Chicago - Mexico's Secretary of Economy announced that the city of Chicago will host the second edition of the Expo México Emprende to be held in May.

Expo México Emprende Chicago 2012, is a three day event to raise awareness about the different types of support and care programs that the Mexican Federal and State Governments, and other Institutions offer to Mexicans living at home or abroad who have an interest in initiating or reinforcing a micro, small, or medium-size business.

The event will bring together in one place at one time, a plethora of information about government programs designed to help Mexicans start and grow businesses. An interactive conference open to everyone, the Mexican government will bring to the people all that today's Mexico has to offer. Potential entrepreneurs will discover that present day Mexico has in place countless programs ready to assist and partner with them to create and grow businesses.

Looking to capitalize remittances, Mexico's second highest source of income, the initiative aims to ignite the entrepreneurial spark in Mexicans living abroad and in their country of origin. The objective is to create jobs, combat poverty, and improve the quality of life for families in the US and Mexico; providing them with counseling, training, technological innovation, marketing, and funding needed to improve their financial situations in the current economic climate.

A full schedule of workshops will cover topics including: financing and marketing, technical businesses, green businesses, aerospace, and franchising. More than 500 Mexican and American companies will be participating, putting on seminars full of information on business matchmaking and the basics on how to start a business.

According to the United States Census Office, of the 50.5 million Latinos living in the US, 59 percent are of Mexican origin. This group not only contributes with their work to the development of the American economy but also contributes through their remittances to the Mexican economy.

According to the Bank of Mexico, of the millions earned by these Mexican migrants living in the US, 60 percent goes to consumption, 20 percent goes to remittance, 15 percent goes to savings and only 3 percent goes to creating small business.

The Mexican Secretary of Economy reports there are more than four million micro, small, and medium-sized businesses in Mexico, representing 99.8 percent of all businesses, generating 78.5 percent of the jobs, and bringing in 52 percent of the gross national product.

Expo México Emprende Chicago 2012 is a free event that will take place in the McCormick Place, Chicago Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois from 10 am to 7 pm on May 25th, 26th, and 27th, 2012.