallastegui y Lozano Paseo de los TamarindosNo. 400 B Piso 2 Bosques de las Lomas México, D.F., C.P. 05120 T: +52+55+5261-1800 F: +52+55+5261-1860 www.dlapiper.com

This panel addressed the need for care and attention to be given to supply chain processes and necessary infrastructure to support them. José M. Garcia, a representative for Taxation and Customs Affairs in the

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Ministry of Finances of Mexico, addressed the issue from the perspective of the government of Mexico; Juan Manuel Fernandez, director of international promotion for the state of Guanajuato reported on the development of the state’s export economy over the last 20 years that grew from annual levels of about $200 million to more than $20 billion, most of which is attributed to the automotive sector; John Chrisos, vice president of American Science & Engineering (AS&E), a company that produces and markets x-ray equipment used for inspecting large vehicles and containers at the border, noted that they have been in the Mexico market for many years; and Richard Roche of Roche International, talked about the “supply chain blueprint.”

CONGRESSIONAL ROUNDTABLE & RECEPTION AT THE CAPITOL Texas Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) hosted a reception at the U.S. Capitol and greeted Chamber members and other conference attendees. Other dignitaries in attendance were Judge William S. Sessions (Rep. Sessions’ father) who mixed with the crowd and spoke about his time as director of the FBI and as U.S. District Judge, Western District of Texas in El Paso. Rep. Sessions joined Al Zapanta and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-6), chairman of House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Beto O’Rourke (TX-16) in conferring awards to visiting mayors Oscar Leeser of El Paso, Texas; Enrique Serrano-Escobar of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico; and Kenneth D. Miyagishima of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Binational Event / Evento Binacional

Energy & Transportation

Panel 3: Dr. James Boone, president, Operation Respond Institute, Inc.; Dr. José Zozaya, president and executive representative, Kansas City Southern de México; Gabriel Heller, director general of Investor Relations and Promotion, Ministry of Energy, and Stephen Molina, Counsel, Dentons US LLP and member of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.

This panel addressed the issues of energy and transportation, the pillars of sustainable economic development. Steve Molina, attorney with the Dallas and Houston offices of Dentons US LLP and a member of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, served as panel moderator and shared his observations on the development of oil industry privatizations, especially in Venezuela and Mexico.

Cyber-Security and IT Innovation The world has long been vulnerable to the forces of evil that try to harm people, assets and operations in both the private sector and public institutions.

Gabriel Heller, director general of Investor Relations and Promotion in the Ministry of Energy of Mexico, discussed the status of energy reform in the country. José Zozaya-Delano, president and executive representative of Kansas City Southern de Mexico, shared his perspective on freight movements and their development between Mexico and the U.S.

The accelerated use of, and reliance on, technology have provided many benefits and improvements to our quality of life, comfort, and wealth creation. Unfortunately, our reliance on technology has also left us defenseless against entities’ sophisticated attempts to harm, steal and destroy, creating a need for vast improvements in cyber-security. This issue was addressed by an all-star panel of experts moderated by Joe Grano, Jr., chairman and CEO of root9B Technologies, Inc.

Dr. James Boone, president of Operation Respond Institute, Inc., made the case for expansion of Operation Respond Emergency Information System (OREIS) to include the government of Mexico, U.S. environmental organizations, medical, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and public health organizations.

The participants included Marcos Jimenez, CEO of Softtek North America; William P. Crowell, partner at Alsop Louie Partners; Eduardo Cabrera, acting chief of information security for the U.S. Secret Service; and Luc Ringuette, CEO of the United States Mexico Market Exchange (UMEXX).

GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARDS GALA The USMCOC again hosted the Good Neighbor Awards Gala at the historic headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS). The traditional event caps off the annual conference and board meeting. Members of Panel 4: Luc Ringuette, UMEXX – ConnectMexico; William P. Crowell, partner Alsop Louie Partners; Eduardo E. Cabrera, acting chief information Security officer, U.S. Secret Service; Marcos Jiménez, CEO, Softtek, North America; John Harbaugh, COO, root9B LLC; and Joseph Grano, Jr, chairman and CEO, root9B Technologies, Inc.

The building is an architectural wonder, decorated with Tiffany chandeliers and ornate stained-glass windows. A formal Aztec garden adjacent to the terrace features a statue of Xochilli, the Aztec God of Flowers, guarding a blue-tiled pool. The stately elegance and majesty of the building set a dignified and graceful tone for the Gala. The evening began with a reception in the atrium where guests mingled while a mariachi provided background music, and was followed by a formal meal and the presentation in the building’s Hall of the Americas. By tradition, the ceremonies begin with the singing of the countries’ national anthems. Award-winning soprano, Susan Wheeler, performed “The Star Spangled Banner” and the Chamber’s own tenor, the talented Juan Miguel Lopez, sang “Himno Nacional de Mexico.” The performances inspire a spirit of patriotism and national pride that pervades the evening.

Al Zapanta, CEO, USMCOC; Enrique Serrano Escobar, mayor of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua; Congressman Pete Session; Judge William Sessions; Oscar Leeser, mayor of El Paso, Texas; Kenneth Miyaguishima, mayor of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Congressman Beto O’Rourke.

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Binational Event / Evento Binacional

Alfonso García Cacho (left), vice chairman of the USMCOC Mexico Committee and executive director of Mexico Cumbre de Negocios and Al Zapanta, present the governor Leadership Award to José Calzada Rovirosa, governor of the State of Querétaro.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

Following the meal, the Chamber bestows its Good Neighbor Awards to individuals, corporations and government entities whose efforts and actions contributed to improved binational relations.

Eduardo Gallástegui Armella (center), managing partner of DLA Piper Gallástegui y Lozano, during his remarks with Robert Gruendel, global co-chair of DLA Piper and Al Zapanta.

Public-Private Leadership Awardees:

Sean Reyes, attorney general of Utah.

and briefly commented on his state’s accomplishments in the areas of growth, economic development, and trade.

• Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Mexico Secretary of Tourism • Gerardo Gutierrez Candiani, president of Consejo Coordinador Empresairal • DLA Piper and Gallastegui y Lozano SC • Richard Fisher, governor and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. (Mr. Fisher’s award will be presented on August 24, 2015 during the 2nd North American Sustainable Economic Development Summit in Las ColinasIrving, TX.)

The Governor Leadership Awardees: • José Calzada Rovirosa, governor of the State of Queretaro, Mexico. In accepting his award, the governor thanked the Chamber and board for his award

• Gary Herbert, governor of Utah. Utah ’s attorney general Sean Reyes accepted the award on behalf of Gov. Herbert. (Mr. Herbert’s award will be presented October 29, 2015, during the USMCOC Binational Conference in Mexico.)

Special Recognition Awards: • Gustavo Hernandez Garcia, director general of exploration and production, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) • Raul Fernandez and Julio Fernandez of Oaxaca Aerospace (designers of modern aircraft), and Cinetransformer (creators of a mobile cinema system that fills the need of providing movies and entertainment to rural areas that do not have a local theatre).

For detailed information about the awardees, visit www.usmcoc.org/event-page/binational-board-of-directors-meeting-conference-good-neighbor-awards-gala.

Carlos Manuel Joaquín González, undersecretary of Innovation and Tourism Development receives the award on behalf of Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Mexico’s Secretary of Toursim.

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Al Zapanta with Raúl Fernández, CEO of Oaxaca Aerospace; Julio Fernández, CEO of Cinetransformer; and Eduardo Zavala Nacer, deputy director of Industrial Security and Environment Protection.

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Connecting the Americas Phoenix, Arizona envisions a bold future as a thriving trade and tech hub, and has set the ambitious goal of doubling exports by 2025. Recognizing that the City’s number one trade partner, Mexico plays an integral part in this vision for their shared region, City leaders are implementing an aggressive trade promotion effort to make that vision a reality.

ayor Stanton has led a dozen trade missions to Mexico since taking office three years ago. Chief among these missions is the October 2014 visit to Mexico City, during which the City of Phoenix partnered with the state of Arizona to open a new trade office. This milestone event, made possible by the strong commitment of the Phoenix mayor and City Council, was attended by U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne and Mexico’s Undersecretary of Foreign Relations Sergio Alcocer, among other important binational leaders. The new trade office is a manifestation of Phoenix’s efforts at “Connecting the Americas.” As a primary gateway in the north-south trade corridor linking central Mexico, the western United States and Canada, Phoenix is committed to be a critical resource for connecting two-way business opportunities for the Americas.

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Dignitaries and elected officials at the Phoenix - Zapopan MOU signing, left to right: Consul Roberto Rodríguez, Mayor Greg Stanton, Mayor Héctor Robles and Consul Susan Abeyta

The City’s investments are paying dividends. Arizona’s 2014 exports to Mexico climbed an impressive 22 percent over 2013, and the trcnd has continued with first quarter 2015 exports to Mexico rising almost 28 percent relative to first quarter 2014. Yet vast trade opportunities remained untapped. The City’s comprehensive Mexico trade strategy will accelerate growth by diversifying its strategic target markets, focusing first on Mexico City and Guadalajara, then Monterrey, Tijuana, Queretaro, Mexicali and Chihuahua. The City signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Zapopan in April 2015 to cap a successful trade mission to Jalisco. MOUs with Mexico City and Hermosillo will follow. Today, Phoenix companies can access vast export and supply chain opportunities in Mexico through the City’s Mexico Trade Representative services provided jointly by Phoenix-based Molera Alvarez, LLC and Mexico City-based Estrategia Global. These services are helping dozens of Phoenix companies in such diverse fields as aerospace, information technology, renewable energy and medical devices, seek growth opportunities in Mexico, and enabling many Mexican businesses to explore opportunities to establish a foothold in the vibrant Phoenix market. Phoenix continues to distinguish itself as an emerging leader among global cities. This past May, Mayor Stanton represented the City of Phoenix at the World Economic Forum on Latin America in the state of Quintana Roo, where he participated in a panel on “The New Urban Agenda,” along with Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angél Mancera. Also this May, through the City’s participation in the Global Cities Initiative of Brookings and JPMorgan Chase, Phoenix and its partners conceived and founded the Metro Phoenix Export Alliance (MPEXA) to support worldwide trade opportunities. To further boost two-way trade prospects with Mexico specifically, Phoenix has worked closely with Mexico’s Secretary of Economy to become one of the few select North American cities slated to host a ProMéxico office.

