Crime no deterrent to Mexican investment in Ja - Ambassador Mijares
Published:Wednesday | May 9, 2018 | 12:00 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
Despite Jamaica's well-documented challenges with crime, its attractive business climate continues to be a key part of Mexico's willingness to invest further, says its new ambassador, Juan Jose Gonzalez Mijares.
He says that Mexico's strategic location with a shared border with the world's only superpower gives it a unique platform from which to help set the tone for future involvement in the region.
"The crime situation is no deterrent to further investment in Jamaica. I do not see Jamaica's crime situation as a major worry for Mexican investment. Cemex (cement manufacturing company) coming to Jamaica is a case in point," Gonz·lez Mijares told The Gleaner, "And we continue investment in constructing major hotels primarily on the north coast.
"We find in Jamaica an attractive atmosphere for investment, and we are already working with the Government in a positive way and will continue doing so in the future," he added.
ACCUMULATED INVESTMENT
Mexico already has an accumulated investment of US$500 million in Jamaica across a number of sectors but primarily in tourism and the airports through MBJ, which operates the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, and Cemex's investment in Carib Cement. Notwithstanding, the ambassador wishes to increase Mexico's footprints in other sectors in the Jamaican economy.
Gonz·lez Mijares told The Gleaner that the groundwork to a more robust investment outlay had already been set in motion by the visit in March by the Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Videgaray Caso.
"First of all, we have the question of the strengthening of the political dialogue and the collaboration of the global and inter-regional issues that have to do with human development [and] security," said the Mexican ambassador. [We also have], especially, the questions to deal with migration issues, climate change, and the particular agenda that Jamaica and Mexico are dealing with in a very cooperative fashion," he added.
He aid that it was important to note that Mexico and Jamaica were constructing a partnership-type relationship that he saw as a win-win relationship for both countries.
"So it will be a very important agenda to promote and to attract new investments into Jamaica from Mexico. Also, we will work with Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO), and this will be an active part of our agenda," said Gonzalez Mijares.