09/05/2013

Mexican engineer and artist Roberto Becerra and British artist Andrew Foulds were selected as the winners of the inaugural UK & Mexico Art Competition Camaradas. The Liverpool-based partnership won thanks to their multidisciplinary piece which incorporated wind, sound and painting. This announcement marks the culmination of an unprecedented project of public diplomacy in the United Kingdom.

In what was a very close competition –which was comprised by 20 artists- the pair’s piece titled “Weather Series” received the majority voting by Camaradas’ panel of judges.

The competition officially opened in January through the launch of a call for entries by the Mexican Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom which was closed on the 31st of March.

Under the idea that art should not just be observed but experienced, Becerra and Foulds put forward a concept which mixed visual stimulation through abstract painting accompanied by sound, lights and wind created by multiple electric fans that hung from a triangular structure on top of the spectator.

In this sense, the piece can be analysed whilst the spectator’s other senses are stimulated by an artificial weather created through changes of temperature and intimations of sound that range from monk-like singing to shamanic incantations that insert the cadence and rhythm of human speech into the artistic experience.

Becerra and Foulds’ piece was presented at the Official Residence of Mexico and will represent Camaradas in PINTA  the Modern & Contemporary Latin American Art Show as well. Moreover, the winning piece will be showcased in the cover of DIPLOMAT Magazine.

President Enrique Peña Nieto declared April as the "Month of the National Crusade Against Hunger". Throughout the month there will be an array of activities aimed at raising pubic awarness and involve all of Mexican soceity in the effort to overcome extreme poverty and food shortages in the country.

The National Council for Culture and the Arts will launch a call for entries for the first National Photography Competition "Mexico without Hunger", which is open to all Mexicans over 15 years old. In parallel to this, there will be a competition for short films produced shot by mobile devices tilted "In short against hunger".

Moreover, former Brazilian President Luis Inacio "Lula" Da Silva will visit Mexico on April 19th, to support the National Campaign against Hunger. On April 19th and 20th, the Civil Society Organizations Fair will be held and the community will be invited to create "A Wall against Hunger".

On April 30th, Jose Graziano da Silva, General Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN will give a keynote conference on the subject.

The series of events will come to a grand end with "Sharing music to eradicate hunger", a concert which seeks to move young people into action to tackle this challenge. Tickets for the concert will be exchanged for nonperishable food.

The campaign also comprises events in social media. It was announced that for every "Like" received at the "No Hunger” Facebook page, milk producing companies will donate 250ml milk cartons to children in the 400 municipalities served by this campaign.


Click here for more information on the Crusade Against Hunger

02/04/2013

Whilst heading the commemoration of the World Day of Health, President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto put forward the new guidelines for the country´s national health policy for the next six years, which focus on the disease prevention, the promotion of health and the well-being of Mexican families.

During the announcement, President Peña Nieto reminded his audience that one of the most important commitments of his Government is to solidify the foundations of a Universal System of Social Security. In this sense, he highlighted that the guidelines will target three priority issues:

Effective access. The State must guarantee health services for the entire population. The long-term vision will involve standardizing the quality of services and enabling Mexicans to be treated at any hospital or clinic in the Public National Health System.

Quality service. All Mexicans must have access to qualified medical professionals and facilities to receive quality health care.

Prevention. “Preventing diseases and avoiding the conditions that cause them is the best way to look after our health”, President Peña Nieto stated, whilst adding that one of the particular actions in this realm will be reducing obesity, which is why he instructed the Secretary for National Health to launch a national strategy for the prevention of obesity and diabetes.

The President also urged “all Mexicans to incorporate prevention into their daily lives; a healthy diet, regular exercise and good habits are key tools in order to build a healthier, stronger and more dynamic country”

(11/03/2013)

On the 11th of March, President Enrique Peña Nieto presented the initiative for a constitutional reform regarding Mexico´s telecommunications sector.

This ambitious initiative would establish broadband as a constitutional right, empower regulating bodies with legal instruments to sanction monopolies, open the market for new TV and radio concessions, promote the thorough use of the radioelectric spectrum and create of specialized tribunals.