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World Economic Forum-Latin America 2015, Riviera Maya, Mexico

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Coworking space in Zapopan, Mexico

Phoenix , Arizona, leaders in Mexico, left to right: Councilman Michael Nowakowski, Councilwoman Kate Gallego, Mayor Greg Stanton, and Councilman Sal DiCiccio.

Given the importance universities play in developing an innovation-based economy, Phoenix, along with Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, has worked with Mexico’s National Entrepreneurship Institute (INADEM), the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey network, and private sector leaders of Mexico’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to advance student exchanges and reciprocal missions focused on promoting regional innovation and entrepreneurship. In December 2014, Phoenix established the Phoenix-Mexico Entrepreneurship Leaders Connection (ENLACE) to convene entrepreneurship leaders and startups from both markets, and the City continued this effort during its innovation-focused mission to Guadalajara in April 2015. This entrepreneurship initiative is but one example of how the relationship between Mexico and Phoenix extends beyond trade and comprises shared commitments to promote educational opportunities, cultural exchange, and a better quality of life for the region’s inhabitants. The City of Phoenix values its collaboration with Mexico in pursuing these efforts and looks forward to an ever more prosperous partnership.

Phoenix Facts With nearly 4.4 million people, Greater Phoenix is the 13th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and Phoenix is the nation’s sixth largest city. A young and diverse market with nearly 500,000 students, the region is home to several major universities and colleges. The City of Phoenix is at the center, comprising 60 percent of the metro area population with an average age of 32.6, Phoenix is a young city with new development as well as more centralized urban re-development. As the density of this urban area increases, its unique vibe remains distinctive and vibrant. Phoenix’s physical infrastructure is sophisticated and robust, allowing the city to expand at a rapid pace with plenty of capacity to support anticipated future growth.

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Phoenix By The Numbers 1.5M People 860,619 Size of the Labor Force 32.6 Median Age of Residents $294,580 Median New Family Home $185,215 Median Resale Single Family Home

Phoenix Is Invested in Business “We realized that we couldn’t build an innovation-based economy without going all-in to grow a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says Mayor Greg Stanton. “We’re combining that with investments in human capital, a concentrated effort to increase our region’s exports, and by leveraging public-private partnerships to improve our competitive position. It’s not just good policy, it’s good business.” “We’re proud to call Phoenix home for the aerospace division,” says Tim Mahoney, president and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace. “From the outstanding pipeline of local university talent to the area’s highly capable, willing and progressive workforce, the Valley of the Sun is a great place to pursue the possibilities of flight innovation.” In addition to its wellestablished aerospace sector, Phoenix is home to a large number of hightech, IT, renewable energy, and personalized medicine industries. Also very important to the city’s economic base are financial and advanced business services enterprises, as well as a robust and growing health sciences sector. Whether companies are new to our city or have been here for decades, they are growing with Phoenix.

Focus on Higher Education Engaged, high-quality colleges and universities are fundamental to a strong and sustainable economy. While education is the primary objective, in Phoenix, higher education has evolved in its support of business and research and development (R&D) activities. Arizona State University, in partnership with City of Phoenix, opened its downtown campus in Fall 2006 and has since grown to an enrollment of more than 12,000 students. University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix opened its four-year program in 2007 at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus PBC in downtown. Northern Arizona University also offers its Physical and Occupational Therapy programs in downtown Phoenix. Grand Canyon University is growing its campus, preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed in the contemporary job market. The Maricopa Community Colleges play a vital role in enhancing the region’s competitive strength by providing degrees as well as workforce training programs. In turn, students come to Phoenix to study in an environment that engages companies and offers opportunity. Our colleges and universities also recognize the need to play a part in nurturing entrepreneurs. These efforts have resulted in young businesses that not only survive, but thrive with access to capital, research, and management expertise.

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Arizona State University Campus in downtown Phoenix

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Phoenix Biomedical Campus The PBC is the premier and dynamic environment for research activities, currently hosting the highest concentration of research scientists and complementary research professionals in the region. “The campus also provides firms with unprecedented opportunities for growth and collaborative efforts with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), International Genomics Consortium (IGC), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, VisionGate and Barrow Neurological Institute.

University of Arizona - Health Sciences Education Building

The city-owned, 30-acre campus consists of six buildings plus two under construction and four additional projects in the planning phase. Nowhere else in Arizona can a talented mix of researchers, doctors, innovators, educators, and thought leaders be found all at one address. The PBC offers a unique opportunity for bio-industry companies to connect, collaborate, and partner with leading organizations in the industry, including nationally recognized biomedical education programs. With more than $520 million invested since its inception in 2002, all three state universities are working together to advance healthcare through academic programs that prepare healthcare leaders of tomorrow to improve the quality of life.

#YesPHX The City of Phoenix is committed to growing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. In 2015, Phoenix hosted its inaugural “Start Up Week” with UP Global and Chase Bank to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs, small businesses and startup companies to network, receive valuable resources and hear from Valley business leaders. #YesPHX is a movement to keep providing opportunities for locally grown companies. Numerous partners are involved in building Phoenix’s ecosystem including co-working spaces, incubators, accelerators and maker spaces that provide access to capital and resources to help businesses develop their products and ideas. And there have been several successes! CO+HOOTS, one of Phoenix’s premier co-working spaces, was named one of the Top 100 Co-Working Spaces in the U.S. Vestafy, a Phoenix- based software company that is a product of local incubator SeedSpot, was recently purchased by the Canadian company, Pethealth. The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI), a comprehensive business incubator centrally located in Phoenix, provides the services, space and support critical to the development of early-state and startup companies.

As a part of Phoenix’s continued commitment to entrepreneurs, Vice Mayor Daniel Valenzuela hosts the monthly #YesPHX TV segment on PHXTV to highlight the city’s entrepreneurial successes. Each month, as part of his ongoing focus on promoting and encouraging the growing startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Phoenix, Valenzuela welcome members of the ecosystem to discuss milestones and accomplishments.

Co-working space in downtown Phoenix

Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation

Phoenix is a great location to work and a fabulous place to live, no matter what you do or who you are. In the new economy, people and companies are coming to Phoenix for one common reason: Phoenix is Hot!.

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Chapter Activities / Actividades del Capítulo

Southwest Chapter DALLAS, TX

TRADE MISSION TO MEXICO

.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Southwest Chapter embarked on a three-day trade mission to Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico on April 22 , 2105.

On the first day, the chapter’s executive director Josie F. Orosco participated in the inauguration and ribbon cutting for the new office of Mito Group, IMEXPORT in Leon, Gto., Mexico. The next day, April 23, was very busy day working with Luis Rojas, director of Cofoce (Coordinadora de Fomento al Comercio Exterior del Estado de Guanajuato, coordinator for the Promotion of Foreign Trade of the State of Guanajuato), Ines Osorio, and Pro Mexico in Guanajuato along with the team from Dallas. We thank COFOCE of Mexico for hosting Dallas and for their efforts to facilitate international business to business networking. We thank and appreciate, the Chapter of Leon, for their hospitality. President Antonio Vargas Navarro and executive director Sergio Ponce Lopez were extremely gracious in presenting every participant from Dallas with signed original paintings from Antonio Vargas. We also thank Salvador Muñoz Hernandez and his wife Diana Acosta Lopez for their hospitality and hosting a reception for all of the trade mission delegates from Dallas, Austin, Monterrey and Mexico City. Paul Wiggins, CEO of NACC and USMCOC member, is working on a $165 million contract for security-related products for airports that could be manufactured in Mexico.

Ribbon cutting for IMEXPORT, in Leon, Guanajuato, MX., a Mito Financial Company of Miguel Lopez from Irving, Texas. Terciscio Hernandez, Mexico general director in Leon, GTO,MX.; Belen Franco, Imexport general director, USA; Elvira Calderon, Imexport Dir. of Sales; Luis Rojas, director of COFOCE; Josie Orosco, SW Chapter executive director; and Pablo Trinidad, CEO of Picasso and Galileo Companies of Dallas, TX.

Michael Torres CEO of Greenworld Restoration from Austin, Texas presented water sustainable products and building products to COFOCE, PROMEXICO and to the City of Guanajuato, his products could be used for global commercial or residential development projects.

Pablo Trinidad, CEO of Picasso’s Web and Galileo Business Consulting, representative in Mexico, and President, Juan Carlos Lastiri, are seeking beverage labels and cosmetic bottles for 450 products, for a contract of around $5 million. Other Galileo associates were Luis Lozano along with Engler Puentes from Monterrey, Mexico. Frank Lopez, owner of Worldwide Solutions was working on a $23 million contract for furniture, frames, wood, etc., all products pertaining to the making of furniture. Tim Willis of Syntek is looking for distributors for oil products in Mexico.

Trade mission delegates: Luis Lozano, CEO of Amiga Financial Co. in Monterey, MX; Michael Torres, CEO of Greenworld, Austin, TX; Pablo Trinidad, CEO, Picassos Web LLC and Galileo Galileo Business Consulting, Dallas, TX; Antonio Vargas, president, USMCOC Guanajuato chapter; Josie Orosco, executive director SW Chapter; Salvador Munoz Hernandez; Sergio Ponce, executive director, USMCOC Guanajuato chapter; Francisco Arrona; Juan Jose Barajas; and Salvador Muñoz Acosta, all from Leon, GTO, Mexico.

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IMEXPORT reception group picture

VIP Hotel Reception in Leon, GTO, MX Salvador Munoz Hernandez; Elvira Calderon, director of sales, Imexport, USA; Belen Franco, Imexport general director, USA; Josie Orosco; Antonio Vargas; Salvador Muñoz Acosta y Francisco Arrona.

THE COVER / ARTÍCULO DE PORTADA

Northeast Chapter

Chapter Activities / Actividades del Capítulo

NEW YORK, NY

Chapter Events April 14

May 13-15

May 27

Mexico or Brazil: Two Distinct Economic Models...

Binational Conference & Gala, Washington DC

Spain and Latin America Networking Cocktail

We partnered with the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce and had a panel of experts analyze the strengths, challenges and outlook for the Mexican and Brazilian economies.

TheUSMCOC hosted its annual Binational Meeting, Conference & Gala (see page 20).

Our fourteenth annual networking cocktail reception was held in conjunction with other chambers and organizations. This event brought more than 200 guests together from different companies in NYC.

