we follow the dusty roads as they wind and twist up and down passing through small villages and towns and then back into the high plains desert framed by the Sierra Fria and the Sierra del Laurel mountains and thick leafed aloes and agaves interspersed occasionally with orchards of pomegranate trees laden with red ripening fruit the yellow apple-like globes clinging to tejocote trees and vast tracks of vineyards dotted with red and white grapes One of the major surprises for those first visiting is the profundity of grapes as Aguascalientes is the fifth largest wine producer in the country The pallid palette changes quickly when we arrive in Calvillo brightening into technicolor as we rumbled across cobblestone streets lined with buildings painted in a vivid array of pastels one of 177 towns and villages designated by Mexico upon their historic architecture the state capital and a bustling city of over a million that was established in 1575 Among Calvillo’s food specialties are cheese and butter tamales cinnamon cookie filled with concha paste made of butter and sugar as distinct to the town but even more importantly and a major driver of the local economy Calvillo is known as the world capital of the guava it seems fitting that our first stop takes us along ever narrowing streets rising up a hillside to Fruitland a second generation family owned guava business edged by large groves of trees bearing the yellow and green fruit that grows so well in the climate here The tour is an educational and edible experience where we learn about the different types of guavas and after a walk among the guava trees where the fruit is beginning to ripen while workers shape guava pulp into candies we taste logs of guava rolled in powders made of ground chiles the latter used on a another of the town’s specialties barbecued pork ribs while we sip guava liqueur and wine The front of the factory also houses the gift shop and there’s a lot of traffic going in and out as people stop by to stock up on guava products including guava empanadas a Mexican caramel sauce made with sweetened goat’s milk There’s seemingly no end to what can be done with guava and on the town’s Guava Trail a ten-minute stroll if you don’t include stops we pass restaurants featuring guava pizzas and even a guava craft beer a festival which takes place at the beginning of December and features traditional folk dancing the sweet aroma of guava seems to float follow us the sweet aroma thick in the air when we climb Andador Matamoros (Las Graditas) the wide stairway leading towards Plaza Principal and other greenery where many of the Calvillo’s historic sites are situated Dominating the plaza is Parroquia del Señor del Salitre and gilt accenting the three naves delineated by white alabaster columns and what is said to be second largest dome in Latin America From there we visit the National Museum of Pueblos Mágicos built to showcase and preserve the folklore and handicrafts that make these destinations so special Another place not to miss is Casa de la Cultura housed in what was once a private residence dating back to the 17th century Its distinctive pink limestone facade is home to the Benito Juarez Public Library and exhibits promoting local artists and plays as well as workshops in traditional Mexican arts I would sign up for a class in folk dancing or to learn about the ancient art of El deshilado (unraveling) a craft practiced by the women of Aguascalientes where a fine hook-shaped needle is used to delicately unravel fabric to create intriguing designs including those made popular in the 1800s by Jose Guadalupe Posada the stylish skeletons dressed in fancy Victorian-era finery Many of the local shops sell this traditional Mexican folk art which is a rarity anywhere else While there are many restaurants and cafes in the city a personal favorite is Quinta Los Granados Part of a former mansion on a pomegranate estate its brick and stone walls lined with archways revealing vistas of small orchards and wrought iron fencing entangled with flowering vines Thick wood doors are set in yellow stucco walls pots overflowing with blooms and cacti are tucked away in carved niches Inside the restaurant with its almost-jungle like atmosphere chandeliers hang from thatched ceilings held in place by thick timbers interior walls are painted in startling bright pinks and yellows decorative architectural salvage and antiques choices of sauce including one made with guava seafood on rounds of limes topped with slivers of pickled red onions pools of refried beans and rice all served with large pitches of freshly made horchata (rice drink) and guava juice plus a large assortment of cocktails and wine are brought to the table on large trays to be enjoyed family style It's the perfect place to linger well into the night as lights sparkle in the surrounding orchards but there’s one more adventure and that’s to board El Guayequito the tourist tram in the historic center that on Friday and Saturday nights travels along the Ruta de las Cantinas (Route of the cantinas) to explore the town’s classic bars and cantinas by hopping on and off during the three hour ride Governor Tere Jiménez inaugurated the facilities of Judd Wire in Aguascalientes with a Japanese investment of more than US$21.1 million and the generation of 300 jobs The governor also received a letter of commitment for US$31.7 million for an expansion project Tere Jiménez emphasized that Aguascalientes is a strategic point for business she pointed out that during her administration more than 44 foreign direct investment projects have been announced thanked the support of the government of Tere Jimenez and highlighted the security education and human talent of Aguascalientes as key factors for investment the company chose the state for its competitive advantages Esaú Garza de Vega informed that Japan consolidated its position as the main foreign investor in Aguascalientes in 2024 The event was attended by state and municipal authorities and Judd Wire executives We’re in the business of providing relevant information through print and electronic media organizing events to bring industrial value chain actors together and services to create new business relationships Our goal is to improve our clients’ competitiveness Of all the major cities in Central Mexico, Aguascalientes was one of the last my husband and I visited, mainly because we’d heard it was large and industrial. When we finally made it there in 2020, we weren’t expecting much. Barry and I have since decided the city needs to do a far better PR job: it’s now our favorite Mexican city outside Guanajuato, where we live part of the year. Unlike Querétaro, Aguascalientes city isn’t surrounded by wine country, and unlike San Luis Potosí, it doesn’t have the nearby majestic beauty of the Huasteca But that also means it isn’t crammed with tourists during our third visit that we finally spotted other foreigners in Aguascalientes Aguascalientes’ ample, people-friendly central square is dominated by large fountains, benches and a huge cathedral that dates to 1704. It also boasts the Patio de las Jacarandas, an innovative public art piece built for the 100th anniversary of the Aguascalientes Convention that recreates the Portal de Jesús Later we checked out the neighborhood of Guadalupe with its baroque Templo de Guadalupe and garden full of ash and poplar trees Nearby are the city’s oldest cemeteries ironworks and sculptures made from marble and the local pink cantera stone on the way to the Pueblo Mágico of Calvillo more gradual route that goes behind the peak but the last time we visited was during a three-day weekend Our taxi driver told us that the Sunday or holiday tradition is to climb the peak I enjoyed the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo his three adult children and his interest in learning danzón measured partner dance originally from Cuba but popular in Mexico Because we love trains, we had to visit the Museo Ferrocarrilero where we learned about the region’s history as a major railway hub admiring the restored train station and the variety of historic and modern train cars including the former presidential car of Lazaro Cardenas who served as Mexico’s president from 1934 to 1940 an architectural jewel and one of the city’s most important historic edifices Built between 1895 and 1908 in a pastiche of styles During our visit in January of 2023, the hot springs which gave the city its name were disappointing: they weren’t very hot We were told they were hotter in some months than others I saw other complaints that they were lukewarm The Pueblo Mágico of Calvillo is about 45 minutes from Aguascalientes It boasts a Christ the Redeemer statue on top of a set of steep steps and the Museo Nacional de los Pueblos Mágicos the only museum in the country