"An official with a Japanese manufacturing trade group gave a ringing
endorsement to doing business in the Mexican border city of Tijuana this
week. Joji Hiraiwa, secretary of the San Diego-based Japanese Maquiladora
Association, thanked local authorities for supporting his industry during
tough times, when deteriorating infrastructure and public insecurity
proved challenging obstacles.
“It was a headache for the maquiladora industry to travel on deteriorated
streets, but things are good with the hydraulic concrete program, and we
will remember this public work in the coming years,” Hiraiwa said. The
Japanese business leader added that investors will seek to sink more money
into Tijuana.
Pleased with the recognition, Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos pledged to give
greater support to foreign investors. Although property taxes for
foreign-owned maquiladora plants have increased 200 percent, plant owners
now have access to much better roads, green areas and monuments in the
Otay Industrial Zone, Ramos said. According to mayor, the maquiladora
industry will be offered new properties in the Las Palmas Valley as an
incentive to expand.
Investors from other Pacific Rim nations are also showing greater interest
in Tijuana. A government delegation from the People’s Republic of China
visited Tijuana in recent days, greasing the wheels for a tour of Chinese
businessmen who are expected to arrive in the border city next week.
Chinese attention on Tijuana is another example of the Asian giant's
growing business in Mexico and Latin America. China's bilateral trade with
Latin America exploded from $200 million in 1975 to $47 billion by 2005.
Given the high level of criminal violence and subsequent negative
publicity which have swirled around Tijuana in the past few years, the
enthusiasm of foreign investors in expanding their business dealings in
the city is noteworthy.
While Tijuana is far less violent than another important border
maquiladora center, Ciudad Juarez, it nonetheless continues to suffer
significant spates of bloodletting-despite repeated claims from security
forces that government crackdowns have largely neutralized organized
criminal gangs in the city.
At least 15 men were reported slain in gangland-style incidents between
Sunday, October 10, and Tuesday evening, October 12. In one incident, two
headless bodies were discovered hanging from a bridge on the
Tijuana-Rosarito Highway. On another road, the shaved head of a young man
was found stuffed into a plastic bag. In both instances, written threats
typical of narco bands were left at the scene.
Fermin Gomez Gomez, deputy state prosecutor for organized crime, blamed
the outbreak of violence on a gang conflict for control of Tijuana’s
retail sales illegal drug market."
Sources: Frontera.info, October 11, 12 and 13, 2010. Ecoamericas,
September 2010. Article by Barbra Fraser.
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico
For a free electronic subscription email: fnsnews@nmsu.eduDENNIS - 10-13-2010 at 04:01 PM
Good effing deal. TJ needs better Chinese Restaurants.
Everywhere needs better Chinese restauratnts.
I think the Vatican should be turned into a Chinese restaurant.
With Chinese dishwashers. No Ranchera music in the Pit.MitchMan - 10-13-2010 at 08:13 PM
Asian influence in Mexican culture would be a good thing.motoged - 10-13-2010 at 09:57 PM
Will that be Dim Sum or menudo to cure your hangover? sanquintinsince73 - 10-13-2010 at 10:20 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
Asian influence in Mexican culture would be a good thing.
Asian influence worldwide coming up....soon.tjBill - 10-13-2010 at 11:05 PM
That could explain the popularity of Sushi in Tijuana. It's a standard cuisine among the upper class.MitchMan - 10-14-2010 at 03:27 PM
sanquintinsince73,
I have been saying what you just wrote for the past 20 years, and I firmly believe that it is, as you say, "coming up soon". If you don't believe
that, you must ask yourself: what is going to stop it?DENNIS - 10-14-2010 at 03:32 PM
This explains all the Rickshaws parked around Adelitas after sundown. Oh well....A man has to unwind.