May 21 April 21

IPAB Roundtable

Changes to the Regulatory Framework for Deposit Insurance and Bank Restructuring & Bankruptcy Procedures were presented at a members-only event.

April 29

Mexico: Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices

Mexico has become a premiere destination and Latin American hub for both the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries. The purpose of this conference was to present, discuss, and analyze the current situation and perspectives on the pharmaceutical and biotech industries in Mexico from a business and investment perspective.

The Oil Crash and the Impact on Latin America

This event’s panelists evaluated whether lower oil prices impacted growth and inflation across various Latin American countries. The discussion also centered on policy options for governments regarding the monetary, fiscal and exchange rate front. They were positive about oil prices rising taking all factors into consideration due to irrational actors in the market such as China that is investing in Latin America and can act in unpredictable ways due to their authoritarian government.

The Pacific Alliance Opportunities for New York

The consul generals of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru gave us a briefing on the Pacific Alliance advising it constitutes the eighth largest economy and represents the seventh largest exporting entity worldwide and has become a platform for political articulation, economic and trade integration, and display these strengths to the rest of the world especially the Asia-Pacific region.

May 26

NAFTA 21 Years: Assessment and New Opportunities for the Tri-State Business Community

We partnered with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce as guest speakers evaluated the benefits it’s had 21 year after its enactment; new and unexploited opportunities for middle market local companies; trade, customs, supply chain, logistics and financing of transactions as well as the future of NAFTA.

June 2

New Insurance & Reinsurance Regulations in Mexico: Keeping up with the Most Progressive International Practices

We had a comprehensive overview of Mexico’s Insurance and Surety Industry, the new regulatory framework for authorized investments, financing and capital investing in the insurance sector: Mexico vs. U.S, Overview of Mexico’s vs. U.S.’s Reinsurance Industry, alternate reinsurance structures and exploring having Bermuda as a partner.

June 4

Mexico Private Equity Day

The Northeast Chapter co-hosted the Mexican Association of Private Equity and Venture Capital (AMEXCAP) conference, “Mexico Private Equity Day in NYC,” which was held at The Westin Hotel, Grand Central in New York City.

May 5

Cinco de Mayo Corporate Luncheon

We held our annual luncheon to celebrate this important day in Mexican history representing our heritage and embracing our culture by enjoying Mexican music, cuisine and beverages. Left to right: Ambassador Sandra Fuentes-Berain, Consul General of Mexico in New York; Hon. Julio Fiol, Consul General of Chile in New York; Ambassador Maria Teresa Merino de Hart, Consul General of Peru in New York; Hon. Maria Isabel Nieto, Consul General of Colombia in New York

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The Woodlands Gulf Coast THE WOODLANDS, TX

Chapter Activities / Actividades del Capítulo

Energy Luncheon

Fernandez Sanchez Arias, corporate director Texas Advanced Manufacturing Solutions; Pete Garcia, executive director, Houston – The Woodlands Gulf Coast Chapter; Monica Gonzalez Soto, consul of economic Affairs and Commercial Promotion; Al Zapanta, president, USMCOC; Julie Charros, president, Houston – The Woodlands Gulf Coast Chapter; Jaime Buitrago, director, Exploration and Production, ExxonMobil, Mexico; Mario Garcia, partner, Calvetti Ferguson; and Peter Doyle, executive vice president, the Howard Hughes Corporation.

Ricardo Colmenter, Entra Consulting; Mario Garcia, partner, Calvetti Ferguson; Fernandez Sanchez Arias, corporate director Texas Advanced Manufacturing Solutions; Maximo Hernandez, CEO, Rome Drilling and, partner, EnergeA; Victor Cardenas, partner, Jackson Gilmoure & Dobbs, PC; Alfredo Ramos Gardere Law; and Jaime Buitrago, Director, Exploration and Production, ExxonMobil, Mexico

he USMCOC Houston-The Woodlands-Gulf Coast Chapter hosted its second Energy Mexico luncheon at the luxurious Woodlands Resort & Conference Center on May 21. More than 75 industry professionals attended the conference. The keynote address was presented by Jaime Buitrago, director of exploration and production in Mexico for ExxonMobil, who spoke about issues related to the current Mexico energy sector. Following the keynote was a panel that discussed legal issues, corporate tax issues in energy, future projects, and the training needs resulting from the reforms in Mexican energy. Panelists were Alfredo Ramos of the Gardere law firm, Fernando Sanchez of TAMS, Mario Garcia of CalvettiFurgeson, Max

Hernandez of Rome Drilling and EnergA, and Ricardo Colmenter of Entra Consulting. Afterward was a Q&A with questions about the opening of the Mexican marketplace for offshore, onshore and shale exploration and drilling. There are still many more questions to be answered as the legislative issues evolve. Also in attendance to address the attendees were Al Zapanta, Chamber president and CEO; chapter president Julie Betancor; and executive director Pete Garcia who moderated the panel and spoke about the many opportunities opening up due to the 11 major reforms currently being implemented in Mexico, and the fact that Houston is responsible for $175 billion of the total $500 billion traded annually between the U.S.A. and Mexico.

Fiestas Patrias The Houston-Woodlands-Gulf Coast Chapter is also making preparations for its second annual Fiestas Patrias celebrating Mexico’s Independence Day on September 12. It will be held at the beautiful Woodlands Resort & Conference Center. The major themes will be awareness and integration of the two countries’ cultures. The event also includes honoring companies that further the business development between our communities in Mexico and Texas.

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Chapter Activities / Actividades del CapĂtulo

Mid America Chapter CHICAGO

Mid America Chapter Events January 21

April 28

Tax and Legal Update

Mexico as a Global Partner

The Chamber held its annual tax and legal update with Baker & McKenzie. John McLees, Manuel Padron and Hugo Dubovoy discussed the legal framework, updates on fiscal law and regulations, and the expectations for manufacturing companies, including changes in IMMEXX.

The Chamber hosted a seminar on Mexico as a global partner. Guest speakers addressed the economic outlook and manufacturing trends in cost competitiveness and industrial development.

March 26

Taller de Negocios en Espanol For the third year, the Chamber hosted a business workshop in Spanish. This event is hosted by Jorge Smeke, dean of the School of Business of the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico.

Speakers included: Animesh Ghoshal, professor of economy, De Paul University; Thomas Klier, senior economist, Federal Reserve Bank Chicago; Keith Schoonmaker, director of industrial equity and equity analyst morningstar; Edgar Lopezlena, senior manager international tax services, RSM McGladrey; and Marie Alsace Galindo, TechBa, Detroit, Michigan.

June 11

Double Eagle Awards April 16

Supply Chain Blueprint On April 16 the Chamber partnered with the Chicago Supply Chain management professionals and the Traffic Club of Chicago to present a program designed to discuss and inform attendees about manufacturing advantages in Mexico, regional integration and supply chain challenges and opportunities.

June 11 was our annual Double Eagle Awards Dinner. This year we are honored Ingredion Incorporated and commissioner Mikel Arriola of COFEPRIS (Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk).

We had participation from the following companies: Caterpilla, Trek Bikes, KCS, DHL and others.

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Chapter Activities / Actividades del Capítulo

NorthwestChapter SEATTLE, WA

Eastern Washington Members Outreach Event

s part of our 2015 outreach and development program, we are creating greater awareness of our role and expanding our visibility and participation in eastern Washington. Our goal is to attract new members and promote business between Washington State and Mexico In this effort, we traveled to Pasco and Wapato, Washington, for two days this past January to present the Chapter’s program and vision to some large area companies and business executives. Our first destination was Pasco. The delegation, led by chapter president Luis Morris, consisted of John Diaz, member of the executive committee; Marcos Wanless, chapter vice president; Fernando P. Pous, chamber member and deputy delegate, Pro Mexico; Eduardo Alarcon, chapter secretary; and Diego

Osuna, chapter member and CEO of Globalsojourn. Hector Cruz, president of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, welcomed us and introduced the group to more than 30 owners and executives of the area’s largest companies. During the luncheon, our members made a presentation about the hamber’s outreach program. The networking created good connections and interest in the Chapter´s. The following day we traveled to Wapato for another networking luncheon hosted by El Compadre Sports Bar and Family Restaurant. Jesse Farias, mayor and Vietnam veteran, declared January 22 as the official U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce NW Chapter Trade and Commerce Day. Almost forty people attended the lunch which, by all accounts, was a big success.

Luis Morris, Marcos Wanless and Jesse Farias mayor of Wapato, WA.

Eduardo Alarcon USMCOCNW secretary, and Chief Diaz USMCOCNW vice president.

Marcos Wanless, Chief John Diaz, Sandra Belaguera, Diego Osuna, Luis Morris, Fernando Paz, and Eduardo Alarcon.

Chief John Diaz, Eduardo Alarcon, Hector Cruz, Felix Vargas, Marcos Wanless and Luis Morris.

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California Regional Chapter

Chapter Activities / Actividades del Capítulo

Chapter Holds Educational Seminars on Bilateral Issues Mexico Today: After the Oil Prices, Mexican Peso’s Devaluation and Reforms. Long-Term and Short-term Effects On April 16, the United States Mexico Chamber of Commerce California Regional Chapter hosted a one-day symposium titled “Mexico Today: After the Oil Prices, Mexican Peso Devaluation and Reforms: Long Term and Short Term Effects.” The purpose of the symposium was provide information about the energy reforms. The panelists were Marcela Meirelles, managing director in emerging markets, Sovereign Research for The TCW Group, Inc., Los Angeles; Daniela Ruiz, economic analyst, Grupo Financiero Monex; and Cecilia Sarabia, an attorney in the Mexico office of Santamarina y Steta, S.C. The group discussed the Mexican Expropriation Act, Mexican Oil Expropriation Incorporation of Petroleos Mexicanos, 2013 Energy Reform and allocation of leases for exploratory areas and producing fields, PEMEX, financial and execution capacity for hydrocarbon production, ways to strengthen state companies, and stimulate oil production and revenue.

NAFTA RELOADED: Strengthening Competitiveness in North America On April 24, 2015, we hosted a conference featuring Kenneth Smith, director of the Trade and NAFTA Office at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. The conference, “NAFTA RELOADED: Strengthening Competitiveness in North America,” was a discussion on the accomplishments and the future of North American trade and economic relations. The presentation focused on the U.S.-Canada-Mexico business partnership and the deepening of North American integration, as well as viewing Mexico as a key player in regional supply chains. Director Smith explained that U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto announced the formation of the High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) to promote economic growth in the U.S. and Mexico, create jobs for citizens on both sides of the border, and ensure our nations can compete globally.

