Calls for Investment at the U.S.-Mexico Border

The new coordinated border plan proposed today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce touched on five areas: Trade, Infrastructure, Travel, Immigration and Security.

The public and private investment in such a program is needed to create a 21st century U.S.-Mexico border that will allow both countries to be secure and to compete in the global economy, the report said. Read more about the need to invest the U.S.-Mexican border here.

Mexico Opens Up To Foreign Oil Investors

The Mexican Petroleum industry has long been defined by an relying too heavily on major oil fields - Cantarell and Ku-Maloob-Zaap (KMZ) - and not investing enough in exploration. Mexico ranks sixth in the world as an oil producer but declines in production are setting the country on the path of becoming a net importer. See more on what Mexico opening up the market to foreign oil investors means.

Microfinance in Mexico: Contributing to Mexican Economic Development

Microfinance in Mexico is a key part of Mexican economic development. It promotes both economic growth and social justice. That is why it is encouraging news to report that the Mexican financial institution Banco Compartamos has had its credit rating reaffirmed by Standard & Poor’s. Banco Compartamos S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple specializes in microfinance, and it is the largest lender to microbusiness owners in Latin America. Established in 1990 and headquartered in Mexico City, Compartamos provides small loans to low-income Mexican individuals and business owners, such as craft manufacturers, food vendors and other small businesses. As an essential actor for microfinance in Mexico, the Bank also provides home improvement loans and life insurance products to its clients. Standard & Poor’s determined that “The stable outlook reflects our expectation that Compartamos will maintain an important pace of market penetration, while maintaining its asset quality supported by its good financial profile and its strong capital base.”