Mexico City, Mexico - Ariel Cano Cuevas, the Director General of Vivienda, Mexico's national housing agency, delivered the key note speech at the recent Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) Toma de Protesta (Inauguration) in Mexico City.

During the presentation, Cuevas announced new initiatives for two social housing agencies, INFONAVIT and FOVISSTE. He concluded his remarks by predicting the housing industry in this country will remain strong throughout 2012.

Sharing the Presidium with Ariel were: Adan Laracilla from Pueblo, the outgoing President of AMPI; Sergio Gomez Rabago, AMPI's new President from the State of Mexico; Guillermo Salgada, AMPI's new Vice President from Cuernavaca; Alfredo Rabell Manaon, Supervisor of Mortgages for INFONAVIT; Javier Gonzalez Rubio, Director General of FONATUR (the economic arm of Mexico's tourism industry) and Joao Teadora de Silva, the President of Brazil's Federal Council of Real Estate Agents.

Several real estate officials from outside Mexico attended the event. These included Joao Teadora da Silva, Katia Cubel, Frederico Mendonca, Jucelia Silva and Marta Mendonca - all from Brazil. Among U.S. representatives at the TOMA were, Jennifer Wiziarde, Coordinator for Latin America for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Alston Boyd, who came from Austin, Texas. Boyd is the International Chair of the Texas Association of Realtors, and is also NAR's Presidential Liaison for Central America. Thijs Stoffer, C.E.O. of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations, came form Switzerland to attend the TOMA.

Ariel Cano Cuevas officiated at the inauguration ceremony. Those being sworn in were AMPI's new President, Vice President, and ten new members of AMPI's National Advisory Board. Linda Neil of AMPI La Paz/Los Cabos was among those taking the oath. She will head up AMPI's International Commission. As well, Neil has been named NAR's Presidential Liaison to Mexico. John Glaab of AMPI La Paz has been appointed Sub-Director of AMPI's Seniors Real Estate Section (SRE) program.

Other events during the week included a breakfast of Past Presidents and a one day leadership class. Attending were members of the Advisory Council, Regional Coordinators and the Presidents of AMPI's 75 Sections.

AMPI's forty first years Annual Conference will be held November 1-3 in Guadalajara.