The dialogue will advance strategic economic and commercial priorities central to promoting mutual economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness. It will build on a range of existing successful bilateral dialogues and working groups, and is envisioned as a mechanism to advance shared strategic priorities in the areas of competitiveness and connectivity, fostering economic growth, productivity and innovation, and partnering for regional and global leadership.

New Business and Landscape for the Electricity and Power Sectors in Mexico Holland & Knight LLP sponsored a conference in their San Francisco office on the development of the energy industry in Baja California and current projects in operation.

Trade Mission to Asia Set for Fall 2015 The Chapter is proud to announce the 4th Annual Trade Mission to Asia from Sept.19 through Oct. 7. The trip is intended to provide a platform for participating companies to explore the many business opportunities available in the region. The itinerary includes visits to India, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. The trade mission offers many benefits to participants: • Highest level contacts, introductions and orientation • Extensive itinerary with time for business, culture and leisure • Affordability priced • Exploring feasible business opportunities among the U.S. Mexico, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Vietnam (trading, investment, manufacturing, etc.) • Meetings with leaders from Chinese banks; Singapore investors; IT companies in India; chambers of commerce; and industry. • Exporting companies specializing in a wide variety of fresh, frozen, canned and organic foods; beverages; and produce.

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Chapter Activities / Actividades de Capitulo

Intermountain Chapter Salt Lake City

Keith Atkinson - Executive Director

Spencer Cox, Lieutenant governor of Utah and Mrs. Cox; Mrs. David Utrilla, and David Utrilla, Honorary consul general for Peru in Utah

New Chapter Established in Utah Inter-Mountain Chapter Joins USMCOC The newest chapter of U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (USMCOC) was inaugurated on March 2, 2015. The Inter-Mountain Chapter headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, became an official chapter during an event attended by Alejandro Estivill Castro, acting ambassador for Mexico in Washington D.C. At a dinner hosted by Zion’s Bank, Estivill Castro, a longtime supporter of area trade with Mexico, was joined by USMCOC president Al Zapanta, and former chairman of the chapter board Stuart Dye, to celebrate the event. More than 150 of the area’s most important business and political leaders including Spencer Cox, Utah lieutenant governor and attorney general Shaun Reyes. Following an introduction by Derek Miller, director of Utah’s World Trade Center, Zapanta outlined the mission and goals of the Chamber, and Dye thanked university and political officials who assisted in bringing a chapter office to Salt Lake City. Ambassador Escovill provided the keynote address. He noted the annual trade deficit between Mexico and the Intermountain area—more than $4 billion in imports from Mexico vs. approximately $400 million in exports—and emphasized the expanding economic opportunity initiatives designed to reduce that imbalance. “When our trading partners prosper,” he said, “Mexico prospers.” Utah’s largest exporter to Mexico, Autoliv Americas, was represented by senior director for engineering,

Dale Cook, who discussed his company’s growing success south of the Rio Grande, and encouraged other companies to explore similar possibilities. Next on the agenda was Natalie Kaddas of Kaddas Enterprizes, Inc. She told the group that the company signed its first export contract with Mexico in 2014— and that it has been enjoying an expanding business with that country ever since. The evening closed with the announcement of officers for the new chapter. The officers are: • Eduardo Arnal Palomera, consul general for Mexico in Salt Lake City, honorary board chair; • Founding board members: • Dale Cook, senior director of engineering for Autoliv Americas; • Lew Cramer, vice president, Western U.S., Coldwell Banker; • Waldo Galan, former vice presicent, Ford Motor Company; • David Ibarra, president and CEO, eleadertech Inc.; • Kirk Jowers, director, Hinkley Institute of Politics, University of Utah. • Daniel Leifson, staff member, Utah governor’s office of economic development, assistant director; and • Keith Atkinson, executive director. After the event, Ambassador Escovill graciously remained to answer additional questions from dozens of business owners who plan to expand their exports to Mexico in 2015. He them that the Chamber was the “foremost” organization to assist in that process.

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Chapter Activities / Actividades de Capitulo

Valle de Mexico Chapter MEXICO CITY

Infraestructura en Transporte y Logística: La Promesa de 2015

“Mexico Now: A Business Forum” organizado por Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce y Greater Phoenix Leadership

El pasado mes de marzo, la US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Capítulo Valle de México llevó a cabo en su desayuno mensual la conferencia “Infraestructura en Transporte y Logística: La Promesa de 2015”. En esta ocasión, se contó con la participación de Gabriel Aparicio, Director de Contratos de Soluciones Logísticas para América Latina de UPS, y Osiel Cruz, Director General de Grupo T21.

El evento “Mexico Now: A Business Forum” organizado por Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce y Greater Phoenix Leadership se realizó el pasado 30 de abril en el Sheraton Downtown Phoenix. El objetivo fue dar a conocer los cambios estructurales que las recientes reformas aprobadas por la administración del Presidente Enrique Peña Nieto ofrecen, así como las oportunidades que representan en materia de negocios para la comunidad empresarial de la Ciudad de Phoenix.

Según un estudio de reciente publicación por la firma de consultoría Boston Consulting Group, México y Estados Unidos se posicionan entre los primeros 25 lugares en el mundo en lo que se refiere a competitividad en manufactura de exportación. Tan solo el año pasado, las exportaciones manufactureras de nuestro país contabilizaron 337 mil 283 millones de dólares, 113 por ciento de incremento respecto al año 2004. Ante este panorama, Gabriel Aparicio de UPS México apuntó que es de suma importancia identificar a la logística como un factor estratégico dentro de cualquier actividad de comercio exterior, ya que su correcta implementación significará una ventaja competitiva para la empresa. Por su parte, Osiel Cruz de la Revista T21 mencionó la importancia que tiene el desarrollo de infraestructura en la competitividad de un país. “De 2007 a la fecha, México no ha evolucionado de la manera correcta en lo que respecta a infraestructura, manteniéndose en la posición 65 de 144 países, recopilación que hace el Índice de Competitividad que publica el Foro Económico Mundial”. A esto, agregó que el desarrollo del Plan Nacional de Infraestructura ha carecido de una visión integral. “Los puertos representan un modelo exitoso de privatización; sin embargo, la mala conectividad los vuelve muy ineficientes al permanecer las cargas de 7 a 8 días en puerto”, concluyó Osiel Cruz. La información compartida en el desayuno muestra que tanto en logística como en infraestructura aún queda mucho por hacer, labor que tendrán que realzar de manera conjunta el sector público y privado.

En este foro participó José García Torres, Presidente de la US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce en la ciudad de México. En su exposición, afirmó que más allá de las oportunidades que ya son visibles, el sector empresarial interesado en participar debe buscar e identificar a sectores económicos de gran relevancia en cuestión de consumo. “Las empresas mineras tienen la capacidad de demandar la energía equivalente a centros urbanos de hasta 500 mil habitantes. México cuenta con una industria minera de gran relevancia a nivel mundial, estados como Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Durango y Sonora serán focos importantes para quienes se interesen en esta industria”. Otra industria que ofrece oportunidades de negocio para empresas de Arizona es la energética, afirmó José García Torres. En este sector existen áreas con un mayor potencial, como son la de exploración y producción, en donde los recursos presupuestales de PEMEX serán destinados eficazmente a mantener la producción y exploración a través de asociaciones entre empresas nacionales y extranjeras. Además, indicó que la exportación de gas natural a México y la expansión del Sistema Nacional de Transportación a través del desarrollo de infraestructura de ductos y terminales marítimas ofrecen un amplio mercado de inversión, sin olvidar las áreas de electricidad y de energías sustentables, ya que actualmente la Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) está en proceso de modificar la infraestructura efectuando la conversión de plantas de combustóleo a ciclo combinado. Para finalizar, añadió como área de oportunidad aquella relacionada con conexas, que incluye el desarrollo de terminales marítimas para mantener y reparar embarcaciones, construcción de plataformas marinas y equipos de procesamiento. Al evento “Mexico Now: A Business Forum” asistieron más de 250 empresarios; además de: Greg Stanton, Alcalde de la Ciudad de Phoenix; Todd Sanders, Presidente Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce; y Thomas Franz, Presidente Greater Phoenix Leadership. “Mexico Now: A Business Forum” es el primero de una serie de eventos que busca presentar las oportunidades que el sector energético ofrece en México.

Osiel Cruz T21, José Andrés García USMCOC y Gabriel Aparicio UPS

José García Torres, Presidente del Capítulo Valle de México y Marcelo Mereles, Socio de EnergeA Structur

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León Chapter LEÓN, GTO.

Chapter Activities / Actividades de Capitulo

Reunión con candidatos a la alcaldía de la ciudad de León, Gto. El Lic. Héctor López conversando con los mpresarios de la USMCOC

En reunión privada, la USMCOC Capítulo Guanajuato y miembros de su consejo y afiliados se reunieron con los dos principales candidatos a la alcaldía de León, Gto., provenientes del partido Acción Nacional, Héctor López, y de la coalición PRI-Verde Ecologista-Nueva Alianza, José Ángel Córdova. Mediante esta reunión, los empresarios asistentes pudieron escuchar, analizar y opinar sobre las propuestas y oportunidades en materia de desarrollo económico, seguridad, sociedad y medio ambiente (por mencionar algunas), que ofrecen ambos candidatos para la próxima administración 2015-2018. En ambas reuniones, tanto los candidatos como los miembros de la USMCOC Capítulo Guanajuato.

El Dr. José Ángel Córdova en la exposición de sus propuestas ante los empresarios de la USMCOC.

Desayuno conferencia “Tecnología y la Toma de Decisiones Efectiva” El día 28 de enero se reunieron en el hotel Crown Plaza de la ciudad de León, Gto., los miembros de la USMCOC Capítulo Guanajuato e invitados especiales para escuchar al experto en consultoría y temas de tecnologías de la información Alan Espinosa, proveniente de la empresa KIO. Esta reunión se realizó mediante el desarrollo del primer Desayuno-Conferencia de 2015, denominado “Tecnología y la toma de decisiones efectiva”. Alan Espinosa de la empresa KIO

Premio al Mérito Ecológico

Al centro, el alcalde de la ciudad de León, Gto; miembros de la Dirección de Gestión Ambiental; comité evaluador y galardonados, entre los que destaca, el CPLB, al centro en la segunda fila.