The initiative seeks to strengthen freedom of speech, boost competition in the full range of telecommunications, and consolidate the right to access information technologies.

In more specific terms, the reform would lead to the creation of two new regulating bodies: the Federal Economic Competition Commission and the Federal Institute of Telecommunications.  The Institute would be in charge of granting concessions, sanctioning anticompetitive practices and limit the use of spectrum by firms. The Commission will be able to remove barriers to competition, prevent the formation of monopolies, regulate the access to special inputs and decree the shedding of assets for those that incur in anticompetitive practices.

President Enrique Peña presented this initiative was shortly after the approval of the Education Reform, thus marking yet another step in the country´s active political agenda.

(11-14/03/2013)

For the 14th time running, LSE Mexico Week served as an ideal forum to gather multiple points of view on an array of crucial policy issues for Mexico. This year’s event focused on the issues of rule of law and market economy and gathered top level speakers from the Mexican Government, as well as leading British and Mexican academics.

Throughout the four-day series of events, the cosmopolitan student community of the London School of Economics had an active participation in discussions such as regulation frameworks for competition or Mexico’s financial system, evincing the progress achieved by the country thus far, as well as pending areas of opportunity to make institutional arrangement that further boost economic growth.

It is worth noting that LSE Mexico Week provided clear insights into the topics under discussion, thanks to the experience of speakers such as Antonio Gonzalez, General Director of Mexico´s Social Security Institute; Jacqueline Peschard, Comissioner of the Federal Institute of Access to Information; Senator Armando Ríos Piter; Alejandro Murat, Director of the Institute of the Federal Fund for worker’s housing and Fernando Salazar, President of the Commission for Energy Regulation.

In addition to the series of academic events, LSE Mexico Week also featured a sample of Mexico´s artistic talent, thanks to a terrific piano recital by musician Bruno Ferrari. Moreover, the Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom hosted a reception for members of the Mexican Student Society of LSE at the Official Residence, where they were welcomed to enjoy a well-deserved margarita and celebrate yet another successful edition of LSE Mexico Week.

(01/03/2013)

The Mexican candidate for Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Herminio Blanco, made a working visit to London on the 28th of February and 1st of March. As part of his candidacy´s promotional tour, Dr. Blanco held meetings with top level UK Government officials, such as MP Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business and Innovation and MP Kenneth Clarke. Moreover, Dr. Blanco also met with figures from the private sector, such as members of D Group and was interviewed by the leading titles in British media.

Throughout his visit, Dr. Blanco argued that, notwithstanding the challenges that the WTO faces, it is crucial for the global economy that it doesn´t lose its relevance. Furthermore, he stated that due to his professional and academic background, he has the necessary sensibility and creativity to serve as a bridge between developed and developing countries and also as an intermediary between the WTO´s process and the most important engine for job creation, namely, the private sector.

In this sense, Dr. Blanco highlighted that his vision for the WTO traces a strategic route divided in three time horizons. In the short term, it will be fundamental to make concrete progress in the Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali in November this year; in the medium term members of the WTO must attend pending issues in the Doha Round and double efforts to infuse the organization with greater efficiency; finally the solutions that come from regional agreements must be integrated within a multilateral trade system.

Overall, Dr. Blanco´s visit to the UK left a very positive impression, because he conveyed an optimistic, yet pragmatic narrative on how the challenges faced by the WTO can be transformed into opportunities. It is worth noting that this idea is backed by Dr. Blanco´s vast experience in trade negotiations, including what has been called “the mother of all trade agreements”: NAFTA.

Dr. Blanco was accompanied by Ambassador Lourdes Aranda and will take the next step of his tour in Paris.

At a welcoming event for the Diplomatic corps at National Palace in Mexico City, President Enrique Peña Nieto layed out the four pillars of Mexico´s Foreign Policy for the next six years. Addressing 130 Ambassadors from across the world, President Peña Nieto stated “we will consolidate ourselves as a State that promotes global free trade, one that safeguards the investments it is entrusted with; a country that will show solidarity, responsibility and one that upholds peace and defends human rights.”

