Contemporary Culture Global Understanding MEXICO PRESENTATION Marcelo Ignacio García Ayala

1. Contemporary Culture Global Understanding MEXICO PRESENTATION Marcelo Ignacio García Ayala

2. México Profile • Known formally as the United Mexican States • Mexico is the 5th biggest country in the Americas, spanning nearly 2 million square kilometers. • Mexico can be found in North America, bordered by the United States on the north, by Guatemala and Belize on the southeast, the North Pacific Ocean on the southwest and the Sea of Cortez on the east. • The country of Mexico derived its name from its capital city. The capital city was originally named by the Aztecs as Mexico-Tenochtitlan, which was closely related to the name of an Aztec tribe, the Mexica. • In view of the fact that the Mexican constitution guarantees freedom of religion, Mexico does not have an official state religion. However, it is widely accepted idea that a vast majority of Mexicans consider themselves to be Christians.

3. México Profile • The government of the United Mexican States is a Presidential Federal republic. • Their current constitution was established in 1917. • The Mexican people can speak a variety of languages. There are over 60 indigenous languages in Mexico, although only 6% can speak any of it. This percentage approximately corresponds to about 6 million people in Mexico.  • The official language in Mexico is Spanish • Ethnicity/race • Mestizo 60%, (Amerindian-Spanish), • Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, • White 9%, other 1% • The local currency is the Mexican Peso

4. México Profile • Capital: Mexico City, Federal District (DF) • Exchange rate on 14/09/2010:1 MXN = 0.0777 USD, 1 USD = 12.8685 MXN1 MXN = 0.0605 EUR, 1 EUR = 16.5173 MXN • GDP growth rate: 5.2% in 2012 • FDI stock: 309 523 million USD in 2009 • Economic freedom:Score: 65.8/100 • Position: moderately free • World Rank: 49 out of 179

5. México Profile • RISK ASSESSMENT BY DUCROIRE | DELCREDERE SA.NV • Export transactions • Political risk: Low • Commercial risk: High risks • OUR INSURANCE POSSIBILITIES AND TERMS • This cover can be provided on open account terms, i.e. without a bank guarantee being required, and without any further particular conditions. • SOME INDICATORS OF MARKET'S SIZE •  Mexico Population (in millions) 107,4 • Import of goods and services (in millions of USD) 333.838 • GNP (in millions of USD) 962.704 • Average real GDP growth (%) 2,7

6. Economic Trends • The Mexican economy showed a reduced growth rate in 2008 and even a negative rate in 2009. • The rise in international oil prices could contribute to the revival of the economy. Unemployment has increased in the last two years whereas inflation has remained relatively under control. • Nevertheless the general economic prospects are worrying. The anti-crisis mesures developed by Calderón's government are not discernable to the whole of the population. • The country's growing security issues discourage investments and tourism. In the near future, we are expecting more devaluations of the currency due as much to the reduction in foreign exchage income as to the constant capital flight.

7. Main Branches of Industry • Mexico is the world's 5th biggest producer of oil. • Cattle farming and fishing are also important economic activities. • The free trade zones dedicated to exports to the United States, the "Maquiladoras", which up to now used to energize the Mexican economy, are currently suffering from a crisis caused by competition from Asian countries and the American economy recession. Consequently, the manufacturing sector has markedly slowed down in these recent years and currently contributes around a quarter of the country's GDP. • The tertiary sector contributes to around 60% of the GDP and the construction sector is coming up again due to real estate investments.

8. Main Branches of Industry • Agriculture accounts for approximately 4% of the GDP and employs nearly 16% of the active population, however, the scarcity of credit continues to penalize this sector. • Mexico ranks amongst the world's largest producers of coffee, sugar, corn and oranges. • Mexico is amongst the world's leading producers of many minerals, including silver, fluorite, zinc and mercury, and its oil and gas reserves are one of its most precious possessions.

9. International Trade • Mexico is one of the countries that most depends on foreign trade.  Foreign trade represents around 70% of its GDP. • Mexico is a member of NAFTA - the free-trade agreement that unifies the United States, Mexico and Canada, since 1994. • Mexico signed a free trade agreement with the European Union in 2000 and a commercial agreement with Japan came into force in April 2005.

10. International Trade • The United States buys 80% of Mexico's exports. Its main export partners are the NAFTA and the European Union. The main export goods are electrical and electronic equipment, vehicles, mineral fuels, oil and machinery.  • Its three main import partners are the NAFTA, China and Japan.  It mainly imports electrical and electronics equipment, machinery, vehicles and plastic products. • Mainly because of the decrease of Mexican product purchases by the United States, the Mexican trade balance has been in deficit since 2008. This is another one of the chronic structural problems of the mexican economy, as the country imports more than it exports and the trend increased with the world crisis, especially in the oil sector.