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El pasado 25 de marzo, la USMCOC Capítulo Guanajuato a través del Centro de Producción más Limpia del Bajío fue reconocida con el premio al Mérito Ecológico 2015 que otorga la Dirección de Gestión Ambiental del municipio de León, Guanajuato. Este reconocimiento fue entregado por el Alcalde de la Ciudad, Dr. Octavio Villasana, y es otorgado a empresas y personas que demuestran estar comprometidas con el cuidado y preservación del medio ambiente.

Chapter Activities / Actividades de Capitulo

Michoacan Chapter Michoacán, Mx

Actividades del Capítulo El pasado mayo, la Cámara de Comercio Mexico-Estados Unidos Capítulo Michoacán firmó un convenio de cooperación con Canacintra Delegación Morelia. Los encargados de firmarlo fueron el Lic. Clovis Remusat, presidente actual; y el Presidente del capítulo de Michoacan y consejero de Canacintra, el Ingeniero Nicandro Ortiz. Este tiene el objetivo de impulsar el desarrollo sostenible en un entorno seguro para las empresas establecidas en la entidad. Así como, mejorar la imagen del estado en el país y el exterior. Lic. Clovis Remusat firmando el convenio con la Cámara de Comercio Mexico – Estados Unidos, Capítulo Michoacán.

La Canacintra y la USMCOC capítulo de Michoacán organizaron en conjunto varios eventos: El 15 de Mayo se realizó el Foro para la prevención del delito, donde el sector privado, autoridades y expertos, trabajaron en la búsqueda de soluciones para mejorar la seguridad de las empresas en el estado. Lic. Alfredo Castillo, Comisionado para la Seguridad y el Desarrollo Integral del Estado de Michoacán.

El 19 de mayo se realizó un foro titulado “El Desarrollo Económico y Empresarial de Michoacán y la Reindustrialización” donde asistieron los candidatos a gobernador por el estado de Michoacán, entre ellos la Lic. Maria Luisa Calderón Hinojosa, candidata por el PAN, y el Lic. Ascensión Orihuela, candidato por el PRI. Lic. María Luisa Calderón Hinojosa, candidata del PAN para el gobierno de Michaocan

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Special Feature

Border Energy Forum 2015 General Land Office

George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner.

s Mexico’s Energy Reform unfolds, the U.S.-Mexico border will become the setting for one of the biggest economic shifts in the history of the region. The potential for job growth in Texas – our nation’s energy capitol – is enormous. Billions of dollars in private investment are poised to change the way this region buys and sells the energy that is a cornerstone for the economy of both nations. And while these changes will affect virtually everyone along the busiest border in the world, just how they will play out is still a huge, unanswered question. This October, business and political leaders from each side of the border will meet in San Diego, California, to begin charting a course through the opportunities and pitfalls created by Mexico’s Energy Reform at the Texas General Land Office’s 22nd Annual Border Energy Forum. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who fought to crack open Mexico’s state oil, gas and electricity monopolies to foreign investment as president, will be the featured speakers at this year’s meeting. Commissioner Bush took office in January, and has worked to build the annual Border Energy Forum into a regional economic summit that can’t be missed by business and political leaders in both Texas and Mexico. This year’s forum is sure to be just that. The Border Energy Forum began as a collaborative effort among the 10 border states along the U.S. and Mexico border long before Mexico’s Energy Reform cast a new spotlight on the region. The original idea was to gather 50 people each from the United States and Mexico once a year to exchange information about the best ways to produce and consume energy in our fast-growing region, forge new partnerships, and work together on economic development and environmental protection.

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Special Feature

Since then, the annual meetings have quietly become a foundation for energy policy and program development for the region. This year’s gathering is expected to be the most important yet because today, Texas and Mexico are more intertwined than ever. And that’s a good thing. When President Enrique Peña Nieto signed Mexico’s comprehensive energy reform package into law early in his term, he completely eliminated the vertically integrated, government-owned monopolies that hobbled the Mexican economy for generations. In its place, a competitive market was born, where private investors may participate in virtually every sector of the energy markets. What happens when you replace government run monopolies with free enterprise? Opportunities blossom. And on the U.S.-Mexico border, there will be opportunities for public-private partnerships in oil and gas production, infrastructure, and in the development of renewable energy sources that are now required under the energy reform laws. All of this means opportunities for Texas businesses willing to take the leap. And while competition for the shale gas may get much of the media attention, changes coming to the Mexican renewable energy market are especially important to the border economy. Mexico’s energy reform not only created a new electricity market, it created set targets for the creation of renewable energy. Those targets will likely be mandatory for all generators, once the Secretariat of Energy works out all the details, according to an April report on renewable energy in Mexico’s northern border region by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. This will mean more development of renewable energy resources along the border as Mexico has already committed to produce 35 percent of its electricity from clean sources by 2024. About 25 percent of Mexico’s installed capacity is currently from clean renewable energy sources, according to the report.

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“In the next six years, the region as a whole is poised to increase its installed capacity of renewable sources from 4.82% to 17.03%,” the report states. “The growth in renewable energy installed capacity will potentially be mostly driven by wind and solar installations with both CFE (Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission) and private generators playing an important role.” As state and city governments turn to public-private partnerships to lower their electricity bills, opportunities for all will grow. Right now, the Wilson Center report states that, public-private partnerships help supply wind power to cities from the state of Chiapas in the south to Coahuila on the northern border with Texas. The interconnectivity of our two nations’ can be seen in Southern California, where this year’s forum will be held. The Cali Baja Bi-National Region that includes San Diego and Tijuana calls attention to the extensive renewable energy resources on both sides of the border. The Border Energy Forum is truly a collaborative effort. The meeting alternates each year between U.S. and Mexican cities along the border. Last year’s forum was held in Monterrey, Mexico. The forum has met at least once in each of the 10 U.S. and Mexican border states – seven times in Texas. This year’s agenda will focus on solar energy, natural gas, wind power, water issues, electricity, financing complex energy projects, energy efficiency, transport, energy entrepreneurship and innovation. It’s an exciting time. We invite you to join us in San Diego as we explore these opportunities together. As Mexico opens up to private investment and begins to increase oil and gas production, there will be more jobs in Mexico. And as Mexico begins to reap the benefits of private investment and technological expertise, the U.S. will have a stronger ally.

For more information, please visit www.borderenergyforum.org.

Update / Elections / Actualidad / Elecciones

MEXICO MIDTERM ELECTIONS RESULTS – JUNE 2015 On June 7, 2015 Mexico held midterm elections in which 500 seats of the Federal Chamber of Deputies were up for election,as well as nine governorships, 17 state legislatures and 993 mayorships, for a total of 2,159 seats nationwide1.

Some of the smaller parties run in coalition with major ones parties, which allowed them to retain representation. Partido del Trabajo and Partido Humanista lost their registration due to not being able to reach a minimum of three percent of the votes.

Mexico’s National Electoral Institute released preliminary results and declared that this was the most competitive intermediate election in history. Thirty-four percent of the 300 electoral districts changed political parties. In 76 percent of the races the difference between first and second place was less than five percent, and the party with the most votes barely reached 30 percent of the valid votes.

“These results prove that the new rules of democracy clearly contribute to competitiveness and strengthen Mexico’s young democracy, three principles of a democratic system: the alternation, acceptance of defeat and uncertainty about the winner at the end of the day,” stressed the president of INE, Lorenzo Cordova, in his message on the occasion of the completion of the district counts.

These results translate into a Chamber of Deputies with no absolute majority. In a Chamber of Deputies of 500 members, the new composition, according to the preliminary results, is:

The 2015 elections were the most recounted vote by vote, since that figure was included in the electoral law. In 2009, a total of 42,620 boxes (30.6 percent) were recounted; in 2012, a total of 81,152 (56.7percent corresponding only to the election of federal deputies) and this year, 92,000 (61.8 percent).

Partido de la Revolución Institucional (PRI): 203 Partido Acción Nacional (PAN): 108

Three years ago in Mexico City, PRD-PT won 26 of 27 districts (the other was for the PAN). This year they only retained 10; as for the rest, Morena won 11, PRI-PVEM alliance, 2 and 1 for the PRI alone. The PAN kept the districts they typically win and earned two more.

Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD): 56 Partido del Trabajo (PT): 6 Partido Verde Ecologista de México (PVEM): 47

As for governorships, the results were as follows (includes the percentage of the votes):

Movimiento Ciudadano (MC): 26

Baja California Sur: Carlos Mendoza Davis (PAN) - 44.8%

Nueva Alianza (NA): 10

Campeche: Rafael Alejandro Moreno (PRI-PVEM) - 40.94%

Movimiento Regeneración Nacional (MORENA): 35

Colima: José Ignacio Peralta Sánchez (PRI) - 40.01%

Encuentro Social: 8

Guerrero: Héctor Astudillo (PRI-PVEM) - 36%

Independent candidate: 1

Michoacán: Silvano Aureoles Conejo (PRD) - 36.20% Nuevo León: Jaime Rodríguez (Independent candidate) - 48.86% ES 2%

MORENA 7% NA 2%

Querétaro: Francisco Domínguez Servién (PAN) - 46.82%

INDEPENDIENTE 0%

San Luis Potosí: Juan Manuel Carreras López (PRI) - 35.65% PRI 41%

MC 5%

Sonora: Claudia Pavlovich (PRI) - 47.49%; Officially, 47.005 percent of registered voters casted a ballot, for a total of 36.62 million voters out of more than 77.9 million people entitled to vote. This election showed the lowest numbers of null votes in mid-term elections since 1997, with 4.7 percent of voters.