The four components of Mexico´s foreign policy are:

•    The strengthening of Mexico´s presence in the world. Mexico will tighten bilateral relations and widen its capacity to contribute to the formation of a more prosperous and fair international order.
•    Broaden international cooperation. Mexico will bring to bear the best of itself to the solution of global challenges, in a reciprocal and supportive manner.
•    Promote Mexico´s value to the world. Mexico wants to be known by the world: our culture, history, arts, natural treasures and its favorable economic circumstances, understood as an opportunity for our foreign friends.
•    Safeguard Mexico´s interests abroad. The Government of Mexico will act in a swift and timely way to uphold the interests of its citizens abroad.

In regards to specific regions, President Peña Nieto point out that Europe is a source of opportunities for Mexico, “we will strengthen our relations with the European Union and open new possibilities of exchange with non-EU countries”.

Moreover, he praised the “winds of change” blowing through North America –Mexico´s main partners and key pieces in its trade, investments and tourism- and welcomed the possibility that an integral immigration reform might come to pass in the U.S.A.

President Peña Nieto also stressed that during the next six years, Mexico will focus on its friendship with countries that are part of the Asian Pacific region. A proof of this is its incorporation to the Transpacific Partnership.

Mexico will continue to be a responsible actor in multilateral affairs and will maintain a constant and growing participation in diverse regional and global forums, particularly the U.N. and the G20, in which it will seek to tighten relation with its member countries.

Furthermore, Mexico will continue to promote integration in South America and the Caribbean, and will seek to unveil new opportunities in the Middle East and the African continent.

Mexico City, 11 February 2013

President Enrique Peña Nieto presented the National Housing Policy, which will lead the public and private efforts in this sector over the next few years. The policy is divided into four central strategies:

• Achieving more and better inter-institutional coordination. It has been determined that the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Planning (Sedatu) will be the coordinating body for housing policy in our country and also preside over the Inter-Secretarial Commission on the matter. This Secretariat will also sign agreements with INFONAVIT, state governments and municipal authorities.

• Shift towards a Model of Sustainable, Intelligent, Urban Development. Loans and grants from the government will focus on the development of orderly urban growth.

• Reduce the Housing Gap. Plans are underway to implement over a million actions involving subdivision of the land into plots and the construction, expansion and improvement of homes, in both the countryside and cities. Over 500,000 of these actions correspond to new constructions.

• Provide Decent Housing for Mexicans. Over 320,000 housing improvement actions will be implemented; in the specific case of the countryside, over 97,000 actions will be implemented in rural housing.

“Ensuring that all households in Mexico have proper infrastructure and basic services such as electricity, piped water, drainage and cement floors, will be one of the main responsibilities of this government,” he stated.

President Peña Nieto highlighted that home expansion and improvement actions will focus in the strategic areas envisaged by the National Crusade against Hunger and the Crime Prevention Program.

He instructed Sedatu to coordinate a strategy with national housing organizations to achieve the goal of ensuring that all popular housing financed or subsidized by the State has at least two bedrooms, and thereby avoid having very small spaces for Mexican families. Sedatu must also ensure that urban development balances rural development, and is undertaken with respect for the environment and our natural resources. “We are determined to promote more loans and subsidies for the improvement and expansion of housing, in both urban and rural areas. In particular, over 320 thousand home improvement actions will be carried out for the specific case of the countryside, while over 97,000 actions will be carried out in rural housing.”

President Peña Nieto has also instructed Director of Sedatu, Jorge Carlos Ramirez Marín, in conjunction with the Secretariat of Finance, to implement a new social security mechanism, focusing particularly on the purchase of new housing for federal, state and municipal police.

The President of Mexico stressed that the housing sector is an engine of the domestic market and a lever for national development. It is a source of jobs and a promoter of economic growth. . He declared that there will be absolute certainty for all the stakeholders in this important sector, through clear rules, consistent policies and focused actions.

He said the housing industry requires structural adjustments, as a result of which, “We must establish a transition period of up to 24 months for all stakeholders to make the necessary changes to promote this policy.”

