PRESS RELEASE - "Mexico joining global elite of world economic powers"
June 28, 2012, 2:29 p.m. EDT
Travel and Tourism Play Key Role as Vehicle for Job Creation, Economic Growth and Development, According to Leaders Declaration at G20 Summit 2012

MEXICO CITY, June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- UK's Prime Minister David Cameron states, "Mexico joining global elite of world economic powers"

The following is being released today by Marca Pais - Imagen de Mexico:

One of the main themes of the recent G20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico was the importance of tourism and international travel to the job market. In the Leaders Declaration at the G20 Summit, the significance of tourism on the vital recovery of the world's economy was highlighted, "we recognize the role of travel and tourism as a vehicle for job creation, economic growth and development, and, while recognizing the sovereign right of States to control the entry of foreign nationals, we will work towards developing travel facilitation initiatives in support of job creation, quality work, poverty reduction and global growth."

At the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) advocated this link between economic recovery and tourism. The tourism sector of the economy can create countless employment prospects for individuals and can spur a significant amount of growth in the GDP of the G20 countries in question.

Furthermore, the tourism market is anticipated to make up $2 trillion of the world's GDP and create as many as 100 million new jobs on a global scale this year. Cultural tourism and ecotourism can tackle the problem of unemployment in an imperative fashion, creating jobs and securing opportunities for individuals containing a variety of different skill sets. This in turn will reduce some of the damaging effects attributed to unemployment, including poverty.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron Praises Mexico in Joining Global Elite of World Economic Powers

During an official lunch with the United Kingdom's Prime Minister David Cameron, the European official praised Mexico as a global leader in Latin America and in the world. In a video, Cameron spoke about his visit to Mexico by saying, "This is my first visit to Latin America as Prime Minister, and it is no coincidence that Mexico should be my first destination. Mexico is joining the global elite of world economic powers, not just as a brilliant host of the G20, but as a major force in its own right."

And when giving some key facts he knew about Mexico, the UK Prime Minister stated, "Which country is the largest trading nation in Latin America and set to become one of the world's top five economic powers by 2050? Brazil? Argentina? No, it is Mexico. Who was voted best central banker in the world in 2012? Was it Mervyn King at the Bank of England? Was it Ben Bernanke at the U.S. Fed[eral Reserve]? Was it Mario Draghi at the European Central Bank? No, it was Agustin Carstens, the Governor of the Bank of Mexico. Which country has the largest number of Facebook users in the world? America? Indonesia? You don't need the multiple choice options. It is of course, Mexico."


Speaking on the Mexican people, Cameron also said, "Its people are becoming ever more influential in every part of the global community."

SOURCE Marca Pais - Imagen de Mexico

The G20 Leaders’ Summit, the most important multilateral event ever hosted by Mexico, has concluded, as a result of which President Calderón issued a press statement.
The president began by thanking the G20 members, guest countries and heads of international organizations that participated and made the Leaders’ Summit a success. He also highlighted the work of academics, businesspeople, trade unions and young people at several parallel forums such as the L20, Y20 and B20 who worked for months to submit recommendations and achieve commitments among the G20 participants. The President declared that the VII Leaders’ Summit was characterized by being open and inclusive and working closely with various social sectors and organizations whose opinions and recommendations were taken into account at the Los Cabos meeting.
President Calderón subsequently briefly described the most important agreements reached within the framework of the Summit in order to contribute to addressing several of today’s challenges:
• The Los Cabos Action Plan for Growth and Employment was signed. The plan established commitments to deal with the eurozone, strengthen demand, economic growth and financial systems, ensure the fiscal consolidation of advanced economies, reinforce solid, sustainable growth in emerging economies and maintain trade liberalization. To this end, an innovative Accountability Mechanism for G20 Objectives was implemented.

• The IMF’s financial resources were increased to over $450 billion USD. This constitutes the greatest capitalization in the history of the Fund, which will increase its capacity to provide support and loans for coping with economic crises.

• Trade facilitation measures were adopted in order to reject protectionism, since it is in the interest of all the Group members to prevent the escalation of protectionism measures from leading to further recession. The president declared that the main agreement established was to extend the Stand Still Clause to 2014, which involves abstaining from implementing protectionist measures, and will guarantee certainty for international markets.

• Advancements were achieved in improving the regulatory framework in order to strengthen financial systems. Progress was made in the creation of an institutional framework, as a result of which the Financial Stability Council will be created, with new statutes to enhance its operativeness and governance.

• In regard to financial inclusion, the president declared that agreements were reached for the Global Alliance for Financial Inclusion, which will measure the progress in the extension of financial services to the population with least resources. In addition, greater financial education will be promoted and protective measures increased for the users of financial services for savings, credits and insurance.