PVEM 1% PT 1%

Source: Instituto Nacional Electoral – INE. (National Electoral Institute). México. http://www.ine.mx/ PRD 11%

1 Zissis, Carin. (June 8, 2015). Five Points on Mexico’s 2015 Midterm Elections Results. Retrieved from http://www.as-coa.org/articles/five-points-mexicos-2015-midterm-election-results PAN 22% Alliance

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Update/ Energy / Actualidad / Energía

U.S. and Mexico Cooperate In Response to Drought By Sally E. Spener, U.S. Secretary, International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico

nder two treaties dating back to the first half of the 20th century, the United States and Mexico share the waters of the Colorado River and Rio Grande. Recent drought conditions in these two river basins have brought water managers from both countries together through the 125-yearold International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico (IBWC) to identify ways to meet their water needs under challenging conditions. In accordance with the 1944 Water Treaty, the United States delivers Colorado River water to Mexico annually. The basin encompasses seven states in the United States and two in Mexico, supplying water to cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tijuana, and to major agricultural areas on both sides of the border. A recent study by Arizona State University found that over 16 million U.S. jobs rely on the availability of Colorado River water. Clearly, the stakes are high when it comes to managing this precious resource. In late 2012, the IBWC signed an agreement known as Minute 319 to enhance the two countries’ cooperation on the Colorado River. The accord spells out how reductions will be applied in the event Lake Mead, the Colorado River reservoir near Las Vegas, Nevada, reaches critically low elevations, forcing cuts to water users in both nations. Recent forecasts show a high likelihood that cutbacks will occur by 2017. Thanks to the plan adopted in Minute 319, water

users in both countries know what to expect when the reductions take effect. Minute 319 also allows Mexico to store water in the United States, an arrangement first put into effect following a 2010 earthquake in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California. The United States agreed to temporarily hold some of Mexico’s water in Lake Mead while Mexico repaired its damaged irrigation infrastructure. This, in turn, helped shore up levels at Lake Mead. Another key aspect of the accord is U.S. investment in water conservation projects in Mexico is while Mexico derives the long-term water savings from the projects, U.S. investors also receive a portion of the conserved water. What’s more, Minute 319 includes groundbreaking environmental provisions to help restore habitat in the Colorado River Delta. In signing the Minute, U.S. Commissioner Edward Drusina of the IBWC said, “Minute 319 gives us new tools to address the impacts of drought and climate change. It also sets the stage for cooperation between our two countries for many years to come.” Minute 319 is a five-year agreement expiring at the end of 2017. Water managers in both countries have indicated they want to build on Minute 319 to develop a new pact to enhance Colorado River cooperation. The International Boundary and Water Commission

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is committed to work with key stakeholders in both countries to conclude a new Minute before the current one expires. In the Rio Grande basin along the Texas-Mexico border, Amistad and Falcon International Reservoirs are still seeing the effects of a 2011 drought followed by low flows from Mexican tributaries to the Rio Grande. The two reservoirs, which were full in 2010, were half empty in May 2015. The IBWC has been working to identify strategies to increase the flow of water from Mexican tributaries so that Mexico can fulfill its obligations to deliver water to the United States, consistent with the 1944 Water Treaty. Farther upstream at the El Paso, Texas-Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua section, the upper Rio Grande drought continues. Under a century-old treaty, the United States delivers Rio Grande water for Mexican farmers in the Juarez Valley. In the event of extraordinary drought, water deliveries are reduced to users in both countries. The region has experienced major cutbacks for five years in a row, including the worst year on record in 2013 when farmers only received six percent of their normal allotments. To better manage the region’s water, the IBWC organizes monthly meetings with U.S. and Mexican water agencies to share water supply forecasts and coordinate delivery schedules to help conserve water. Water shortages along the U.S.-Mexico border have significant economic impact for municipalities, agriculture, and industry in the region. For over a century, the United States and Mexico have been able to settle boundary and water issues through friendship and cooperation led by the International Boundary and Water Commission. The Commission’s efforts continue to help water users plan for the future.

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Update/ Energy / Actualidad / Energía

The Initial Challenge of the National Agency for Security, Energy and Environment (ASEA): Legal and Procedural Certainty By Carlos de Regules Executive Director, National Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment of Mexico (ASEA)

On August 19 2014, President Enrique Peña Nieto appointed Carlos de Regules as the first executive director of the National Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment of Mexico (ASEA) in charge of the industrial safety and environmental protection of the hydrocarbon sector. Carlos de Regules holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM), a Master’s Degree in Engineering and Environmental Management from the École des Mines of Paris, France and is an associate to the LEAD Program for Advanced Studies on Environment and Development of the Colegio de México (COLMEX). Throughout his eighteen-year career at Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), the Mexican Petroleum Company, he specialized in industrial safety and environmental protection of the oil industry. During his last post at the company, he served as deputy director of Strategic and Operational Planning, where he bolstered, among other themes, PEMEX’s sustainable development policy and social responsibility annual report.

Introduction

he Agency for Security, Energy and Environment (ASEA, Agencia de Seguridad, Energia y Ambiente), created in August of 2014 under a presidential decree, is an independent administrative body within the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources with the authority to regulate and supervise industrial and operational safety, and oversee environmental protection activities in the hydrocarbon sector. Immediately after it was established, it began its initial phase of strategic planning which lasted four months. During that period, the agency’s operational architecture was designed. Following the creation of the architecture, the processes, systems, main regulation models, management and supervision structure were developed. They will become operational starting in 2016 and will protect the sustainability of the agency. From January through March 2015, all efforts were devoted to preparing for an

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orderly implementation of the powers assigned to ASEA by the new energy law. The previous legal and administrative planning permitted the agency to receive all relevant information from other government departments and establish formal procedures to coordinate the technical support necessary to ensure its ability to operate and execute as intended. The third stage began on March 2 and focused on stabilization of the operation. In this phase, which will run through December 2015, one of ASEA’s goals is to assure PEMEX and other participants that all existing and new issues submitted to the agency will be treated in accordance with the time frames and rules currently in effect. As it has been reiterated by ASEA in many industry forums: all rules and procedures in existence prior to the entry into operation of ASEA remain in force and constitute the legal framework for the exercise of the agency’s authority.

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Update/Education / Actualidad / Educación

First Major Challenge: The Initial Inventory The first challenge of ASEA is to resolve the 84,240 active issues that were transferred to ASEA from other agencies and departments such as SENER (Soluciones innovadoras en Ingeniería y Construcción), CRE (Comisión Reguladora de Energía), CNH (Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos), SEMARNAT(Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources) and PROFEPA (La Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente). The extensive planning that was performed included numerous areas: permits, licenses, certificates, certifications, NOMs (Mexican Norm of Operations) in review,

administrative procedures, inspection records, investigations, complaints and even a good number of cases in litigation. Still, the ASEA managed to establish the structure and the priorities for the appropriate follow up of each case. It was not only necessary to resolve these issues, but to notify all interested parties of the temporary suspension and resumption of each of their cases. Today ASEA is processing 1,667 cases requiring some sort of resolution and legal response within 60 days; 10,161 issues that must be resolved after these 60 days and 72,412 affairs that, without a specific due date, are active.

The Daily Operations In addition to the load of the initial inventory, the intensity of the daily operations of ASEA are a management and execution challenge. This operation would not be possible without the wholehearted backing of SEMARNAT, PROFEPA, CNH, SENER and CRE. From the beginning of March through early May, the department of inspections received notification of 500 incidents, conducted 130 investigations, issued 215 measures, analyzed the underlying causes of four major accidents, and drafted 12 reports in cooperation with the PGR, the federal investigation authority. Over this same period, ASEA’s industrial management area pre-qualified more than 25 companies participating in the Round I process and completed more than 20 environmental impact assessments for oil and gas projects. Initial approvals for

three exploratory wells in deep waters (Mirus 1, Astra 1 and Exploratus 1DL) have been also issued. ASEA has defined the regulations relating to industrial safety and environmental protection required to participate in Round I. Among those regulations are the criteria for authorization of exploration (ARES) and guidelines for reporting incidents and accidents. In addition, ASEA has established the Normalization Advisory Committee (CONASEA) with more than 30 representatives from academia, nongovernmental organizations, the federal government, industry, and consumers. This committee will propose, analyze and approve new regulation in the areas of industrial and operational security, as well as environment protection of the hydrocarbons sector. CNH worked closely with the agency, especially on Round I, ARES and deep water issues.

Procedural Certainty: Keeping Public Service Going It is essential to establish the authority of this new agency to set procedures that will support public service while developing the new oil and gas market of Mexico. ASEA is involved with 173 open cases, 94 of which are carried out primarily by SENER, CRE or CNH and require ASEA’s evaluation of industrial safety conditions; 55 procedures of the energy sector which were transferred completely to the agency; and 24 procedures of

SEMARNAT that are carried out directly by ASEA in the hydrocarbons sector. ASEA still has much work ahead this year. They must create and establish 12 new procedures, 11 Mexican official standards (NOM’s), and six new regulations. COFEMER (Comisión Federal de Mejora Regulatoria) has greatly assisted the agency in implementing this ambitious program of regulatory improvement.

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Update/Education / Actualidad / Educación

In Conclusion • The operations of ASEA—including its decision-making processes—are being developed and will begin operations starting in 2016. • All of Mexico’s procedures and standards in existence prior to the establishment of ASEA will remain in force. • All existing cases and those in process with other agencies have already been transferred and restarted by ASEA and will be processed in accordance with their original terms. • The ongoing needs of the energy are being served with the technical assistance of SENER, SEMARNAT, PROFEPA CNH and CRE, while ASEA increases its own capacity. • Adjustments to procedures and the eventual inclusion of new procedures are being carried out in collaboration with COFEMER. • All new regulations will be analyzed by the CONASEA which includes representatives from all relevant areas of business, government and the community.

SUPPORTING CROSS - BORDER BUSINESS Gardere has been providing its clients with seamless representation across borders for over 20 years. Our award-winning Mexico and Latin America Practice, now operating in Mexico as Gardere, Arena y Asociados, S.C., represents U.S., European and Pacific Rim clients with business and investment opportunities into Mexico and advises Mexican private and publicly traded corporations in domestic and international matters. Our lawyers also represent clients involved in domestic and cross-border disputes. Our core focus includes corporate, energy, environmental, financial services, hospitality, international arbitration and disputes, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, tax and transportation. Gardere’s strength and success have been achieved through the combination of comprehensive resources of a large law firm with the expertise of over 230 lawyers in 40 distinct practice areas.

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IDR.NJESÚS T EF. R V I E W REYES-HEROLES Update/Education / Actualidad / Educación

Executive President of EnergeA

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Interview / Entrevista

The U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce magazine, Alliance, met up with EnergeA’s president. Dr. Jesús Reyes-Heroles, for an interview on the Mexican Energy Reform and related investment opportunities as well as the challenges.