29/01/2013

During the presentation of the National System for Climate Change and inauguration of the Commission for Climate Change, President Enrique Peña Nieto stated that his Government will strive to boost economic growth that is both beneficial to all sectors of society and environmentally sound.

In order to achieve this goal, President Peña Nieto remarked, that Mexico will have to act on various fronts, namely, make the transition to a low carbon economy, review water management, improve waste disposal and put a halt to the destruction of its biodiversity.

Mexico is the fourth country in the world with the largest biodiversity. In light of this fact, President Peña Nieto acknowledged thar Mexico´s Government´s and its society have a responsibility to putting a stop to deforestation and the destruction of its ecosystems. He insisted in the urgency of this endeavour and the benefits that future generations´ will reap from it.

This event took place at the Official Residence of Los Pinos, and served as a calling to all sectors of Mexico´s society to form part of the National System for Climate Change.

President Peña Nieto pointed out that the Commission’s central purpose is to define a consensus-based agenda and policy directives regarding climate change. However, he also added that this mission is one that pertains to all 13 State Secretaries.

“We will coordinate federal programs with a transversal approach, so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the infrastructure that protects us against natural disasters as well as our natural resources.”

The President instructed Secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, Energy and Communication and Transport -Juan José Guerra Abud, Enrique Martínez y Martínez, Pedro Joaquín Coldwell and Gerardo Ruiz Esparza- to heed this call immediately and to invite other stakeholders to do so as well.

This transversal project is now contemplated in the new Federal Budget and will be supported with 34 billion pesos (approximately £1.6 billion).

Finally, President Peña Nieto added that through collaboration, Mexican authorities will prove that “it is possible to achieve inclusive green growth; it is possible to transform Mexico into a just, inclusive, prosperous and successful country, one that we all strive for. And that this doesn’t entail that we must put at risk our environmental heritage.”

It is necessary to tackle climate change with efficient public policies: Mario Molina

During his presentation, Juan José Guerra Abud, head of Secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) pointed out that the President´s instruction is clear: to achieve sustained and sustainable economic growth. He also remarked that his Secretary will not be an obstacle to economic growth; instead it will provide guidance on how to promote it, whilst ensuring that this is achieved in a sustainable manner with an emphasis on reducing green house gas emissions. He also commented on the importance of protecting Mexico´s biodiversity and praised the fact that Mexico has an environment friendly President.

During the event, Nobel prize winner Mario Molina argued that Mexico is on the right path, but that it is necessary to tackle climate change through public policies that enable growth in the short term, whilst protecting the interests of future generations.

He stated that it is a mistake to ask whether the environment or economic development should be granted priority, because it is not possible to achieve the economic development we want, without protecting our environment.

José Sarukhán, Coordinator of the Commission for National Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity, argued that no previous generation had more information than the current one on the effects that our activities have on the Earth, nor did they have the technology to change said activities.

(30/01/2013)

Photo source: WTO
On the 30th of January, Herminio Blanco laid out his presentation as candidate for Director General of the WTO to the General Council of said organization.

Dr. Blanco divided his vision in three separate time frames, whilst highlighting that each one of them has development at the forefront of its objectives:

In the short term, Dr. Blanco argued, it is imperative to successfully carry out a ninth Ministerial Conference at Bali, Indonesia, on December 2013. This meeting must achieve concrete results on substantive issues.

In the medium term, members of the WTO must attend pending issues in the Doha Round, and ensure that the WTO is more efficient in the pursuit of its goals.

In the long term, Dr. Blanco stated that the solutions that regional trade agreements have come up with, must be directed in a way that they contribute to the global multilateral system of trade.

Dr. Blanco highlighted that the WTO has been a successful institution that has promoted trade as an engine for economic growth and development of its members. He also remarked that the organization has contributed to mitigating protectionism as a result of the financial crisis. However, he pointed out that is urgent to rescue that WTO from risking becoming irrelevant.

Herminio Blanco concluded his presentation by stating his firm determination to responsibly push forward the WTO’s work agenda and to make it a stronger and ever more relevant international institution.

The decision of who will head the WTO must be reached by consensus of all its members.

