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here is already
a substantial software industry in Mexico; some of the world’s
major companies are established there and around
£25 million-worth of hi-tech products are exported a year. A number
of companies have been in Mexico for many years, while the North American
Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) has encouraged more to develop facilities
in the country.
Most companies predict considerable growth, stimulated by the e-Mexico
project.
Intel, the world’s
leading microchip manufacturer, was among the first to recognise the
potential of Mexico. The company has been in the country for more than
a decade and has offices in Mexico City and Monterrey, as well as a
design centre in Guadalajara.
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Ricardo
Carreón, Director General of Intel Mexico, believes
that the company will see unit sales increase from around 2.5 million
to six million over the next five years. “We see Mexico as one
of the most important markets in the world. It is now changing from
an emerging market to a more established one.”
Mr Carreón says the e-Mexico project is not without its teething
problems, but he adds: “It’s immensely exciting – we’ve
never before seen IT made such a national priority.” Intel is working
closely with the government to introduce computers into every school.
“We’re training teachers how to use computers in the classroom,”
he says. “This is more of a philanthropic programme for us, because
the return is not immediate. But it will create a more technologically-minded
society and the results will be seen in around five years time.”
Mr Carreón sees considerable potential in the Mexican telecoms
market. “Connectivity to all the districts is a very complex task,”
he says. “There are problems, particularly in the poorer states
where there are no fixed lines and, in some cases, no electricity. The
connection has to be subsidised. But the technology can overcome these
problems and there are plenty of business opportunities.”
There is capital for value-added,
complex products
Mexico faces challenges in the global telecommunications market, not
least from those other countries that are attracting the interest of
multinationals such as Intel. These include Russia, Brazil, India and,
most of all, China, where labour costs are even lower than in Mexico.
Peter Wiegandt, President and Chief Executive of Dell in Mexico, says:
“Mexico needs to attract investment very quickly, because growth
in China has been huge. However, it is in a unique position and, with
the right policies, high productivity and a competitive environment,
it can attract more capital.”
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Carlos
Guzman, President and Chief Executive of Hewlett Packard
Mexico, says: “The easiest things to manufacture are going to other
countries such as China, but we are seeing a lot of investment coming
into Mexico to produce more complex products with more added value.”
HP Mexico ranks tenth in the company’s worldwide subsidiaries.
“We have a very special position in Mexico,” says Mr Guzman.
“We’ve been in talks with the government from the beginning
to see which are the best systems for the infrastructure of the e-Mexico
project.” Mr Guzman is also President of the Association of Mexican
Information and Technology Industries (AMITI) and is a keen supporter
of the government’s drive to introduce modern communications throughout
the country.
“Relations between the industry and government are excellent,”
he says. “The initiative is going to be very beneficial for the
industry and for the country. The first stage is interconnectivity.
The government is creating incentives for companies and other organisations
in Mexico to access the internet. The tools that the private sector
can provide the government with are important because they will mean
better services. Costs can be reduced and the government can decentralise
services at a federal level.”
Javier Cordero Torres, President and General Director of Oracle in Mexico,
believes there must be consolidation of services for the e-Mexico concept
to be successful. “Some states are very much part of the project,
but not all can participate as yet because of the cost,” he says.
“The only way is to have a big data centre. Then we can give different
states all the different services and consolidate the information in
one single place.”
He expects such a database in the future. In the meantime, he says:
“Oracle is playing an important role by providing technology and
expertise. We’re working in a number of different states and they
all have our technology in their institutions.”
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