Jesús F. Reyes-Heroles is currently Executive President of StructurA, an organization that groups different consulting firms such as GEA, EnergeA, StructurA, PROA, and MBD. He is also a member of the boards of directors of Santander Mexico and OHL Mexico, as well as member of the advisory board of Energy Intelligence Group (EIG), Mitsui Mexico and the Centro Mario Molina para Estudios Estratégicos sobre Energía y Medio Ambiente AC. Dr. Reyes-Heroles was director general/CEO of Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) from December 2006 until September 2009. Ambassador of Mexico to the United States from October 1997 to November 2000 and, from 1995 to 1997, he served as secretary of energy in President Ernesto Zedillo’s cabinet. In that capacity he was chairman of the board of diverse state-owned enterprises, such as PEMEX and Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). Dr. Reyes-Heroles obtained his P.h.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Fulbright scholar.

Q: We have all heard about the energy reform in Mexico. Please explain its importance for the country. Mexico’s energy reform is the backbone of its economic strategy. It has a variety of objectives, principally the acceleration of economic growth and job creation based on an increase in public and private investment, as well as a decrease in the cost of some energy products. For this, the reform tries to maintain, where reasonably possible, the investment of PEMEX and CFE (Comisión Nacional de Electricidad), the national utilities commission, while substantially growing private investment in the sector. The reform also seeks to improve the national economic efficiency, especially the cost-efficiency of electricity, which is a basic ingredient for production of most goods. In hydrocarbons, the reform seeks to achieve a production baseline of 2.8 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2018 and 3.3 million barrels per day by 2025. Natural gas production targets are 8,000 million cubic feet by 2018 and 10,400 million by 2025. Q: This reform is unprecedented in its design and investment objectives. What are the fundamental principles under which the reform will be implemented? In my view there are six fundamental

principles that characterize energy reform. These are: 1. Hydrocarbons in the belong to the nation;

Mexico’s subsurface

2. Market access and fair competition among state-owned enterprises and private companies; 3. Strengthening of regulatory bodies; 4. Transparency and accountability; 5. Sustainability and protection; and

environmental

6. Maximizing the state’s revenue for the nation’s long-term development. Keeping focus on these principles will ensure maximum probability of success for the sector. At the same time, they will provide the framework that local and foreign investors will require to evaluate their investment plans under a market structure that is more comparable to others. Q. What are the main expected benefits of the energy reform for Mexico’s economy? The impact that the energy reform is predicted to have for the country’s economic growth is significant. In terms of the GDP, the energy reform will contribute an additional 1.3 percent growth, which more than double of the telecom reform (0.5 percent) and significantly more

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than the financial and labor reforms, 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent respectively. So, if all these expected effects are added to Mexico’s current 3-3.5 percent growth rate, we should see Mexico attaining a new “natural” GDP growth rate of 4.7 percent to 5.2 percent for several years to come. Q. Although the reform has been hailed as an historic watershed and a profound systemic change, what are its main shortcomings? Indeed, the energy reform represents an historic shift in the right direction for the country, but as with any change of this scale, the reform has some aspects to be improved in the future. One of the issues unsolved by the reform is that PEMEX and CFE remain in the federal budget. Among the restrictions that this implies is that the Ministry of Finance will continue defining the capital expenditures of PEMEX and CFE which will ultimately be approved by Congress on an annual basis. Moreover, the strategic vision and scope of the Mexican Petroleum Fund are somewhat shortsighted. The fund will be limited to distributing oil income between contractors and the government ensuring certain levels of current government spending rather than creating savings. Other countries’ oil funds, such as Norway’s, prioritize incentivizing and safeguarding long-term savings, not government expenditures. In

Interview / Entrevista

“Certainly, the national network of gas pipelines has started its expansion project led by the CFE. The objective is to grow the network by 3,985 miles by 2018 As of April 2015, there are four projects underway and 11 under project design. Five have already been awarded, seven are under construction, and six have been completed.”

addition, the fund’s operation has a heavy bureaucratic burden. Q. Companies considering investing in Mexico may be concerned about the security situation in the country. What can you tell potential investors on that issue? First of all, it is important to understand that security is not the same throughout the country. The critical areas in terms of security are well identified and represent a minority of the national territory. This is hard for foreigners who do not travel to Mexico on a regular basis to understand as the media usually focuses on the worst cases and does not explain the regional and even subregional differences in crime across the country. It is also important to point out that some criminal organizations have resorted to spectacular attacks or gruesome killings in part to intimidate rivals and local authorities. According to FBI crime statistics, 4.8 per 100,000 Americans were murdered in the U.S. in 2010. In contrast, the U.S. State Department reported that of the 5.7 million Americans who visited Mexico last year, 120 were murdered, a rate of 2.1 per 100,000 visitors. Regardless whether the victims were or were not connected to drug trafficking—which is often not clear— it is less than half the U.S. national rate1. It is, however, important to point out that the security challenges in Mexico should not be taken lightly and that all companies looking to operate energy projects in the country must have a detailed understanding of the risks and costs associated with their specific operations. Energy companies are used to operating

in the most extreme and insecure environments on the planet. Ultimately, the main issue regarding security is whether the contractual conditions in Mexico are attractive enough to warrant the extra security expenses. Q. In terms of profitability, how competitive will the Mexican extraction market be to foreign companies? Can you give us any information on current production costs in Mexico? Mexico has very competitive production costs, which average about $8 per barrel nationally. For the large shallow water fields offshore, production costs remain below $7 per barrel. However, it is known that Mexico has produced most of the country’s “easy oil” and most of the new production will come from fields that are harder and more expensive to produce, such as unconventionals and deep waters, yet this is the reality for most of the world. Production costs in Mexico should remain attractive in the long term, as well as the materiality of our reserves. Q. We have heard that one of the first areas of opportunity in foreign investment will be gas pipelines. Can you provide us with an overview of this investment opportunity? Certainly. The national network of gas pipelines has started its expansion project led by the CFE. The objective is to grow the network by 3,985 miles by 2018 As of April 2015, there are four projects underway and 11 under project design. Five have already been awarded, seven are under construction, and six have

been completed. Q. How is the oil price drop affecting the overall economy of Mexico? The drop in the price of oil across the globe has affected all exploration and production companies around the world and has forced companies to adjust their investment programs. In Mexico as well as elsewhere in the world, the fall in prices has affected the number of wells drilled. The effects are even more profound for PEMEX and CFE as they remain a part of the federal budget, and were therefore subject to mandatory budget cuts at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, some of PEMEX’s strategic projects have had to be cancelled or postponed as a result. Q. Finally, in your view, what are the challenges for private firms in Mexico for growth potential and what are your recommendations for their success? I see the reform as a very fast-passing train that we must quickly board, and board properly. There are four areas where I believe Mexican private firms need to be prepared appropriately. The most important is for corporations to improve their governance through corporate board integration and strengthening oversight practices. Second, improving their managerial capacities is critical, and the third area is enhancing operational capabilities. The fourth challenge is bolstering transparency and guaranteeing compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other related international legislation.

EnergeA is a company that designs and develops projects in the energy sector. For more information visit structura.com.mx/en/. 1Admin.

“Are Americans Safer in Mexico Than at Home?” LonelyPlanet.com. 30 April 2012. www.lonelyplanet.com/blog/2012/04/30/are-americans-safer-in-mexico-than-at-home/#ixzz3d8RlZgJO. “Mexico is safer than many cities in the U.S.” howsafeismexico.com. How Safe Is Mexico? A Travelers Guide to Safety over Sensationalism. www.howsafeismexico.com/compare_mexico_us_cities.html.

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Member Highlights / Miembro Destacado

Softtek: A Recognized Leader in IT Solutions Worldwide and Developer of Global Nearshore™ Service Delivery Model

FOUNDED IN 1982, SOFTTEK IS A GLOBAL PROVIDER OF PROCESS-DRIVEN IT SOLUTIONS WITH 30 OFFICES IN NORTH AMERICA, LATIN AMERICA, EUROPE AND ASIA. In the last decade, Softtek has grown from a 2,000-member company to one that is hovering near the 10,000-associate mark. With more than 60 Fortune 500 clients, it has gained traction over the years leading to “nearshore” as a mainstream concept. The Mexico-based company has been recognized several times over the years for the quality of its products and services, flexibility, innovation, and advanced software and technology engineering capabilities. In 2004, Softtek became the first Latin American company to be recognized for the quality and maturity of its processes by achieving CMM Level 5 certification from Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute. Forrester Research has referred to Softtek as: “The obvious choice for Mexico-specific nearshore services,” and in 2005, Gartner, Inc. honored the company as its 2005 Cool Vendor for its pioneering of the nearshore model.

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Member Highlights / Miembro Destacado

Regional Integration With over 30 offices around the world, Softtek is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s businesses. It has the knowledge, expertise and international presence to deliver services seamlessly across North America and around the world. The company is headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico with Global Delivery Centers in Aguascalientes, Baja California, Mexico City, and Monterrey. The close proximity of the facilities and employees who are fluent in both verbal and written English make working together seamless and effective. By pioneering nearshore strategies, Softtek eliminated the deficiencies often associated with an offshore provider.

Technologies will continue to evolve and the digital world will keep growing, expanding, and becoming more diverse. Softtek is helping organizations accelerate innovation in the new digital environment through agile development, bring your own device (BYOD) options that allow employees to use their personal laptops and mobile devices in the workplace, cloud modernization, DevOps, Embedded Systems, Internet of Things and embedded systems, security services, IT M&A, Software Product Development, Global procurement-as-a-Service and User Experience.

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Upcoming events / Próximos eventos CHAPTER

EVENT

July / Julio

DATE

PLACE

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Bajio Chapter - Leon Guanajuato

Segundo Foro Internacional de Sustentabilidad y Responsabilidad Social

Hotel Radisson Poliforum

splopez88@gmail.com

Michoacan Chapter

Board Meeting

Oficinas Canacintra, Morelia

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

California Pacific Chapter. Los Angeles, CA.

Seminar to University of Chapingo International Trade Students and visit to manufacturing plants. Undersanding rules on how to export to the US.

1800 Century Park East suite 300 Los Angeles CA.

marlen@usmcocca.org

Northeast Chapter, NY.

Wall Street Meets Latin Broadway

TBD

marianna@usmcocne.org

Bajio Chapter - Leon Guanajuato

Curso Cierre de Ventas Profesional

Cnec León, Gto

splopez88@gmail.com

California Pacific Chapter. Los Angeles, CA.