• In regard to food security, the G20 agreed to promote greater public and private investment in order to promote agriculture, develop technology and increase the productivity of the sector. The president announced that Mexico will host the G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists in September. An Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) will be created to prevent worldwide food price speculation.

• For the first time ever, the environmental issue has been established. In particular, Mexico promoted the discussion of topics such as green growth, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies and measures to increase fuel efficiency, among others. Foremost among these is the launching of the Dialogue Platform on Inclusive Green Investments, which brings together several sectors in order to identify private investment opportunities in green projects that will create growth and employment and at the same time, help preserve the environment. The president declared that this will be one of the legacies of the VII Leaders’ Summit.
President Calderón concluded his address by stating that the second half of the Mexican G20 presidency will be characterized by fulfilling the Summit’s commitments in order to deliver a solid agenda to Russia in December. Lastly, he fielded questions from the media.

Mexico to Host G20 Leaders’ Summit in Los Cabos!

Mexico City, June 12, 2012

President Calderón issued a press statement on the G20 Summit to be held on 18 and 19 June 2012 in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.
The president explained that the Summit is the most important leaders’ meeting to have been held in Mexico, which has maintained an ambitious international agenda. He then recapitulated the main fields in which Mexico has shown significant participation at the international level. He declared that, as host of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP-16, Mexico demonstrated environmental leadership. In the commercial sphere, it has promoted openness to new international markets, as exemplified by Mexico’s signing of the Pacific Alliance, which will facilitate the access of Mexican products to Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
The president added that Mexico has also played a key role in international politics by promoting the creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). In regard to security, international cooperation mechanisms have been strengthened to combat transnational organized crime and during the Summit of the Americas, the creation of a Hemispheric Scheme against Transnational Organized Crime was approved.
President Calderón added that through the G20 presidency, Mexico has confirmed its economic and political importance. Mexico will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit, the main forum of international economic coordination that brings together the world’s most important emerging and advanced economies. These economies account for over 80 per cent of the world GDP, 80 per cent of global trade and two thirds of the world population. The leaders of the United States, China, Japan, Germany, France, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Canada, India, Spain, Australia, Korea, Indonesia, Turkey, Argentina, South Africa, Colombia, Chile, Ethiopia, Benin and Cambodia will attend the Summit, during which they will discuss the main challenges of the global economy and define actions to restore economic stability and growth.
The issues Mexico will seek to promote include strengthening the international financial architecture and regulation; public policy options to determine the causes and reduce food price volatility; policies to promote green growth and greater investment in scientific and agricultural technology and research. He added that the Mexican G20 Presidency will maintain an inclusive approach, which will deal with the concerns of non-member countries of the Group and various actors in the private sector and civil society.
The president reported that together with the G20, the Business 20 (B20) meeting will be held at which the leaders and decision-makers of the world’s most important firms will discuss and submit proposals within the framework of the G20 issues.
The president declared that Mexico not only seeks to promote specific measures for dealing with the global economic emergency but also to draw up a development agenda with a long-term vision and lastly he fielded questions from the media.

Tom Kelly, the syndicated radio host and business reporter from Seattle has another great book about Mexico.  This one pulls no punches and takes aim at the foolishness of the U.S. media when it comes to factual reporting about traveling and living in Mexico.  I quote from his Introduction in "Bargains Beyond the Borders":

Introduction - The Majority of Mexico Remains Laid-Back, Welcoming and Safe
‘Not Every State Is Involved in the Drug Trade’

Jim Cramer, the bombastic, high-energy investment guru and host of the CNBC show Mad Money, told his audience in late July, 2010, that he recently purchased three properties in Mexico. Why
Jim?


"Mexico is a big country and not every province, every state is involved in the drug trade,” Cramer said. “It has to be one of the nicest places I've ever been."* * *

When was the last time the beauty was showcased – instead of a border war or a drug-related incident?
From lush and tropic mountainous municipalities on brilliant bays to iridescent sparkling water with white sandy beaches to European style architecture in houses lining cobblestone streets in quaint picturesque settings, our Spanish speaking neighbor to the south is abundantly rich in geographic and natural diversification.

Mexico is a country that provides a panorama of stunningly beautiful landscapes and indigenous culture regionally seasoned by its history and native ancestry. Pyramids, volcanoes, caves, mountains, ancient ruins, waterfalls and underground springs provide a spectacular playground for those wishing to explore and experience its natural array of beauty. Species of birds and animals, plants and flowers help create the majestic contrasts that make Mexico so incredibly appealing. Dry and arid desert terrain transcend to the humid jungle environs at opposite ends of the country providing an appreciated appeal to certain types of inhabitants. These locales have also become the destinations for many a foreigner seeking a different clime and setting to reside or vacation. It is merely a question of what you like and where you want to be. Mexico is a country that offers something for everyone.