dedicated to preserving and showcasing the folklore traditions and crafts of the 177 towns that make up the Pueblos Mágicos program Most notable about the town, though, is its signature agricultural product. Billing itself as the Guava Capital of the World Calvillo is home to over 4,500 guava producers and pastries and other treats made with guava are sold all over town Besides loving the parts of the city we’ve already seen we know there’s always something else to explore we just learned that Aguascalientes is the most bicycle-friendly city in the country And we always appreciate the city’s friendly and unpretentious people Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are available on her website, authory.com/LouisaRogers ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Chris joined FloridaGators.com in 2011 after nearly three decades as a sports reporter at newspapers in Tampa and Orlando including 10 years covering the UF athletic program and another 10 covering the NFL Scott has been a senior writer for the Florida Gators since 2010 "A state of just under one and a half million inhabitants an area north of the capital where "over 30 percent of the country's economy is concentrated" A state in the heart of the American continent with a qualified workforce and capable of guaranteeing stability and legal certainty to those who want to invest These are some of the characteristics of the Mexican state of Aguascalientes illustrated to the “Nova” agency by the governor a German city where Aguascalientes had a stand at the industrial fair Jimenez spoke of a state that is home to ten Italian companies and has a large portfolio of international businesses which also featured a forum with businesses organized by the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in Italy to establish contacts with a car parts company that has already announced its intention to invest in Aguascalientes A state with just under one and a half million inhabitants an area north of the capital where “over 30 percent of the economy of the entire country is concentrated,” Jimenez said A geographical location that well translates the advantages in terms of commercial integration and development: "two of the main railway lines in the country pass through Aguascalientes Ferromex (Ferrocarril mexicano) and Kcsm (Kansas City Sothern de Mexico) It is therefore no coincidence that the State was a national protagonist of rail transport: "the first entirely Mexican train was built here with exclusively local labor and here construction sites workshops and warehouses were built that over time have been reconverted into conference centers and other logistics facilities" guaranteeing "trade towards the north of the continent of products and raw materials from southern Mexico and all of Latin America" Aguascalientes also hosts an international mixed passenger and cargo airport and is connected to ports that can send goods across the two oceans The dynamism of the local economy is demonstrated by the 6,2 percent growth in gross domestic product achieved in 2024 confident "of being able to do well this year too" which guarantees legal certainty to businesses “the majority of companies that arrive here decide to stop.” For companies with international competitors it is “important to be able to count on qualified labor and a climate of collaboration between the various actors,” as demonstrated by the fact that “for over 50 years” there hasn’t been a strike The highest growth rates for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have been recorded here certifying the local government’s commitment to supporting this productive segment especially through credit that allows them to continue exporting The support given to international companies that land in the territory is also important: “the government helps them in the dialogue with banks for access to credit in studying possible investments and in resolving any inconvenience that may emerge.” Also because “the success of international companies means for us the possibility of increasing local employment.” Read also other news on Nova News Click here and receive updates on WhatsApp Follow us on the social channels of Nova News on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram Act Now: The dog meat trade is not only cruel and unnecessary but is also linked to the spread of diseases More Than a Pet: Help keep people and pets together A Humane World: A first-hand account of our ongoing efforts to protect animals as told by our president and CEO, Kitty Block The dogs will receive veterinary care before being placed for adoption animal cruelty program manager at Humane Society International/México who was one of the responders on the scene said: “These dogs had been left to fend for themselves in absolutely squalid conditions Their paws were red and sore from standing in their own feces many of the animals were emaciated and dangerously dehydrated they were extremely excited to see us and desperate for attention I dread to think what would have happened to them Now they are getting the care they so desperately need and will have a chance to be adopted into loving families.” The report that alerted PROESPA to this case is one of hundreds received by the agency Records up to October 2021 show that 65% of the 1,500 reports the agency received pertained to animal abuse The dogs’ owner voluntarily surrendered the dogs to the authorities and they were immediately transferred to a temporary shelter funded by HSI/México and set up specifically for the case where they are receiving urgent veterinary treatment and behavioral assessment so that once they are recovered they can be put up for adoption Amigos Pro Animal in association with HSI/México holds weekly adoption events and activities in Aguascalientes to find homes for neglected Download photos and video of the rescue Media contact on behalf of Humane Society International/México: Magaly Garibay: (+52 55) 5211 8731, ext. 104; mgaribay@idee.agencia © 2025 Humane World for Animals is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Contributions to the Humane World for Animals are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law The Humane World for Animals tax identification number is 53-0225390 Valle de Guadalupe on Mexico's Baja peninsula may get the lion's share of attention when it comes to great Mexican wines another state in Mexico has begun to gain the attention of international wine experts and oenophiles alike located in the center of Mexico roughly six hours north of Mexico City has a wine-producing tradition that dates back more than four centuries And with the wine beginning to earn worldwide acclaim the state has developed a Ruta del Vino for travelers who want to learn more about its indigenous beverage Though it's one of the smallest states in Mexico Aguascalientes is the fifth-largest wine-producing region in the country Its elevation (more than 6,500 feet above sea level) and semi-dry climate have afforded winemakers ideal conditions to produce grapes like nebbiolo The state took home eight medals in the Mexico Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Guanajuato 2021 competition where blind taste tests for European and American judges led to two Grand Gold medals took home the Gold Medal at the 2023 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles competition held in Croatia (The winery is open for guided tours and walks through the vineyards barrel room tastings and live music on the patio.) In addition to the aforementioned Vinicola Santa Elena standout wineries along the route include: a family-run operation just 20 minutes from Aguascalientes' eponymous capital city The winery and vineyards offer fabulous food and high-quality wines with panoramic views over the landscape It sits along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro a Unesco Cultural Heritage of Humanity Site The Ruta del Vino website has all the information agents and their clients will need about wineries and harvest season events AGUASCALIENTES - With an investment of more than US$9.6 million Parker Corporation inaugurated its new facilities in the FINSA Industrial Park The new facilities cover 20,000 m² of land and 4,000 m² of construction designed to increase its production capacity in insulation industrial cleaning chemicals and materials for air conditioning systems Despite having a track record of more than 10 years in Aguascalientes Parker Corporation reaffirms its commitment to continue investing in the state Proof of this is the generation of 200 direct and indirect jobs that will benefit hundreds of families while technological development and innovation promise to transform local supply chains head of the Ministry of Economic Development highlighted the importance of this investment as a symbol of the