Pacific Alliance Mexico-Colombia, Peru, and Chile, Open discussion and dialog about opportunities in California

1800 Century Park East suite 300 Los Angeles CA.

marlen@usmcocca.org

Southwest Chapter. Dallas, TX.

U.S.- Mexico and South America Opportunities

Sambuca, Dallas

swusmx@netzero.com

Holiday Inn Gto

splopez88@gmail.com

Cruise on Lake Michigan

blanca.berthier@usmcoc.org

Hong Kong - Tokyo

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

27 y 28

August / Agosto Bajio Chapter - Leon Guanajuato

Curso Responsabilidad Social Empresarial

3y4

Mid-America Chapter. Chicago, IL

Hot August Night summer social

Michoacan Chapter

3ra Macro Rueda Alianza Pacifico, Canacintra NacionalMorelia

Bajio Chapter - Leon Guanajuato

Curso Calidad Personal

12 y 13

Holiday Inn Gto

splopez88@gmail.com

Michoacan Chapter

Mide el Desempeño de tu Empresa y Corrige el Rumbo

13 Y 14

Oficinas Canacintra

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

California Pacific Chapter. Los Angeles, CA.

Immigration legislation and Legal Instruments for US Citizens working or relocating to Mexico US.

1800 Century Park East suite 300 Los Angeles CA.

marlen@usmcocca.org

California Pacific Chapter. Los Angeles, CA.

Fourth Trade Mission to India Singapore, Hong Kong and China, Extension to Vietnam and Cambodia

20-SEP 12

ASIA

marlen@usmcocca.org

Michoacan Chapter

Board Meeting

Oficinas Canacintra

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

Michoacan Chapter

Breakfast / Networking

24 Y 25

Oficinas Canacintra

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

Binational Event

North America Sustainable Economic Development Summit

Four Seasons. Las Colinas, Irving, TX

gabriela.kenny@usmcoc.org

Bajio Chapter - Leon Guanajuato

Curso El Arte de Negociar

25 y 26

Holiday Inn Gto

splopez88@gmail.com

Michoacan Chapter

Convencion Nacional Delegacion, Sectores y Ramas Industriales

26 A 29

Torreon, Coahuila

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

Northwest Chapter - Seattle, WA

Exim Bank- State WA

Columbia Tower Center

253-678-7696

Southwest Chapter Dallas, TX

ProMexico GTO Streaming

Sambuca, Dallas

swusmx@netzero.com

11 AL 20

23-24

September / Septiembre Southwest Chapter Dallas, TX

Mexico Independence

Michoacan Chapter

Como Obtener Recursos a Fondo Perdido

Sambuca, Dallas.

swusmx@netzero.com

10 Y 11

Houston-The Woodlands-Gulf Coast

Oficinas Canacintra, Morelia

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

2nd Annual Fiestas Patrias Gala

The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center.

petegarcia@usmcocgc.org

Michoacan Chapter

Board Meeting

Oficinas Canacintra, Morelia

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

Michoacan Chapter

Breakfast / Networking

21 Y 22

Oficinas Canacintra, Morelia

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

California Pacific Chapter. Los Angeles, CA.

Eight LAC-China Bussiness Summit Guadalajara Trade Mission from China to Mexico

28-29

1800 Century Park East suite 300 Los Angeles CA.

marlen@usmcocca.org

Northeast Chapter, NY

Hispanic Markets Forum

TBD

marianna@usmcocne.org

October / Octubre California Pacific Chapter. Los Angeles, CA.

Logisitics in North America, an approach to do International Bussines Tijuana and Ensenada” North America Manofacturing Partnership, Trade Mision to Tijuana

TBD

marlen@usmcocca.org

Michoacan Chapter

Logra el Exito de tu Empresa Familiar en el Mercado Global

8Y9

Oficinas Canacintra, Morelia

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

Michoacan Chapter

Board Meeting

Michoacan Chapter

Breakfast / Networking

Oficinas Canacintra, Morelia

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

19 Y 20

Oficinas Canacintra, Morelia

usmcocmich1@gmail.com

California Pacific Chapter. Los Angeles, CA.

Fourth Baja California Investment Forum 2015 Promotion of toutism and Real Estate in the States of Baja California

TBD

marlen@usmcocca.org

Northwest Chapter - Seattle, WA

Oregon State Representative.

Northeast Chapter, NY

Conference with Manuel Sanchez, Vice Governor of Mexico’s Central Bank

TBD

Columbia Tower Center

253-678-7696

TBD

marianna@usmcocne.org

Northeast Chapter, NY

The New Rules for Mexico’s Electrical Sector: Investing & Financing of Electricity Projects

TBD

marianna@usmcocne.org

Northeast Chapter, NY

Financing Oil & Gas Projects

TBD

marianna@usmcocne.org

New Members / Nuevos miembros

California Regional Chapter. Los Angeles, CA.

Michoacan Chapter. Morelia, Mich.

. ManattJones Global Strategies

. Angele Garcia

New members to the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce

Sector: Merchandise

Sector: Consuting – Strategic business advice www.manatt.com/ manattjonesglobalstrategies.aspx

. Ritch Mueller Sector: Law & Legal Services www.ritch.com.mx Northwest Chapter. Seattle, WA.

Southwest Chapter. Dallas, TX.

. Commercial Collection

. Fernando Paz

Sector: Import-Export

. C de Michoacan

Sector: Graphic Design

Sector: Investment Tourism and Trade https://promexico

Consultants Sector: Business Collections www.ccc-worldwide.com . Greater American Asian Chamber Sector: Chamber of Commerce www.gdaacc.com

Guanajuato Chapter. Leon, GTO.

. Pata de Perro

. Luis Morris

. Law Offices of Kenneth G.

. Estructuras y Paileria

Northeast Chapter. New York, NY.

Sector: Environmental Services htpps://naturemexicofoundation.org . Mark Stockdale Sector: Consulting-Sales

. BBVA Compass

. Nelson Del Rio

Sector: Human Development Non https://propertyofthecommons.org

Sector: Clothing Manufactoring Uniforms http://santexus.com

. Endeavor

. Sandra Madrid

. U.S. China Chamber of

. AR Produce

. MRC Global

Sector: Vegetables and Fruits

Especializada, S.A de C.V. Sector: Construction www.esypesa.com.mx

Sector: Merchandize

Inter-American Chapter. Miami, Fl.

Sector: Financial Services www.bbvacompass.com

. Nardello & Co.

Sector: Global Investigations www.nardelloandco.com

Sector: Entrepreneurial Non-profit Organization www.endeavor.org

. St. Thomas University

. Gloria Fieldcamp

Sector: Education -University of Washington http://www.courts.wa.gov/?fa=home. sub&org=mjc&page= bioMadrid&layout=2

Pacifico Chapter. Guadalajara, JAL.

Individual Member

Sector: Academic Institution www.stu.edu

. The Ballet Boutique Company

Klein & Company LLP Sector: Accounting Services www.kleincpas.com

Business Administration Sector: Academic Institution www.bus.miami.edu/grad

Valle de Mexico, Chapter. Mexico City

. BARBRI

. Juan Pablo Domínguez

. Partners in Performance

Sector: Law & Legal Services www.ogmenlaw.com

. Miguel Angel Vargas Rea Sector: Manufacturing. Pipes and Fittings www.pyagsa.com

Veracruz Chapter. Veracruz, VER.

. PetroRock Energy

. José María Salguero

. Pineda Covalin

. Roberto Cervantes Cruz

. LópezVelarde, Wilson,

Hernández & Barhem, S.C. Sector: Law & Legal Services www.lvwhb.com

Sector: Banking, Investment www.totalbank.com

. University of Miami School of

Commerce Sector: Chamber of Commerce www.uscccdallas.org

Sector: Finance www.barbri.com

. TOTALBANK

Sector: Experiential Leadership and Simulation Programs www.trisimulation.com

. Santex

. Ivan Barajas Jacobo

Sector: Dancewear Boutique www.ballet-boutique.com

. TRICorporation

Wincorn P.C. Sector: Law offices www.wincorn.com

. Ogmen Law

Sector: Financial Services www.petro-rock.com

Sector: Fashion Designer www.pinedacovalin.com

Sector: Biotechnology www.dofer.com

Sector: Consulting www.pipint.com

. Fundación Funda-Crover Sector: Cultural www.fundacrover.blogspot.mx

Sector: Environmental www.gruposarre.com

Sector: Consulting www.consultoriaciss.com

Member Discounts

Consult your regional chapter to obtain discounts: VALLE DE MÉXICO CHAPTER Mexico City - Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mexico City at the WTC - Hotel Holiday Inn Cd. De México Trade Center - St. Regis Mexico City - Marquis Reforma Hotel - Ostar Grupo Hotelero (Geneve Raquet Club) - Ostar Hotel Group has Geneve Hotel in Mexico City, the Racquet Cuernavaca, Hotel Francia Aguascalientes, Veracruz Centro Historico Hotel, Hotel Viva Villahermosa and Ramada Hotel Getaway in Ornaldo. - Hoteles Misión In all of its 43 locations in Mexico

- Holiday Inn WTC - Four Season Hotel México - Plaza Suites Mexico City - Filadelfia Suites - Sheraton María Isabel Hotel & Towers THE WOODLANDS - GULF COAST CHAPTER The Woodlands, TX - The Woodlands Resorts & Conference Center GUANAJUATO CHAPTER León, Gto. MEXICO PLAZA HOTELS Locations: Leon, Guanajuato, Irapuato, Salamanca, Celaya and Guadalajara, Coming soon: Aguascalientes, Silao y San Miguel de Allende

Hotel La Nueva Estancia MID-AMERICA CHAPTER Chicago, IL Aeromexico United/Continental American Airlines Crown Paradise Resorts Las Brisas Hotels INTER-AMERICAN CHAPTER Miami, FL Interjet Aeromexico Sports Club CALIFORNIA REGIONAL CHAPTER Los Angeles, CA

- Aeromexico - Alaska Airlines - Benckmarkemail en Español - Agencia Aduanal adolfo Ayala Bejarano - Correduria Publica No. 23 - Cima Design - Lewis and Lewis Insurange Agency, Inc. - Todd Becraft Attorney at Law Insurange Agency, Inc. - Todd Becraft Attorney at Law - Trio America PACÍFICO CHAPTER Guadalajara, Jal - ABC Global Group