Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MEXICO4217
2006-07-31 18:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:  

COPARMEX' PROJECT TO REDUCE MEXICO'S REGIONAL

Tags:  ECON EFIN ENRG MX PGOV PINR PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6094
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #4217/01 2121828
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311828Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2424
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 004217 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/EPC, EB/IED
TREASURY FOR IA MEXICO DESK: JASPER HOEK
COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/NAFTA: ANDREW RUDMAN
ENERGY FOR KDEUTSCH AND SLADISWAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN ENRG MX PGOV PINR PREL
SUBJECT: COPARMEX' PROJECT TO REDUCE MEXICO'S REGIONAL
DIVISIONS


Sensitive but Unclassified, entire text.

-------
SUMMARY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 004217

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/EPC, EB/IED
TREASURY FOR IA MEXICO DESK: JASPER HOEK
COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/NAFTA: ANDREW RUDMAN
ENERGY FOR KDEUTSCH AND SLADISWAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN ENRG MX PGOV PINR PREL
SUBJECT: COPARMEX' PROJECT TO REDUCE MEXICO'S REGIONAL
DIVISIONS


Sensitive but Unclassified, entire text.

--------------
SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) The Mexican Employers Confederation (Coparmex) is
working on a joint plan with universities, unions,
municipalities, states, and the banking sector to alleviate
poverty, promote investment and create infrastructure in the
less developed and "abandoned" south of Mexico. The chair of
the organization, Alberto Nunez Estevas, announced recently
that the plan could be officially delivered to the President
in October. The feasibility of the plan will depend on
political events and the ability of disparate organizations
to work together in the coming months. End Summary.

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PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVE
--------------


2. (SBU) Embassy Econoff and FSN met with Dr. Alberto Equihua
Zamora, Director of Regional Development and Analysis of the
Mexican Employers Confederation (Coparmex) on July 27 to
discuss the group's recently announced plans for potential
broad scale assistance for Mexico's south. Based on that
meeting and recent media reports, it is clear that specific
plans/results remain in an early stage. Equihua explained
that, with the support of local authorities and universities,
the private sector will be able to develop specific projects
promoting investment, exploiting natural resources and
creating needed infrastructure. According to Equihua, the
results of the elections made more obvious the need to look
to the south to promote investment and create infrastructure.
The Coparmex approach will seek to "formalize and coordinate
ongoing and new projects with a defined methodology and a
long-term vision". Coparmex's regional centers are currently
working with universities, which will perform studies on
economic feasibili
ty, marketing, demand, etc.


3. (SBU) Equihua believes that Coparmex's overall plan should

help to coordinate efforts and promote southern projects in a
more efficient and targeted manner. It also should help
improve communication with involved parties: states
secretaries of economic development, private sector, local

SIPDIS
vendors, and federal, state and municipalities authorities.
The objective is to share best practices with other states
and involve countries, such as the U.S., that may have
expertise to offer. Equihua believes that the Coparmex
effort can provide continuity and establish formal
commitments to projects given the upcoming GOM changes.


4. (SBU) Alberto Nunez Estevas, the chief executive of
Coparmex, said in his announcement that the success of this
plan will depend on political developments (including AMLO's
reaction to the electoral tribunal's decision) and how well
federal and state government will be able to solve social
problems. i.e. teachers union conflict in Oaxaca. It will
also depend on how involved municipalities are in the
project. According to Nunez, municipalities and the society
are key elements in promoting economic development proposals.



5. (SBU) This latest initiative follows Coparmex's first
forum on regional development (held in March of 2006). That
event was called "Regions of Mexico: Promoting Regional
Development". Coparmex worked very closely with the
Association of Mexican Municipalities and the Ministries of
Economy and Social Development to put it together. The forum
included discussions about best practices, promotion of
Mexican services and products, and investment opportunities.
Coparmex was able to install 80 stands and its target is to
have more in the next forum. The GOM Secretary of Labor,
several Mexican Under Secretaries, Governors of southern
states, the chairman of an important infrastructure
development bank, the Chilean Ambassador, and Presidencia's
staff attended the forum as speakers. President Fox closed
the gathering. Coparmex is planning to hold a second forum
next year in which they will include speakers from the public
and private sectors, and academia. Dr. Equihua, coordinator
of the 2007 forum, expressed great interest in having U.S.
participation (USG, academics, etc.) to share best practices

MEXICO 00004217 002 OF 002


and success stories. Dr. Equihua will be in contact with us
as soon as he has a better idea of the dates and agenda.

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COMMENT
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6. (SBU) We will track this undertaking to see what traction
it may get in upcoming months. At a minimum, it reflects
well the current domestic preoccupation with Mexico as
divided in two after the presidential elections held on July

2. As Nunez said, the industrialized North voted for PAN and
the less developed and "abandoned" south decided for an
"alternative economic model", i.e. voting for PRD. He and
others see the attainment of broad-scale southern development
as an important common goal for the Mexico. End Comment.


Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity

GARZA