strong ties between Aguascalientes and Japan “It is an honor to share this achievement with Parker Corporation which reinforces our position as a strategic destination for industrial development in Mexico our main partner and largest foreign investor has found in Aguascalientes an ideal environment to thrive” he said The inauguration was attended by leaders such as Yoshishige Satomi These representatives underscored their commitment to growth in the region and the strengthening of the bilateral relationship One of my favorite ways to explore Mexico is by visiting its Pueblos Mágicos. These “Magical Towns” are smaller cities and villages that have been incorporated into a federal tourism initiative for their cultural value While the area around my adopted home of Puerto Vallarta is peppered with beautiful Magical Towns But not all Pueblos Mágicos are on the mass tourism trail There are nearly 200 scattered across Mexico and most fly below the international tourist radar located just 52 kilometers from Aguascalientes city The pace of life in Calvillo is slower than the Magical Towns near to where I live Its lack of international tourism means that things move with character and tradition leafy plazas and the faint scent of sweet guavas lingering in the air but I suggest staying a night or two to take your time here Historic streets are flanked by colorful facades while papel picado flutters overhead Calvillo was founded in 1771, and evidence of its Spanish influence can be seen all across town. The main square is home to the stunning Templo del Señor del Salitre a beautiful 200-year-old baroque-style church The church is a place of pilgrimage for many who come to pay their respects to the Señor del Salitre the municipal palace is another example of the town’s Spanish-influenced architecture this elegant building serves as the seat of the town’s government But what really puts Calvillo on the map is its reputation as the Guava Capital of the World. Between Calvillo and neighboring Zacatecas, there are more than 4,500 guava producers in the region. More than a cash crop, guava — called “guayaba” in Spanish — is deeply ingrained in the local culture and you’ll find it in everything from sweets and pastries to drinks and even cosmetics You can get to the grassroots of Calvillo by visiting its guava orchards for a guided tour and tasting you can cut to the chase and head to the town’s many sweets shops You can find a few of them on Calle 5 de Mayo where you can indulge in guava-based treats sweet spread that pairs perfectly with cheese while guava rolls and jelly bake the fruit into breakfast treats or kick it up a notch with an artisanal guava beer Calvillo’s culinary scene is a festival of flavors The town’s restaurants and street vendors serve a variety of traditional food seasoned with spices and served with a side of guava salsa You can even try guava mole at the pocket-sized Alebrije restaurant The annual Guayaba Fair is a celebration of Calvillo’s beloved fruit dance and an abundance of guava-based foods and drinks Unlike the festivals in more touristy towns the Guayaba Fair retains a sense of community and tradition with events that are more focused on local customs than catering to visitors which are soft corn tortillas filled with a variety of stews you’d be remiss to pass on the pastel de guayaba a soft guava cake heaped with creamy guava frosting But Calvillo’s treasures extend beyond the guava trees into the Sierra Fría this is one of the best places in Mexico for outdoor adventure is a gorgeous reservoir just a short drive from town clear water is perfect for kayaking or fishing The Cañón de Jaltiche is webbed with hiking trails leading to dramatic mountain views You’ll also find the El Tepozán Natural Park which is perfect for a stroll amid colorful flowers and wildlife you can hike up to the Santa Cruz de Calvillo monument which sits atop a hill overlooking the city the hilltop has a sweeping view of the surrounding mountains The hike to the top is lined with pathways that follow the Stations of the Cross a revitalized welcome center features a smattering of restaurants and art galleries Plan your hike for close to sunset so you can watch the sky transform with color as day melts into evening stop by Chuy Bombas Bar for a Calvillo legend and their signature drink: the Bomba The deceptively deadly concoction is made with grenadine This bare-bones cantina puts on no frills and no fuss welcoming watering hole where you’ll find residents gathering for good conversation and zero pretense The bottom line about Calvillo is that it’s a town living its history every day As much as I love the Magical Towns in the more touristy areas of Mexico there’s something special about venturing into the unknown The streets are absent of souvenir stalls and chain restaurants markets and eateries that cater to those who live here Calvillo’s historic architecture is not just a backdrop for Instagram photos but a testament to the town’s rich heritage and its people take pride in their town’s traditions and are eager to share them with those who take the time to visit AGUASCALIENTES - The French-Japanese company Kotobukiya Trèves de México (KTMex) announced an investment of approximately US$14.2 million for the expansion of its plant located in the San Francisco de los Romo Industrial Park in Aguascalientes This project includes the construction of a new industrial plant and the creation of more than 160 new jobs in the region KTMex's Regional Director of Operations for North America highlighted that the decision to expand its operations responds to the good results obtained at the Aguascalientes plant as well as the competitive advantages of the state including its safety and the quality of its human capital He also emphasized the company's commitment to sustainability and environmental protection KTMex is a key supplier to the automotive industry and serves manufacturers such as Nissan The company has 27 plants in 15 countries around the world consolidating its global presence in the manufacture of components for the sector company executives and state officials were present including the head of the Secretariat of Economic Development among them Marcos Vinicius De Souza Rodrigues The state government reiterated its support for the investment and assured that it will provide support in negotiations with federal authorities to facilitate the company's expansion in Aguascalientes AGUASCALIENTES - Bosch inaugurated new production lines at its Aguascalientes plant after an investment of US$221.2 million which is expected to generate 400 jobs by 2027 the German company seeks to consolidate its presence in the global automotive market through the integration of advanced technology and process improvements located in the Aguascalientes Valley Industrial Park marks a strategic step for Bosch in the production of brake systems said that the new lines will increase production capacity with automated processes that optimize the supply of components and raise quality and safety standards executive vice president of Bosch's Chassis Control Systems Division highlighted the key role of local talent in the success of the operation “The best technology without the human being is nothing highlighted the importance of Bosch's investment and the synergy between the company and the state “We are confident that Aguascalientes will continue to demonstrate its greatness innovation and better life opportunities for our people,” said the governor Jiménez highlighted that this expansion reinforces the state's innovative vocation aligning with its strategic priorities in areas such as electromobility the circular economy and the semiconductor industry Aguascalientes has launched the State Energy Agency to foster energy transition and technological research positioning itself as a key player in the automotive industry in the continent head of the Secretariat of Economic Development emphasized that Bosch's expansion will have a significant impact on the economic development of the region and the quality of life of its inhabitants consolidating the state as an essential logistics node for Mexico and the Americas AGUASCALIENTES - Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico announced that during the 2025-2029 five-year period it plans to make a historic investment of US$41 million to consolidate the comprehensive modernization of the Aguascalientes International Airport in support of the important development that the state has been experiencing in all productive areas The bulk of the investment for the improvement of the facilities and operation of the Aguascalientes airfield is programmed for 2027 with an authorized financial allocation of US$13.5 million while an investment of less than US$5 million is planned for 2025 The investment projection