La Paz, BCS, Mexico - Welcome to The Settlement Company's First Quarter, 2017 newsletter. In addition to A.M.P.I. news, in this edition, we take a look at the expansion of Lazero Cardenas deep sea port on the Pacific coast of Michoacán and the international tourism industry in Mexico, where visitors are always welcome.

New AMPI President Installed

For the second time in AMPI's 60 year history, a female has been installed as President of the national association. Beatriz Gamboa Lago was installed recently at a ceremony in the Mexico City's spectacular Sumaya Museum. Along with the new President and Vice President, 20 members of the new Advisory Council took the oath of office. Alejandro Kuri Pheres from Mexico City is the new Senior Vice President. Read more »»

You Are Welcome in Mexico
by Mexperience

The latest visitor statistics revealed that Mexico welcomed over 35 million visitors in 2016, a 9% rise on 2015, and a new record. The country is now among the top ten most visited places in the world, offering visitors depth and diversity of leisure experiences.

When you arrive in Mexico, you will be welcomed by an Immigration and Customs procedure that provides for security whilst treating visitors and residents with dignity and respect.

Your leisure time is precious and Mexico offers abundant choice, whether you want to enjoy one of its many alluring beach destinations, explore the rich history and culture of its colonial cities, and big metropolises, discover our shared heritage at its ancient cities and pyramids, absorb the country's breath-taking outdoors – or a combination of these - Mexico offers you vibrancy and color with unforgettable experiences that are likely to exceed your expectations.

If you plan to live, work, or retire here, Mexico offers choices that can facilitate your lifestyle plans. The intercensal estimate conducted in 2015 revealed that over one million foreign residents call Mexico 'home' - they too, are welcome.

Mexican Port Expands - Again

Lazaro Cardenas (L.C.) is a deep sea port on the Pacific coast of Michoacán in Mexico. A gateway to Asia and South America it is closer to the North Eastern U.S. A. and Canada than either Los Angeles or Long Beach. It rivals those ports for tonnage.

For more than a decade it has been increasing its capacity to handle containers, automobiles and bulk shipments. In 2016 it handled more than 400 million tons of cargo. With its current new expansion it anticipates a 33% increase in capacity for 2018.

The port has an agreement with Kansas City Railroad and Mexican Aduana (Customs Service) that allows it to ship containers unopened to the final destination. The new technology, "Boxeland" was introduced in 2016. This new web technology allows shippers to track containers and know their exact location. The ability to combine loads saves miles and cuts emissions. A steady stream of semis can be seen entering Mexico on the main Michoacán toll road. Driving back from our state capital of Morelia, I have seen convoys with as many as 10 car-carrying trucks heading into the interior of the Republic.

This year two islands in the Bay at L.C. have come under federal jurisdiction. This will facilitate further expansion in what has now become a special Economic Development Zone for Mexico.

The port at L.C. is managed by Hutchison Ports. This company has ports in 48 other locations including Asia, the Middle East Africa, and Europe and of course The Americas. The company was founded by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-sheng.

Always a visionary, when his family fled China before the arrival of the Communists, his confidence in plastic led him to create a plastic flower producing plant. More recently he would become one of the original investors in Facebook. Canadians will remember him when he made a controversial purchase of the Expo-86 lands on the harbor in Vancouver, B.C., through his real estate arm, Concord Pacific. That land has been fully developed and thousands now reside there in luxury condominiums.