Forty-three percent of the land area of Mexico fronts on water. The coastlines vary in their topography and geographic presentation as a result of the terrain that lines the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Cortez, the Bay of Banderas, the Mexican Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Until the days of paved roads and aircraft, Mexico was not so much a united country as a loose federation of regions virtually isolated from one another by a rugged geography. In some areas, the mountain ranges were so impenetrable that neighboring towns were practically ignorant of each other’s existence.

Today modern communication systems leap mountains and find remote villages. Still, unifying characteristics in so large and varied a country will never be easy to find.

 ......“When someone gets killed in New York City, people in Europe don’t boycott the United States,” said Marino Tomacelli, a Mexican national living near San Diego. “There’s a general perception that only negative things are happening in Mexico.  That’s coupled with an American ignorance of the geography. If there is a mugging at night in Tijuana, they think there is going to be a problem in Cancun, Cabo and the Riviera Maya. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I continue to feel safer in Mexico than I do in the States. In fact, I think some people are promoting the violence in Mexico to keep tourist dollars in the States.”

..... Jeffrey Hill, a former Seattle resident, has four vacation rental homes in Puerto Vallarta and one in Florida (“Does that tell you which is more profitable?”) He spends most of his time south of the border and part of his year in Fort Lauderdale.

“Would I ever go out walking at 5 a.m. alone in Lauderdale or Miami? Hell no,” Hill said. “Just the thought of that scares the hell out of me. There are many neighborhoods in Seattle where I would never go out walking alone in the dark.”

Even with the killings in the country the past two years, statistics provided by the Citizens’ Institute for Crime Studies in Mexico City reveal that the murder 2009 rate in Mexico was lower than it was a decade before. In addition, the 2008 murder rate in Washington, D.C., was nearly four times that of Mexico City in 2009 (31.4 per 100,000 compared to 8 per 100,000).  In reality, the rest of Mexico is unchanged and laid-back, warm and welcoming to foreigners. It has received a bum rap, as reporters have raced to make the world believe that the entire country is on the brink of a blood bath. That is simply not the case, and many of the areas continue to appreciate, unlike most of the markets in the U.S.

......“Some U.S. newspaper or news service put out a report about some drug related shooting in Acapulco,” Hill said. “But the headline said something like ‘Drug related shooting in major Mexico resort city.’ Why didn’t they just say it was in Acapulco instead of insinuating that all resort cities have issues?

...... Are you ready for a contrarian cruise through Mexico that avoids drugs, murders and muggings yet provides proof of an inexpensive, carefree life? That’s not difficult to do because 95 percent of the country still offers exactly that. Get on board, and rest assured we won’t be crossing the border at Ciudad Juarez after dark. And, we won’t forget about your investment portfolio along the way.  “It's not such a bad idea to diversify away from stocks,” said Cramer, a magna cum laude graduate from Harvard. “I think that out of favor real estate in Mexico that's easily accessible to Americans represents a great buy . . .”

Excerpts quoted with permission of the author.   jw

A quiet night at Casa Latimer.

The day  is about over. It's 10pm. Out on the deck I can hear thunder. Its been rolling out all day long. There's a steady wind so the surf is churning up a little. I love sitting outside an listening to the sounds of beach at Buena Vista and the Sea of Cortez. 

Inside, I fire up the lap top, no tv for me. Decided I'd like to hear some music so, off I went to YouTube and looked up The Refreshments. God, they rock. So now, I'm hoppin'and a rockin' all over the house. Life is so good here. Take a moment to join me watching and listening to this great music. 

 

Sirius-ly Jammin'

Sirius-ly Jammin’