for the Aguascalientes Airport is focused to be applied in the operational areas after the five-year period that is about to end priority was given to the change of image of the air station building according to what was anticipated by the director of the local airport terminal The investments programmed to improve the facilities of the hydrocálida air station will be applied annually and will be in the following amounts: US$4.8 million in 2025; US$6.8 million in 2026; US$13.5 million more in 2027; US$6.3 million for 2028 and will close the five-year period in 2029 with US$10.1 million According to information generated by the company which manages and operates a series of airports in different areas of the country Without specifying the specific works to be carried out during the five-year period Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico authorities mentioned that several operational areas will undergo an important transformation to guarantee the best operation of the Aguascalientes aerodrome AGUASCALIENTES - The first stone was laid for the new Contitech plant a division of the German Tier 1 Continental This new project contemplates an investment of US$90 million and the creation of 500 direct jobs in two phases reaffirming the state's relevance on the global industrial map Located in the VESTA industrial park in the south of the city of Aguascalientes integrating state-of-the-art technology for the production of automotive components highlighted the company's commitment to innovation and the environment assuring that the facilities will be designed under high safety and sustainability standards thanked the local government for its support underlining the importance of human capital in Aguascalientes for the company's success he highlighted that 25% of the company's executive talent in Mexico is made up of women underlining Continental's commitment to diversity and inclusion This project adds to Aguascalientes' efforts to attract foreign investment and generate jobs The Clover Casino in Aguascalientes has installed Zitro’s new CONCEPT cabinet line courtesy of operator Golden Lion Entertainment Group the CONCEPT line is a “marvel of modern design and state-of-the-art multimedia features.” The gaming provider notes that it comes with “a spectacular light show creating a visually stunning atmosphere.”  a massive Screen Deck touchscreen further elevates the user experience providing "unparalleled convenience and functionality" for both players and operators Clover Casino has also bolstered its game library with the addition of Legendary Sword These three titles are celebrated for their “breathtaking graphics and enticing prizes,” according to Zitro “We are absolutely delighted with this addition and confident it will transform the gaming experience at our casino,” says Golden Lion “We already feature a wide array of Zitro products and are committed to regularly expanding our offerings to consistently provide our players with the very best.” Zitro founder Johnny Ortiz Viveiros added: “The introduction of CONCEPT empowers us to offer operators a wider selection of hardware for our extensive game library fostering a more diverse and engaging gaming environment We are certain that CONCEPT will be a tremendous asset for Golden Lion a true leader in Mexican entertainment.” As part of its Mexican expansion, Zitro has also installed its CONCEPT cabinet line in Mazatlán’s MonteCarlo Casino via Grupo Euromex this month enhancing the property's entertainment offerings "This prestigious accolade further solidifies Zitro’s leading position in the region a fact underscored by the Eilers & Krejcik—Fantini report released this January which ranked Zitro #1 with a performance index of 2.61x," said the gaming supplier.  AGUASCALIENTES - Mexstamp has announced an investment of US$3.5 million for the construction of its second plant in the Chichimeco Industrial Park in Aguascalientes This project will increase the company's production capacity and sales by up to 40% in addition to generating new jobs that will strengthen the local economy highlighted the quality of the work carried out in the state and thanked the state government for its support “Our company is a clear example that what is made in Aguascalientes is well done We want to continue contributing to the state's economy and the well-being of its people,” said Olvera explained that the new plant will have more than 4,000 square meters which will allow the company to expand production for the automotive sector During the official ceremony for the delivery of the letter of commitment to invest Governor Tere Jiménez expressed her satisfaction with the growth of local companies and reiterated the support of the state government "It is a source of pride that they are from Aguascalientes I congratulate them and count on us so they can respond to market demand,” said the governor She also emphasized that the confidence of domestic and foreign investors reflects the favorable conditions offered by the state for business growth offered Mexstamp various financing programs and strategies for the development of local suppliers and talent underscoring the authorities' commitment to strengthening the business sector The event held at the Government Palace was also attended by Jorge Armando Andrade Serafin Undersecretary of Investment and Development together with members of Mexstamp's board of directors who celebrated the agreement that consolidates this expansion in the state 2024 at 3:13 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Carnitas Aguascalientes #2 just opened in Joliet on the southern gateway It's at 410 South Chicago Street across from Milano Bakery (John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor )JOLIET — This marks the first full week of business in Joliet for the new Carnitas Aguascalientes #2 The Chicago Ridge-based Mexican restaurant has expanded into Joliet Although the new Joliet restaurant has a small seating area most of the business is expected to come from takeout orders is posted at the very bottom of this Joliet Patch article Representatives of Carnitas told Joliet Patch they plan to keep their new restaurant open seven days a week The daily hours of operation are still being finalized and were not posted at the business which is directly across the street from the Milano's Bakery along the busy Route 53 corridor Carnitas is in the same business plaza as the Tony's Auto Repair The phone number to place carryout orders is 815-582-4906 The menu features several flavors of tortas including sausage steak-asada as well as barbacoa and tongue-lengua and Carnitas lists about 15 different Platillos on its menu ranging in price from $9.99 to $18.99 for the shrimp fajitas or the carne asada Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. a multinational company from St Louis Missouri will invest US$110 million in a personal care and hygiene products factory in Aguascalientes which produces products for more than 25 personal care and hygiene brands laid the cornerstone for what will be its first manufacturing plant in Mexico Edgewell Personal Care will supply customers such as Walmart de México continues to be a reality for Mexico,” commented Sergio Argüelles He said that the arrival of foreign capital is a sign of Mexico's confidence and competitiveness Finsa is building the industrial building where the Edgewell Personal Care factory will be installed “At Finsa we are committing to a new generation of industrial parks that have strategically located world-class certifications,” he said Japanese auto manufacturer Nissan began production of its new Kicks crossover vehicle at its plant in Mexico this week As company executives cheered the first new Kicks model to roll off the assembly line they also celebrated the fact that the plant in the north-central state of Aguascalientes has now produced 16 million Nissan vehicles since it began operations in 1992 described the Kicks — available in 70 markets around the globe — as “a vehicle conceived in and inspired by Latin America.” the Kicks has been assembled in Mexico since 2016 An updated version of the standard Kicks was revealed in December 2020 and a second-generation Kicks was introduced for the North American market in March 2024 Competition in the crowded subcompact SUV market prompted Nissan to again update the Kicks model which has served as a test platform for the company’s technological innovations It was the first model in Mexico to include e-Power technology “offering an intermediate solution between traditional hybrid vehicles and the purely electric models.” e-Power uses a gas motor to generate electricity while the wheels are propelled by an electric motor was stylized in Nissan’s Design Center in Brazil “This new chapter in our history proves we have the capability