Mexico - Opening Ahead of Eastern Europe

Although Eastern Europe has tremendous potential, Mexico is North America's regional opportunity. Mexico has begun to emerge from decades of state intervention, antagonism toward its neighbors, and resistance to foreign investment. Mexico has almost 90 million increasingly literate and motivated people. Many US companies have recognized the benefits of establishing maquiladora assembly facilities along the Mexico-US border. Since 1988, global corporations have invested some $80.8 billion in Mexico. The US share of this investment has been about 63%. Mexico's $80 billion-plus in debt still represents about $1,000 per capita, but Hungary's per capita foreign debt is more than twice as great. The ratio for the US is over $2,000 per person, and it is increasing by almost 20% per year. To encourage growth in the sophistication and competitiveness of its companies, Mexico has instituted its own version of Japan's Deming Award for outstanding achievement in quality, customer responsiveness, and quality of work life.