Business Environment in Monterrey

Monterrey is recognized worldwide because of its strong industrial sector, quality international education systems, strategic geographic location for international commerce, great environment for business development, and high quality of living and health standards. These factors have given Monterrey a competitive edge for national and international institutions.

Since Monterrey’s foundation in 1596, its inhabitants have had to learn how to adapt to and overcome the cities extreme weather and difficult geography in order to improve trade with the northern and southern parts of Mexico.

Monterrey’s industrialization process was accelerated in 1890 with the establishment of one of the most important companies in the city, Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, an important Mexican brewery; followed by the company Fundidora de Fierro y Acero (steel foundry) in 1900. During that period, those companies represented an important source of work for thousands of people and they supported the creation of new industries. For example, Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, in the need of satisfying its own requirements, founded Vidriera Monterrey (glass), Fábricas Monterrey (cans), Empaques de Cartón Titan (boxes), Grafo Regia (packing), among many others that nowadays holds the grupo FEMSA.

www.femsa.com

Today Nuevo León is the state with the second biggest FDI in Mexico. Monterrey and its metropolitan area play a key role; it contributes 7.5% of the country’s GDP, with a per capita income of 15,975 USD and it produces 10.9% of the country’s manufactured goods. Nuevo León’s main commercial partners include United States, Germany, Canada, France, United Kingdom and Japan.

With more than 60 Industrial Parks in Monterrey and its metropolitan area, the city is home to important companies. Some of the most important national industrial groups are: ALFA, CEMEX, DEACERO, FEMSA, TERNIUM MEXICO, GIMSA, PROEZA, GRUPO QUIMMCO, VILLACERO, VITRO, GRUPO FRISA and XIGNUX. Some of the international groups are: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO, JOHNSON & JOHNSON, AT&T, CATERPILLAR, GE, Y WHIRLPOOL, LG, JOHN DERE, TAKATA, IBM, BRIDGESTONE, VISTEON, etc.

Monterrey conserves a solid economy based on manufacture and Industry. In recent years, Monterrey has taken large steps toward an economy based on knowledge and services. With this in mind, important projects have been undertaken to prompt new development areas related to research, information technologies, aerospace industry, medicine and tourism in the city.