to lead with vision and continue contributing … to Mexico’s mobility with innovative proposals,” said Rodrigo Centeno president and managing director of Nissan México Nissan invested US $150 million in the new production line for the 2025 Kicks model which will initially target the Latin American market The Kicks investment is part of a US $700 million reinvestment Nissan announced in 2022 Centeno said that 12.5% of the 60,900 Kicks produced in Aguascalientes since 2016 have been sold in Mexico The Aguascalientes 1 complex is the only place the 2025 Kicks model is being produced right now; it will be assembled in Brazil beginning next year Centeno said the Aguascalientes production line can produce 34 new Kicks per hour or approximately 200,000 vehicles per year The Aguascalientes plant already makes Nissan Sentra It produced 447,301 vehicles through August nearly 9% more than in the first eight months of 2023 Sales are up 5.9% and exports have risen 19% over the same period AGUASCALIENTES - Mexican company Lintel has announced the construction of a new industrial park in Aguascalientes a project that will represent an investment of more than US$81.6 million and will generate 750 direct and indirect jobs during its construction phase the industrial park will house domestic and foreign companies in sectors such as automotive Operations are scheduled to begin in early 2026 “This achievement cannot be explained in any other way than by the economic dynamism of the state of Aguascalientes combined with the vision leadership and determination of its governor “This project will allow us to expand our capacity to receive new investments in Aguascalientes with world-class facilities; with this we will continue to consolidate ourselves as a highly competitive state and as an ideal destination to live and invest," Governor Tere Jiménez said The governor assured that the State Government will continue working to create favorable conditions for investors thanking the investors for their confidence in the entity and highlighted the City Hall's commitment to guarantee quality public services and facilitate the development of projects will be located in an area of 140 hectares in the south of the capital city The event held at the Government Palace was attended by various authorities head of the State Secretariat of Economic Development Science and Technology (Sedecyt); Jorge Armando Llamas Esparza general director of the State Energy Agency; and Adrián Lugo Astiazarán among other officials and representatives of the Federal Electricity Commission The initial investment for the Mexican subsidiary is projected to be USD 3 million with an expected increase to USD 6 million over the next 12 to 18 months a manufacturer specializing in steering and suspension products has inaugurated a greenfield facility in Aguascalientes facilitated by its wholly owned subsidiary marks the company's foray into global markets The facility will focus on manufacturing steering and suspension components for passenger vehicle applications.  The inaugural project for this facility involves an order to supply inner and outer ball joints for an upcoming electric vehicle platform by a leading American OEM is anticipated to achieve a peak annual sales value of Rs 80 crores.  Bajio region as the location for the new plant  Aguascalientes was chosen as the location for this new facility due to its strategic positioning in the heart of Mexico This region is home to major OEMs such as Nissan and various top-tier automotive suppliers RML's decision to establish a presence here aligns with its objective to cater to the substantial and expanding market demand for inner and outer ball joints in North America RML supplies these components from its Indian facilities to various global destinations RACM is actively exploring opportunities totaling RS 250 crores for the North American market targeting vehicle platforms of different OEMs Greenfield facility to increase international revenues  “The establishment of this greenfield facility is aligned to our aspiration of growing the share of international revenues This new state-of-the-art facility will help us to address the demand for steering and suspension components in the North American region and position us to capitalize on the emerging trend of localization of parts by the customers in this region driven by USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) RML is favorably positioned to further build on its current book of business in the North American Region.”  Source: www.autocarpro.in  I would like to receive the bi-weekly Foundry-Planet newsletter with all latest news Plus the special newsletters – all can be cancelled anytime and at no cost Brenda Marisol Montañez Saucedo was leaving a gated residential community when she was abducted. After Montañez Saucedo was taken, CJNG contacted Villalpando demanding he replace Villa Hidalgo's current municipal Public Security Chief with a person of their choosing this was not the first time the criminal group had issued such a demand and two municipal workers under the same conditions They were released after agreeing to replace his security chief but Villalpando never followed through on the change Maydon canceled his scheduled performance at a regional fair that day reportedly attempted to resolve the narcomantas issue by meeting with cartel members in Tepatitlán the criminal group kidnapped him and later called his father he and two municipal workers were also kidnapped during the meeting The mayor was taken to a safe house in Tepatitlán where he met with a CJNG leader known as "El Charro," one of the main suspects in the January kidnapping and murder of Mexican businessman Ricardo Rodríguez Zamora "El Charro" accused Villalpando of favoring a rival criminal group and demanded that he replace his current municipal Public Security Chief the mayor received multiple calls on Wednesday and Friday pressuring him to replace his security chief Villalpando was informed that his wife had been kidnapped Montañez Saucedo had not been released AGUASCALIENTES - In the presence of the governor of Aguascalientes Minth executives revealed a new expansion plan in the state which will involve an investment of US$57 million and the creation of 1,200 additional jobs to strengthen its metals division "Every time we announce the arrival of new investments it fills me with emotion and pride that when considering the qualities and enormous goodness of our state," said the governor Public Relations and Administration Manager of Minth Mexico highlighted that this new investment is in addition to the US$173.5 million and 1,600 jobs previously announced to expand operations in plastics and battery box units Ando stated that these projects include the construction of three new plants scheduled between 2024 and 2027 "We continue to trust Aguascalientes as the best state to invest in the safest and where business flows easily where there is a really easy and free approach with the government and where solutions are given to the problems that arise," said the executive of Minth Mexico Science and Technology of the State Government emphasized to Tere Jiménez that around 47 investment projects are currently being evaluated investments of US$1.74 billion and the creation of more than 12,000 new jobs have been announced consumer products company Edgewell Personal Care formally sealed its US $110 million investment in Mexico with a cornerstone laying ceremony in Aguascalientes on Wednesday Connecticut-based Edgewell wasted no time in confirming its investment plans after revealing on Tuesday that it had selected the tiny north-central Mexican state as the site for its new factory Company executives, including CEO Rod Little met with Aguascalientes Governor Tere Jiménez on Tuesday before taking part in the cornerstone ceremony the following day “We are not here by accident,” Little said in a Tuesday press conference “We visited 30 sites across Mexico to make sure we found the perfect location Little said the company was swayed by the region’s highly trained labor force the high quality educational system and the support provided by state officials Jiménez lauded the decision as a boon to the state’s economy and a boost for the quality of life for everyone in the state REUNIÓN CON DIRECTIVOS DE LA EMPRESA EDGEWELL Un gusto recibir en Aguascalientes a Rod Little quienes deciden confiar en Aguascalientes para invertir y hacer crecer su industria Bienvenidos a #ElGiganteDeMéxico pic.twitter.com/EQEaoWBR17 — Tere Jiménez (@TereJimenezE) August 20, 2024 “Aguascalientes plays a key part in the successful bilateral relations between Mexico and the United States “The friendly relationship and solid collaboration between our state and [the United States] guarantees growth and prosperity for Edgewell’s