This is a postscript to the Baja Journey that Gary Field and I have blogged about previously (mostly Gary, by the way…see below). An important part of our trip involved our lifelong love affair with great music and our graphic memories of our years in, and very much a part of, the music business…. during our respective careers in the radio business and as concert promoters in Eugene, Oregon, at a time when a ton of creative talent found its way to our doorsteps and on our airwaves at KZEL-FM.
After years of living in Los Cabos, Mexico, I have found that one of the keys to happiness involves being close to the music I love (and Teena, the woman I love… shares this passion). Old or new, whether it is The Boss (our first Gold Record Album was awarded to KZEL in 1975 for helping to “break” a new artist by the name of Bruce Springsteen, due to our great program director, Stan Garrett, and his widely respected reputation as having one of the finest ears for talent in the radio business), or David Allen Coe, or Lady Antebellum, or Jack Johnson, or Joe Jackson, or the Grateful Dead (a Eugene favorite), or Bonnie Raitt, or Mozart, or Norah Jones, or Mark Knopfler, or Government Mule, or Beethoven, or the Dixie Chicks (well, you get the idea of my musical tastes….and did I mention John Hyatt and James Talley?), you will find them all on satellite radio (well, except maybe Nashville’s James Talley, who deserves to be heard as much as anyone…check his website). And having our music with us every minute was one of the gifts of the journey.
Music, News, MSNBC, PBS, Sports (and yes, even the usual bunch of right wing noise)….it is ALL on the radio everywhere in this hemisphere. And that, dear friends, is what I’m talkin’ about. It was lovely, being in the company of our music “friends” on the road and in our music pod… the car.
Most of our 5000 mile drive became an adventure in awesome guitar riffs, enervating rhythms and scintillating keyboards while participating in long cuts on Sirius 17 (the “Jam On” channel), and I would encourage all who understand, to check it out on your next road trip to anywhere.
Now that the satellite is part of Mexico as well, access to the rich flavors of music also makes living in this wonderful country truly more delightful and fun. And most certainly, I feel closer and more committed to, Rock world that was (and is) so much a part of me.
After 26 times, part of me knows I will drive the Baja again! There is nothing quite like it on the planet. Thanks, Gary! jw

The Truth About Cabo!

This article came across my desk today from the excellent people at Del Mar Development and I believe it ought to be shared with all. Jay West

Setting the Record Straight on Cabo: Despite Upheaval in Parts of Mexico, Los Cabos Remains a Safe Travel Destination for Americans

And, yes, you can drink the water.
LOS CABOS, Mexico, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite recent headlines to the contrary, many regions of Mexico continue to be safe and popular destinations for American tourists, while providing all the creature comforts of home.
The latest results of a two-year-long study of Mexico's 31 States ranks Los Cabos (San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas in the State of Baja California Sur) as second in Public Safety, Tourist Services and Transportation Infrastructure nationwide. Baja California Sur also ranks first in Natural Resources and Environmental Protection nationwide with an overall Satisfaction Index score of 97 percent.
According to Ron Hatfield, President of Los Cabos based Del Mar Developments, "Avoiding vacationing in areas of Mexico like Los Cabos because of the crime in Tijuana or Mexico City is like avoiding Seattle because of problems in Los Angeles. Los Cabos remains one of the world's most coveted destinations, untouched by the violent crimes happening in areas of mainland Mexico."
Hatfield, a local resident and a fixture in the Los Cabos community for over 15 years, is joining forces with Jacobo Turquie Alcerreca, Secretary of Tourism for the State of Baja California Sur, to spread the word that Los Cabos is a safe and ideal location for vacationers and home buyers.
"The municipality of Los Cabos, a thousand miles from the U.S. border, boasts a unique geographic location at the tip of the long, narrow Baja California peninsula," notes Alcerreca. "Separated from mainland Mexico by the Sea of Cortes (christened the "World's Aquarium" by Jacques Cousteau), the twin cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo and the surrounding countryside are an island-like sanctuary, unaffected by any crime or violence occurring elsewhere in Mexico."
In fact, residential communities like Hatfield's Villas Del Mar and Espiritu Del Mar offer amenities that exceed expectations at every turn. Residents and rental guests experience the beauty and flavor of Cabo, including access to some of the world's best golf, sports fishing, diving and surfing, plus two private member's-only clubs. Del Mar Development homes showcase the finest construction in Mexico and boast fiber-optic phone and internet technology. Even in the current economic climate, sales within Del Mar home sales continue to grow, with over $34 million in real estate sold in the first few months of 2010.
For more information on Del Mar Development or to arrange an interview with Ron Hatfield or Jacobo Turquie Alcerreca, please contact Lauren Banyar Reich at Janine Gordon Associates (212-871-3020, x115) or lreich@jgordonassociates.com.
About Del Mar Development
Since 1995, the founders of Del Mar Development have been successfully building residential communities that set the standard for luxury real estate in Mexico. Within the gates of Villas Del Mar, Oasis Palmilla and Espiritu Del Mar lies a collection of beachfront and ocean- view resort homes built by master craftsmen. Residents and rental guests enjoy the finest services and amenities in the world. Worry-free ownership and superlative property management are provided by a full-time staff of nearly 200 who take care of everything from maintaining local vehicle insurance to pre-stocking groceries and housekeeping services. Overlooking the Sea of Cortez, the Del Mar Development properties are an established community offering an escape from the ordinary and a place to make lasting memories with family and friends. For more information, please visit www.delmardevelopment.net.
SOURCE Del Mar Development