Jorge Herrera

Governor of Durango

WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION OF DURANGO'S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT?

Durango after many years of communication isolation and pinned to the growth in its primary sector, decided to pursue development in industrial sectors that would support investment and job generation. In order to do that the state government started creating competitive advantages for the region.

WHAT ARE DURANGO'S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES THAT HELP ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT?

Highway communication infrastructure was a must in order for the region to become strategic. For the last four years the intense lobbying of my Government's administration has led the State to become one of the country´s largest recipients of road infrastructure project resources. The new Superhighway Durango-Mazatlan is the main leg of the Northern economic corridor.
It will unite the Pacifi c Ocean and the Gulf of México and place Durango on the map.
It will be looked as one of the key strategic logistics locations for reaching the most important markets in the world.
These include: NAFTA, EU, APEC, the most important of the thriving local markets plus South America. This road will be open during the fi rst quarter of this coming 2013, and will prove to be a great tool for maintaining the generation of growth in our Country.
In Durango we are getting ready to receive a new fl ow of trade with this great new infrastructure. This will happen by constructing a large 4,000 acre state of the art industrial hub. It will include a foreign trade zone and inland customs offi ce. All this, along with a new multi-modal station will make the site a great attraction for foreign investment projects.
I believe the most important competitive advantage lies within the quality of our abundant labor force. With more than 50,000 students in nearby education systems, this advantage has proven to be a vital factor for all of the FDI projects I have been so successful in attracting. Today the auto parts sector has more than 17,000 direct workers and is unquestioningly benefited by the strong linkages between educational centers and companies. This results in the ability to supply skilled labor when requested.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS LANDING IN DURANGO LATELY?

A most sought after development in the auto parts sector is generating a consolidated cluster. It's important to know that the fi ve most important, worldwide parts producers have operations in our State. I am referring to Delphi, Yazaki, Lear, Leoni and Sumitomo.
They are all successful FDI projects with expansion right ahead in their future. Yazaki, for instance, opened in 2000 with 200 jobs and now their payroll goes beyond 5,000.
Prysmian is an Italian copper wire producer.
The fi rm makes wire for the aeronautic and worldwide wire harness industries.
Reverté is another good example. This Spanish capital company will produce calcium carbonates for the paint and plastics industries.
And there is Masisa, a Chilean-based enterprise that will soon be host to one of the largest agglomerate-based board production facilities on the continent.

IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL FOREIGN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT IN DURANGO TO BE EXPECTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

The positioning of the State of Durango as a strategically located region in the world is, and always will be, one of the priorities of my Government. The generation of jobs through the attraction of investment that targets value-added manufacturing projects, is something that can provide steady economic growth featuring equity and even more importantly, sustainability. I am convinced now more than ever that this will certainly supply the wealth generation required by my fellow Durangoans.
Projects in the auto parts, mining, silviculture, alternative energies and software development are some of the sectors that will see their cluster growing during these coming months and years. And we are at the same time getting ready to receive them and facilitate their success.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN DURANGO?

A constant growth in registries of formal jobs with the IMSS, with record numbers during the past two years, places Durango in the top fi ve states within the country.
And this incredible statistic gives me great confi dence that the State Development Plan is being followed and is now getting results back from the demand of all the inhabitants- -that is more and better jobs.

ANY LAST COMMENT FOR THE MEXICONOW SUBSCRIBERS ON OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY?

Ten years ago Durango was the fi rst Mexican State that appeared in your prestigious magazine. We have seen it grow through the years to what it has now become. I am sure that we will fi nd your services useful tools for our promotion efforts, and without any doubt we will keep on participating with you.
Happy Birthday! …and congratulations to all of you. A special greeting goes to your editor in chief Sergio Ornelas. This man is a hard worker and has great ideas.
In Durango, from the new international logistics hub, we are now open for business!!