project here.” “It is a great pleasure to accommodate Edgewell and be part of its global growth,” he said “We’ll proudly manufacture and distribute their products; we’ll work alongside them every step of the way.” The new 55,000 square-meter factory will be built in the FINSA Aguascalientes industrial park in the southern part of the state capital The site is currently home to 20 companies Edgewell’s vice president of global operations Carlos Texidor says the factory should be operational next year Edgewell owns more than 25 brands of personal hygiene products Edgewell’s investment is the latest in a very profitable year for Mexico. The federal Economy Ministry announced this week that Mexico had received a record US $31.2 billion in FDI during the six-month period ending June 30 With reports from El Economista and Forbes México AGUASCALIENTES - Executives of Mexicana de Industrias y Marcas (MIYM) announced an investment of US$26 million for the construction of a plant in the state The plant will focus on the industrialization processing and packaging of milk and dairy products president of the company's Board of Directors said that construction of the complex in the north of the state will begin next December He also stated that the project will be developed in two stages and they expect to start operations in 2025 Teodoro Espejo Barradas pointed out that they decided to come to Aguascalientes over other entities due to its strategic location that allows them to expand their operations nationwide “We made the decision to establish ourselves in the locality because it is the best place to invest thanks to its competitive advantages as this will allow us to reach the entire region and thus expand the distribution of our products,” he said Tere Jiménez showed his enthusiasm for the injection of 100% Mexican capital and the confidence that continues to be generated for the arrival of more investors Aguascalientes Governor Should Veto New Limit on Access to Abortion Mexico’s Aguascalientes state took an alarming step backwards on access to abortion in violation of Mexico’s legal obligations decriminalizing abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy But by approving this new law that same Congress is now effectively outlawing abortion access The sharp reduction in the number of weeks in which women and pregnant people can access legal abortion will severely limit access to this essential health service The change conflicts with Mexico’s obligations under international human rights law, including those concerning sexual and reproductive health, and autonomy and nondiscrimination. Restrictions on access to safe and legal abortion services can place many other internationally protected rights at risk and information; to freedom from torture and cruel and degrading treatment; to privacy and bodily autonomy and integrity; and to decide the number and spacing of children The six-week ban also contradicts Mexico’s Supreme Court precedents and the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended avoiding the enactment of laws prohibiting abortion based on gestational age limits The six-week limit will in practice place abortion out of reach for many due to its excessively tight time constraints It will disproportionately affect adolescents and young people It will compel painful choices: forcing pregnant people to travel outside of the state to access care or continue a pregnancy against their wishes This harmful law will now reach the Aguascalientes governor’s desk Sexual Violence against Girls in Guatemala Labor Abuses & Sexual Exploitation in Colombian Webcam Studios Get updates on human rights issues from around the globe Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808 The 2018 LMB spring tournament regular season is over and it is now time for the postseason to begin The Tijuana Toros made the LMB final in 2016 and were crowned champions of the competition last year The Border City Bulls will be looking to defend their league title and will start with a manageable task against Rieleros de Aguascalientes in the first round of the playoffs Aguascalientes finished third in the LMB Zona Norte division with a 33-24 record while Tijuana had a 33-23 record and finished in second place Tijuana also has the edge in terms of starting pitching The series will commence in Tijuana at the Estadio Gasmart this Wednesday and Game 1 and 2 will be played in the border city The series will then shift to the Estadio Alberto Romo Chavez in Aguascalientes where Games 3 Game 6 and 7 will be played back at the Estadio Gasmart if the series is prolonged Pedro Mere’s team must take advantage of these first two games at home to roll into the Estadio Romo Chavez and take the series The Border City Bulls have the bats to do it and will also be backed up by the pitching in these two games at the Estadio Gasmart Roy Merritt (4-2; 4.05 ERA) vs Carlos Hernandez (8-2; 2.64 ERA) Wednesday Francisco del Rosario (3-2; 3.18 ERA) vs Kyle Lobstein (4-2; 2.95 ERA) Thursday The Tijuana Toros do have the edge in both pitching matchups that will be seen at the Estadio Gasmart this week Carlos Hernandez was arguably the best pitcher in the LMB this year as he led the league in wins with eight to his name The left-hander will have a tough outing against Roy Merritt who has been in these high-pressure situations with Mexican Pacific League teams in the past Merritt allowed seven runs against Tijuana in two starts this season while Hernandez only allowed five in over 10 innings of work against Aguascalientes The matchup set for Game 2 is also enticing but the clear pitcher to take it is the American hurler The former Pirates and Tigers’ southpaw allowed a maximum of two earned runs in 10 of his 11 starts this season Francisco del Rosario was used out of the bullpen and as a starter this season The Dominican hurler allowed a maximum of two earned runs in his last five outings and should be tough to break down Isaac Rodriguez The Tijuana Toros do have the LMB batting champ on their side in Isaac Rodriguez The Mexican infielder also hit four dingers with 30 RBI and 20 stolen bases Rodriguez was 0-for-6 to end the regular season and will be looking to get back on track Soto is still going strong at 39 years old and was one of the better bats in the LMB this season The veteran posted an impressive .332 batting average with six home runs and 30 RBI in 54 games Soto is a leader for Aguascalientes and is a patient hitter with a steady bat that will be tough to face throughout this series did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT Now I focus more on the local soccer scene Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund Víctor González fears for his safety every time he drives to meet potential clients outside his central Mexico city of Aguascalientes I’m scared to death,” he said in an interview “It’s very complicated to leave Aguascalientes There are flights between Aguascalientes and Zacatecas where he built a $4.4 million annual revenue automation and precision machine-making company called Solinda González is relocating with his family to El Paso Gonzalez might later move some of his manufacturing north of the border He was one of more than 60 Mexican investors who gathered in El Paso last June to explore such relocation At least four Mexican businesses — two from Aguascalientes and two from Chihuahua — already have formally begun opening operations in El Paso a consultant with the Economic & International Development Office of El Paso are looking at locations throughout Texas and beyond Proponents in Texas and elsewhere hope to capitalize on those business worries compounded by newly-passed constitutional judicial reforms let Mexicans know that Texas offers refuge More: Water heater manufacturer AO Smith opening third Juárez factory, adding 400 jobs by 2025 “Texas is ready to welcome investment dollars that may be looking for a new home as result of uncertainty surrounding Mexico’s radical judicial reform” the foundation said in a widely disseminated ad Gonzalez’s decision to relocate underscores the challenges incoming president Claudia Sheinbaum faces with the business community The first woman to be elected president in Mexico will control the national Congress and most of the country’s 32 state governments providing Sheinbaum enormous political capital Sheinbaum and other Mexican officials are counting on a wave of companies relocating to Mexico from China and elsewhere to boost the economy and help millions climb out of poverty its raft of free-trade agreements and its low wage labor have made it a magnet for companies seeking to avoid geopolitical tensions between China and the US The country’s attractions only grew with the Asia supply chain disruptions exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic More: El Paso-Juárez 'serial entrepreneur' Ricardo Mora hired as new El Paso Chamber CEO To successfully entice factories from Asia Skittish manufacturing executives already eye U.S the issue of public security is critical,” said Carlos Jaramillo an industrial park developer and business leader in the Mexican border city “We’re seeing organized crime gain ground.” Mexico became the U.S.’s largest trading partner in 2022 Deepening U.S.