The current Director General’s term ends on the 31st of August 2013. In accordance to the new proceedings established by the WTO for this selection process, a total of nine countries have officially presented their candidates for the position.

Each one of the candidates has made a presentation to the General Council of the WTO, in which they have laid out their vision of the organization’s future and responded to questions by its members.

15/01/2013

Whilst taking part in the inauguration of a new Volkswagen engine manufacturing plant in Silao, Guanajuato, President Enrique Peña Nieto expressed the commitment that Mexico´s Government has to being an ally of “all those investments that are productive and that create employment and opportunities for Mexicans.” This applies to both large investors as well as to those that have important projects to develop in Mexico.

The President remarked that a clear sign of this disposition, particularly in the automotive sector, is that within days of the start of his Administration, “we reached an agreement with Argentina, in order to reopen auto-exports to that country”. He also added that new markets will be open to Mexican products, so that the automotive and other industries “will have a very promising and encouraging setting” that will allow opportunities of individual development to be broadened for all Mexicans.

He emphasized that the five main national goals for his Administration are “those that concern the prosperity of Mexico, which entails that we must ensure that the country has a greater economic growth so that this wealth benefits more and more Mexicans”. The President argued that Mexico is following the path of development that has come to pass in other places of the world, one that increases individual opportunities through economic growth, coupled with Governmental policies that will target the redistribution of wealth. He also added that Mexico´s Government is fully committed to uphold macroeconomic stability, which will be the bedrock of its public policy.

President Peña Nieto pointed out that the recently inaugurated manufacturing plant in Silao, Guanajuato is the Volkswagen´s 100th worldwide, which certifies the trust international companies have in Mexico. He pointed out that the investment carried out by the company amounts to $550 million USD, which he expects will precede a portion of the total $5 billion USD to be invested by the company in North America in coming years.

“The purpose of my Government is to work hand in hand with state level Authorities so as to coordinate on efforts that allow us to detonate greater benefits for all Mexicans” the President stated.

Governor of Guanajuato calls for support of an integral mobility system

The state Governor Miguel Márquez asked President Peña Nieto to support an initiative for an integral mobility system, one that includes all modes of transportation, which would connect all the state´s regions and strengthen its connectivity with other parts of the country. “For us it is important that Guanajuato is integrated into the Mexico-Queretaro train.”

Andreas Hinrichs, President of the Executive Council of Volkswagen Mexico, highlighted that the new plant in Silao is one of the most relevant projects of the company´s growth strategy in North America,  whilst pointing out that said plant will produce a new generation of advanced technology engines.

“We recognize the great effort and professionalism that the Federal Government has shown us. Volkswagen Mexico plays an active role in the educational, social and environmental development of the communities in which it is present. Therefore, we will replicate our successful model in Guanajuato, creating links with universities and take part in social  programs, as well as those that protect the environment.”

Martin Winterkorn, President of Volkswagen Group´s Executive Council, expressed that “nowadays Volkswagen is being ‘Mexcanized’. We have invested here more than 500 million dollars, creating 700 new highly qualified jobs and will produce 330, 000 new high efficiency TSI engines on a yearly basis.”

(09/01/2013)

The Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom informs that Eduardo Medina Mora was sworn-in by the Permanent Commission of the Union´s Congress in Mexico as Ambassador to the United States of America, thus ratifying the designation made by the President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto.

Ambassador Alejandro Estivill will be in charge of affairs of the Embassy of Mexico in the U.K., whilst the designation of the new head of mission is completed. During said time, the Embassy will continue to promote the various windows of opportunity that are arising in what is a growing and ever more dynamic bilateral relation in sectors as diverse as culture, education, tourism, and trade and investment.

Everyone at the Embassy wishes Ambassador Medina Mora much success in his new endeavour.

(08/01/2013)

During the 24th Annual Meeting of Mexican Ambassadors and Consuls, President Enrique Peña Nieto stated that Mexico will be open to the world and the stories of success from other countries; “our foreign policy will contribute to the development of our country.”

