Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MONTERREY34
2009-01-30 11:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Monterrey
Cable title:
NUEVO LEON BUSINESS SURVEY SHOWS WORSENING SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO9013 PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM DE RUEHMC #0034 0301121 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 301121Z JAN 09 FM AMCONSUL MONTERREY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3442 INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 4488 RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USNORTHCOM RUEHMC/AMCONSUL MONTERREY 8989
UNCLAS MONTERREY 000034
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM EINV ECON ASEC SNAR CASC PGOV MX
SUBJECT: NUEVO LEON BUSINESS SURVEY SHOWS WORSENING SECURITY
SITUATION; INVESTMENTS GENERALLY UNAFFECTED
UNCLAS MONTERREY 000034
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM EINV ECON ASEC SNAR CASC PGOV MX
SUBJECT: NUEVO LEON BUSINESS SURVEY SHOWS WORSENING SECURITY
SITUATION; INVESTMENTS GENERALLY UNAFFECTED
1. (U) On January 14 the Monterrey Chapter of the Overseas
Security Advisory Council (OSAC) conducted a survey of 56
employees working in the security and human resources divisions
of area companies. Survey participants represented 22 American
companies, 24 Mexican firms and 8 other foreign companies.
Although not a scientific sample, the findings track with
comments we have heard from our business contacts. Post
designed the questionnaire in conjunction with the local chapter
of the American Chamber of Commerce.
2. (U) According to the results, 64% of the respondents
said that the security situation in Nuevo Leon had worsened in
the last year, 30% thought that it had stayed the same, and only
6% reported that it was better. Moreover, 70% of the companies
surveyed have increased their spending on security issues, 30%
have not changed their budget, and none have reduced their
security expenses. In addition, the respondents stated that 68%
of them or someone closely related to them had been kidnapped,
had been the subject of an attempted kidnapping, or had been the
subject of extortion to avoid being kidnapped. Only 32% did not
know of any such cases. Finally, despite the increased security
threat and additional costs, 66% of companies report that they
have not changed their investment or business plans due to
security concerns.
3. (SBU) Comment. Since the survey participants work in
the security or human resources areas and are members of OSAC,
they are far more likely to know about kidnapping or extortion
cases than most employees. However, since Nuevo Leon
authorities only received 26 official kidnapping complaints in
2008, the survey indicates that kidnappings are vastly
underreported. One security expert estimated that there were
300 kidnappings for ransom in Nuevo Leon in 2008, not including
the numerous `levantones' or kidnapping of people in the drug
trade. End comment.
WILLIAMSON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM EINV ECON ASEC SNAR CASC PGOV MX
SUBJECT: NUEVO LEON BUSINESS SURVEY SHOWS WORSENING SECURITY
SITUATION; INVESTMENTS GENERALLY UNAFFECTED
1. (U) On January 14 the Monterrey Chapter of the Overseas
Security Advisory Council (OSAC) conducted a survey of 56
employees working in the security and human resources divisions
of area companies. Survey participants represented 22 American
companies, 24 Mexican firms and 8 other foreign companies.
Although not a scientific sample, the findings track with
comments we have heard from our business contacts. Post
designed the questionnaire in conjunction with the local chapter
of the American Chamber of Commerce.
2. (U) According to the results, 64% of the respondents
said that the security situation in Nuevo Leon had worsened in
the last year, 30% thought that it had stayed the same, and only
6% reported that it was better. Moreover, 70% of the companies
surveyed have increased their spending on security issues, 30%
have not changed their budget, and none have reduced their
security expenses. In addition, the respondents stated that 68%
of them or someone closely related to them had been kidnapped,
had been the subject of an attempted kidnapping, or had been the
subject of extortion to avoid being kidnapped. Only 32% did not
know of any such cases. Finally, despite the increased security
threat and additional costs, 66% of companies report that they
have not changed their investment or business plans due to
security concerns.
3. (SBU) Comment. Since the survey participants work in
the security or human resources areas and are members of OSAC,
they are far more likely to know about kidnapping or extortion
cases than most employees. However, since Nuevo Leon
authorities only received 26 official kidnapping complaints in
2008, the survey indicates that kidnappings are vastly
underreported. One security expert estimated that there were
300 kidnappings for ransom in Nuevo Leon in 2008, not including
the numerous `levantones' or kidnapping of people in the drug
trade. End comment.
WILLIAMSON