-Mexico trade ties have been driven by the North American free trade pact re-negotiated under the Trump administration That agreement is up for tri-lateral review in 2026 The United States and Canada together take nearly 90 percent of Mexico’s exports Shipments from Mexico comprise more than 15 percent of the U.S while goods bought from the United States total nearly half of Mexico’s annual imports Mexico’s manufacturing heavy economy is now the world’s 15th largest To take on organized crime Sheinbaum has turned to Omar García Harfuch He proved largely successful as Sheinbaum’s public security chief during her previous tenure as Mexico City’s governor Many hope that García Harfuch can adapt his strategy to a national scale Criminal gangs are estimated to control as much as a third of Mexico besieging communities and extorting an increasing number of companies More: Mexico mega-chain Oxxo enters US market, to take over DK stores in Texas, New Mexico Security is not the only issue worrying investors these days The recent overhaul of Mexico’s judicial branch putting most judges and magistrates to popular vote Critics believe the judicial reforms ― adopted this month and taking effect beginning next year ― could further erode Mexico’s already fragile legal institutions Despite embedded corruption and political pressures an independent judiciary has provided investors some refuge against government interference Critics see the judicial reforms as part of a strategy to solidify the hegemony of Morena which was founded only a dozen years ago by departing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador A similar political machine ruled Mexico for most of the past century until the opposition won the presidency in 2000 The critics fear that Morena’s unfettered grip on power could threaten market-friendly reforms and free-trade agreements that began transforming Mexico’s economy in the mid-1980s Consolidation of power augurs the “erosion of what we call democracy broadly,” said Tony Garza “Mexico’s ability to continue playing a starring role as a strategic partner in economic security initiatives and nearshoring could evaporate,” wrote Ryan C senior fellow at the Americas Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies the judicial changes could make Costa Rica the Dominican Republic and Panama as viable alternatives for nearshoring it could prompt a reconsideration of Mexico’s role in the North American bloc,” Berg said Sheinbaum dismisses such warnings as exaggerated insisting that both Mexican and foreign investors have nothing to fear the judicial reform aims to eradicate corruption in Mexico’s courts Legal experts and political observers remain unconvinced many remain hopeful that her proposals will differ — if but slightly — from those of López Obrador a charismatic nationalist who favors firm state control of the economy Under Lopez Obrador private energy investments have been curtailed in favor of bolstering the two state-owned energy companies — Comisión Federal de Electricidad Sheinbaum has long championed renewable energy And hopeful bets are being laid that she’ll loosen private investment in the electricity generation Her promotion of solar energy as Mexico City’s governor can Sheinbaum to foment “an attractive strategy for generating electricity from renewable sources,” said Antonio Ocaranza More: Huge Santa Teresa development aims to fill workforce housing shortage They argue that Sheinbaum’s administration may prove more professional and technically proficient than the current one Sheinbaum has named Marcelo Ebrard as Economy Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente as Foreign Minister “There have been key appointments that suggest she will follow more technical guidelines,” said Jaramillo we see that certain investment decisions are on hold.”  Puente News Collaborative is a bilingual nonprofit newsroom convener and funder dedicated to high quality fact-based news and information from the U.S.-Mexico border Eduardo García established Bloomberg’s Mexico bureau in 1992 and served as its leader until 2001 overseeing the agency’s award-winning coverage in the country he embarked on a new venture by founding his own news organization he guided Sentido Común to become one of Mexico's most esteemed financial websites he merged his company with the local financial news agency Infosel assuming roles as editor-in-chief and subsequently Chief Content Officer Alfredo Corchado is the executive editor for Puente News Collaborative and the former Mexico/Border Correspondent for The Dallas Morning News. He’s the author of “Midnight in Mexico” and “Homelands.” @ajcorchado Sandra Dibble has reported on the U.S.-Mexico border since 1994 and for more than two decades was the Tijuana-based correspondent for the San Diego Union-Tribune and writes a monthly newsletter on the San Diego-Tijuana border for the nonprofit news website Voice of San Diego Omar Ornelas, a Mexican photojournalist based in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, works for the El Paso Times. For the last 20 years, he has been reporting on and photographing farmworker labor, education, health and housing issues in California, Texas and Arizona, as well as border security and Mexican and Central American migratory flows at the U.S.-Mexico border, for the USA TODAY Network. @fotornelas President Donald Trump’s tariffs push Nissan out of Mexico That’s the lingering question after a series of conflicting statements this week from the company’s global and national leadership Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said on Thursday that the Japanese automaker could relocate from Mexico if the 25% tariffs proposed by Trump were to take effect officials at Nissan México told reporters there are no plans to put an end to local production operations declaring that the company is committed to Mexico “We have no information with regard to moving our manufacturing operations to another country,” Nissan México told the newspaper El Financiero when questioned about Uchida’s statement Nissan is taking steps to guarantee that our production aligns with and satisfies the needs of markets and clients while also strengthening the value of our portfolio,” it added In 2024, Nissan consolidated its position as the leader in the Mexican automotive market according to data from the national statistics agency INEGI The Japanese car company sold 255,116 vehicles in Mexico last year This represented a 17% share of the Mexican market and made Nissan the top-selling car manufacturer in Mexico for the second year running Nissan sold a total of 241,056 light vehicles in Mexico in 2023 This figure represented a 42.7% growth compared to 2022 “[Automakers] are selling 1.5 million vehicles in an environment where inflation is at 4.5% and interest rates have risen to 10.5% This highlights the industry’s resilience,” Rodrigo Centeno According to the online publication Latin Times Nissan is “studying” the possibility of leaving Mexico if Trump goes through with his threats of imposing a 25% tariff on Mexican goods as the tax would pose a significant challenge to Nissan’s profitability The auto company has three plants in Mexico — two in the state of Aguascalientes and one in the state of Morelos — from which it exports about 320,000 vehicles to the U.S it could dramatically impact Nissan’s profitability Uchida said in reference to Trump’s threats of implementing new tariffs on Mexico’s steel and aluminum exports and moving production elsewhere might become a necessary step,” he said it will have to identify alternative production sites that can accommodate its manufacturing needs while maintaining cost efficiency potential destinations could include the United States where the company already operates manufacturing facilities in Smyrna Other possibilities include expanding operations in Asia or investing in European plants to offset potential losses from the U.S Uchida made these comments while presenting the company’s latest financial results He also provided an update on Nissan’s restructuring plan The CEO said the company will reduce global production by 20% — primarily in China where the domestic competition has gained ground — and eliminate 2,500 jobs this year The layoffs follow the dismissal of 9,000 employees at the end of last year Nissan México acknowledged the volatility of the situation saying