He also added that “during 2013, and throughout the next six years, Mexican diplomats will represent a changing and growing country; a country that will be on the rise, one in which Mexicans believe in themselves and believe not only in our transformative capacity, but that we have assimilated a political and democratic transition. Notwithstanding our differences, we are driven by a Mexico that will walk a path of development and opportunities, one that effectively renders the rights of all Mexicans.”

During his speech in the Treasury Hall at the National Palace, the Head of the Federal Executive remarked that whilst many other countries face financial challenges -which in some cases has brought them close to a collapse- Mexico has economic strength and certainty. To this he added that during a working visit to various countries, he has found that not only is there great respect for Mexico and its institutions but great optimism regarding its growth potential.

The President also highlighted that there are encouraging signs of political will and coincidences between various national political forces so as to push through deep changes that will transform the country.

Moreover, he instructed the diplomatic corps to fully contribute from abroad to the five central objectives he has laid out for his Presidency: to achieve a peaceful Mexico, one that is inclusive, with high quality education, prosperous and to make it an international player with greater responsibility.

During the event, Foreign Secretary José Antonio Meade Kuribreña pointed out that the Annual Meeting served to analyze the best ways to achieve these objectives by studying international tendencies and useful tools such as high quality statistical information, e-diplomacy, parliamentary diplomacy and the international promotion of state level governments. He also stated that the two day series of events helped to identify the main challenges and opportunities that different global regions offer to Mexico.

Mexico has been invited as guest of honour for this year´s edition of Raindance Film Festival. In this sense, Raindance is calling all Mexican filmmakers to present innovative and independent feature films and documentaries that will compete to be selected as part of the festival´s Mexican section.

The selected Mexican films will take part in the festival´s Official Competition in categories such as Best International Film, Best Debut, Best Documentary and Best Film of the Festival.

Short-film´s will be registered independently to the Mexican Film Section and will be compete for awards such as Best International Short, Best Short Documentary and Best Short of the Festival. The winner of Best Short-Film of the Festival will be considered to compete in the Oscars™.

Final submission deadline is on the 1st of June.

To submit your piece and read the full terms and conditions go to: http://www.raindance.org/festival-2013/mexican-submissions/

The V & A Museum of Childhood and the Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom –with the support of Wahaca- presented the first ever edition of Mexico´s Children´s Day in London on the 27th and 28th of April. 

Día del Niño is a longstanding tradition celebrated in Mexico that seeks not only to dedicate a special occasion for children, but also to commemorate the virtues that they embody: innocence, imagination, inquisitiveness and light-heartedness. In doing so, this date tightens the bonds within families and serves as a reminder to grown-ups that the world is as fun as we wish it to be.

For the inaugural edition of Mexico´s Children´s Day, the V & A Museum of Childhood offered an array of cost-free Mexican-themed activities for kids to learn and play. This event also marked the donation by the Embassy of Mexico to the V & A Museum of Childhood of one of Mexico´s most traditional toys, the balero.

The series of activities was attended by more than 2000 people and was featured face painting, storytelling, traditional dancing, mask making as well as a Piñata workshop. Moreover, Mexico´s Children´s Day also offered 'have-a-go' sessions for kids in the UK to become familiar with the balero.

The Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom, supported by PINTA The Modern & Contemporary Latin American Art Show, is pleased to launch the inaugural edition of Camaradas UK & Mexico Art Competition.  

Camaradas seeks to further strengthen the ties of friendship between Mexico and the United Kingdom, as well as to provide a platform of exposure for emerging artist from both countries in what is one of the most vibrant and influential cities in the international art scene.

The comeptition is now in its final stage, for which 20 camaradas have been chosen. The winners of the competition will be announced shortly. For more information on the camaradas, click here.

The Challenge

Stage 1: one Mexican artist based in the UK and one British artist (maximum 35 years old) must become comrades to enter the competition (proposal deadline 31st of March)

Stage 2: the comrades must impress a top level jury with a piece by each of them that tackles a single concept

Stage 3: The top 10 comradeships will take part in the Inaugural Comrades 2013 Exhibition at the Official Residence of Mexico.

The Glory

The best pieces will be showcased in PINTA The Modern & Contemporary Latin American Art Show and will be published on the front cover of DIPLOMAT Magazine.