Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Cesar Abarca Gutierrez, head of Economic Development for Puerto Vallarta, reported that 110 companies were opened during the month of June, generating 139 jobs and an investment in the city of $6,691,000 pesos.

He said that the number of companies represent the licenses granted by the Head of Economic Development through the SARE system.

During the first half of 2011, 585 small businesses have begun operations in the city: 98 in February, 166 in March, 89 in April, 122 in May and 110 in June.

These new business include everything from paddle board concessions, Internet companies, cell phones providers and boutiques to snack bars, fruit and vegetable vendors, coffee shops, natural products, seeds and cereals and general grocery stores, among others.

Abarca Gutierrez noted that in the last session of the City Council, the Agricultural Development Commission and the Economic Development Department presented an initiative to authorize the implementation of a program aiming to achieve better relations with the legal representatives or general managers of stores such as these. It is hoped that these efforts will offer visitors to Puerto Vallarta more local agricultural products, in order to boost agriculture and the economy of the municipality.

In order to show Puerto Vallarta as a competitive meeting and convention destination, during the last session of the City Council a property loan for the International Convention Center was unanimously approved.

Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz has been promoting this project for some months, hoping that it will assist Puerto Vallarta's Convention Center by providing the organization with a better income.

According to the mayor, "the City of Vallarta has now approved the application for a road through the Supplementary Fund for Regional Development (FONDEREG), as well as works to improve the view at the entrance to this important building."

He added that besides these proposed investments, sprinkler irrigation for all the medians around the International Convention Centre are being created in order to improve the appearance of the entire avenue and its intersection with Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio. This will make access to the facility easier and more attractive, and will ensure that it remains in good condition.