11. Climate • Summer is the rainy season • The Tropic of Cancer effectively divides the country into temperate and tropical zones • Winter storms sweeping down from the north can affect weather as far south as Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta • Southern Mexico is generally rainier than the north. • Spring (April - May) are the warmest months except on the Pacific Coast. • Mexico's entire coastal areas are subject to high levels of humidity from July through October.

12. Mexico City • Mexico City is a remarkable showplace for Mexico's • It has 3,000 years of human cultural achievement. • It ranks as one of the world's greatest capitals. • Mexico City is located on an enormous dry lake bed in a highland basin (elevation 7,400 feet) surrounded by towering mountains.

13. Historic Data • Mexico was the site of some of the earliest and most advanced civilizations in the Americas. • At least four great civilizations—Mayas, Aztecas, Olmecas and Toltecas • Conquered in 1519–1521 by Spanish people commanded by Hernan Cortés. • Spain governed Mexico as part of its colonies with the name of New Spain for the next 300 years until Sept. 16, 1810, when an insurrection took place. • Declaration of independence was in 1821.

14. Art • Modern Mexican painters and sculptors continued to produce an extraordinary variety of works in many styles and techniques. • Major figures included José Luis Cuevas, Frida Kahlo (Diego Rivera's wife), Enrique Echeverría, Francisco Toledo, Orozco. • Rufino Tamayo and Gunther Gerzo were outstanding figures in 20th-century abstract and semi-abstract easel painting

15. Food • In Mexico, food is an intrinsic part of festivals,rituals, and personnel commemorations. • Tortillas The staple food of generations of ordinary Mexicans, tortillas can be made of flour (more common in the north) or corn (the traditional method and still the most common in the center and south). • Mole sauceA wonderful rich sauce made with the unlikely combination of chocolate, chilies, seeds and many spices. It can be red or green depending on the ingredients. The sauce is often served over chicken, though turkey is more traditional

16. Holidays • Piñatas: for children, piñatas provide a great way to celebrate many occasions, such as Christmas (during posada’s time) and birthday's. A piñata is a decorated vessel (such as a pottery jar) filled with candies, fruits, and gifts. Often times they are crafted out of brightly colored paper-Maché, a rigid material made of paper pulp or paper strips, held together by flour, glue, resin, or other materials. • A piñata is broken by a gruop ofchildren with a stick and with eyes covered while the others sing a song.

17. Values • Family is the most important value. In fact, extended family is common, since closer friends are considered part of the family. • Virgen de Guadalupe is a religious national symbol. • The most of Mexican people prefer to stay at their hometown close to the family. • People are friendly and hospitality so it is common to be invited by friends to their home. • People are solidarity for giving support to the community in case of urgency.

18. Business and Dress Code • Mexican business people wear suits to make deals or visit customer. • Sometimes, according to companies’s practices, wearing a casual dressing is enough. • Shorts and tennis shoes does not enter into the dress code anywhere. • A lot of business is done at breakfast and/or lunch. Breakfasts are also the preferred choice to meet, get to know, and exchange information over the potential business deal. • It is impolite to split the bill. The person who is making the sale, itraditionally expected to pick up the tab. • The standard working schedule in the facilities are Monday to Saturday, eight hours a day. • According to Mexican law, the working week cannot be more than 48 hours a week

19. Business and Life • Most offices are open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, but they can be open until 7:00pm from Monday to Friday. • Most people leave for lunch around 2:00 pm and take between 1 and 2hours; • The dinner is around 8 to 10pm. • All banks are open from 9:00am until 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. • Some banks have extended hours, including Saturday, at some branches.

20. Business and Life • When you come to business, the proper practice is a handshake, regardless of gender. • A kiss or a hug can be acceptable among business associates who have developed a personal relationship. • Deals are never closed over the phone or email. • The telephone is considered an unproper means of communication. It is prefered face to face. • Cellular phones are pervasive in Mexico including all social levels.

21. Mexico Holidays • January 1: New Year's Day • January 6: The arrival of the three gift-bearing wisemen to Jesus Christ. • February 2: Candlemas • February 5: Mexico's Constitution. • February 24: Flag Day • March 18: Oil Expropriation • March 21: The Birthday of Benito Juárez   

22. Mexico Holidays • Semana Santa: The holy week • May 1: Labor Day • May 3: Holy Cross • May 5: Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that honors the Mexican victory over the French army at Puebla de los Angeles in 1862. • June 1: Navy Day • September 1: Annual State of the Union • September 13: Heros of the Mexican-American War 1847. • September 16: Mexican Independence Day

23. Mexico Holidays • October 12: This day celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas, and the historical origins of the Mexican race. • November 12: Día de los Muertos • November 20: Mexican Revolution • December 12: Virgin of Guadalupe • December 16: Las Posadas celebrates Joseph and Mary's search for shelter in Bethlehem with candlelight processions that end at various nativity scenes. • December 25: Christmas holiday.

24. MEXICO • I hope this data migth wake up the interest of knowing more about our country, history, traditions… but more important, that could express that in Mexico you are always gonna be welcome… here you have your house…..