they will have to be ready for any eventuality “A whole new scenario is unfolding and we have to be flexible in our response,” Nissan México told El Financiero Nissan sold 20,279 vehicles in Mexico in January TechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and Informa we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities The plant ramps up to full production immediately Nissan opens the first phase of its newest plant in Aguascalientes The new $2 billion facility is Nissan’s third in Mexico and joins the automaker’s original Aguascalientes plant and another in the city of Cuernavaca “The investment in our third vehicle plant in Mexico leverages the world-class manufacturing capabilities of the Nissan Mexicana team and is aimed at satisfying the high demand for Nissan vehicles produced in Mexico throughout the Americas and beyond,” Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn says at a ceremony at the new plant which he says will “help consolidate our leadership in the domestic market and strengthen our growth plans globally.” The facility is Nissan’s fastest to come online going from groundbreaking to opening in 19 months As one of the newest auto manufacturing plants in the world Aguascalientes 2 has a number of noteworthy technologies the largest stamping press in Latin America able to perform 575 strokes per hour and produce upwards of 273,000 parts per month The body shop at Aguascalientes 2 has 190 robots and is 72% automated while the paint shop has a 3-Wet paint cabin with water-based technology There are five main buildings at the new 1,130-acre (460-ha) site is the assembly line and an injection and bumpers paint buildings Aguascalientes 1 and Aguascalientes 2 are fully integrated logistically with a new railyard supporting both plants’ shipping and receiving needs Aguascalientes 2 will commence production with Nissan’s Sentra compact sedan Nissan Executive Vice President Andy Palmer told WardsAuto in August that sales of the Sentra were hobbled by low supplies of the car Aguascalientes 2 will be able to produce 30 vehicles per hour supplementing the 65-vehicles-per-hour rate of its sister plant 4 miles (6.4 km) away with the plant slated to run 23 hours per day Nissan will raise its annual vehicle production in Mexico 25% [email protected] Shifting Gears: What Car Buyers Really Want in 2025 Less is More: How Website Overload Sinks Your Sales This website is owned and operated by Informa TechTarget influences and connects the world’s technology buyers and sellers Informa PLC’s registered office is 5 Howick Place President Donald Trump's threats of implementing new tariffs on Mexico's steel and aluminum exports have raised concerns for many companies based there One of the latest to make its concerns public is Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan According to reports, the vehicle manufacturer is "studying" the possibility of leaving Mexico if Trump goes through with his threats of imposing a 25% tariff on Mexican goods as the tax would pose a significant challenge to Nissan's profitability The Japanese company has three plants on Mexican soil: two in the state of Aguascalientes and one in the state of Morelos. According to El País Nissan exports around 320,000 vehicles from Mexico to the U.S Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida explored the possibility of moving production somewhere else and moving production elsewhere might become a necessary step," Uchida said Although the company has not made a final decision it is closely monitoring the situation and evaluating different solutions "We export a large volume of vehicles to the U.S. that would have a huge impact in our company," Uchida added potential destinations could include the U.S. as the company already operates manufacturing facilities in Smyrna Other possibilities include expanding operations in Asia Nissan is not the only company that has been debating whether or not to leave Mexico amid Trump's tariffs. In late January, online rumors suggested that General Motors was potentially transferring part of its vehicle manufacturing to the U.S in case Trump moved forward with his intended tariffs on Mexican goods The vehicle manufacturer has had a strong presence in Mexico since 1935. Currently, General Motors employs more than 25,000 people across its four assembly plants in the states of Mexico chair and chief executive officer of General Motors since 2014 said during a teleconference that she hopes tariffs can be avoided Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was able to pause Trump's tariffs for a month after reaching a deal with the U.S. that will see 10,000 Mexican troops be sent to the border in order to "prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl," she said in a post on X The agreement also includes the U.S. committing to "work to prevent the trafficking of high-caliber weapons to Mexico" and for teams from both countries to start "working today on two matters: security and trade," she also said in the post The announcement of the agreement came one day before tariffs were set to go into effect on Feb AGUASCALIENTES - The governor of the state of Aguascalientes met with the automotive and aftermarket supplier Grupo Vazlo which announced its arrival in Aguascalientes with an investment of US$42.5 million generating 225 new jobs for the state in the first stage Grupo VAZLO is a 100% Mexican company specialized in the production marketing and distribution of aftermarket auto parts with presence in international markets such as the United States The company has its corporate headquarters in Fresnillo in addition to distribution centers in Celaya The investment of US42.5 million is for the construction of an auto parts Master Distribution Center and a corporate tower on a 31,000 square meter site in the Santa Fe Technopark industrial park a manufacturing plant for metal components will be built The brand has more than 4,300 auto parts in its catalog for more than 32,000 applications with 271 auto part codes made in Mexico for engine mounts The company specializes in steering and suspension parts with more than 35,000 applications For their made-in-Mexico auto parts they have CNC machining centers they have developed an exclusive rubber compounding process with a production capacity of 1,800 tons per year In terms of social and environmental responsibility the Mexican company created a forest with more than 225,000 trees for a 100% sustainable agribusiness project Aguascalientes continues to consolidate itself as a benchmark for attracting national and international investment," said Governor Tere Jiménez on her social networks inaugurated its new plant located south of the city of Aguascalientes This factory will be dedicated to the production of parts for automobiles such as the “Model 3” of Tesla The investment was of US$30 million and with the direct creation of 400 jobs so far This factory is located specifically in the FINSA Industrial Park in the middle of one of the most important industrial zones of the state offered an expanded perspective on how this new investment aligns with the long-term goals of relations between the two countries “This US$30 million project not only symbolizes the strength of our bilateral relationship but also projects as a catalyst for future collaborations in sectors beyond automotive,” Tuğ explained The ambassador noted that Turkey and Mexico have enjoyed a fruitful relationship based on mutual respect and economic cooperation we hope to open new avenues for technological and educational exchange between our countries," he said The ambassador also emphasized the importance of this investment in the context of economic diplomacy and its potential to foster deeper understanding and shared opportunities we are not just creating jobs or transferring technology; we are building bridges of mutual understanding and respect that transcend national borders This is a clear example of how strategic investments can strengthen diplomatic ties and promote shared peace and prosperity,” concluded İlhan Kemal Tuğ Today's print edition Home Delivery Nissan said on Thursday it will not take new orders from the United States for two Mexican-built Infiniti sport utility vehicles following auto tariffs levied by U.S in a drastic scale-back of its operations at a joint venture plant Nissan also said it will now maintain two shifts of production of its Rogue SUV at its Smyrna plant after announcing in January it would end one of them this month.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The Japanese automaker will not accept any additional orders of the Infiniti QX50 and QX55 SUVs for the U.S market produced at the Cooperation Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes (COMPAS) plant it has run together with Mercedes-Benz in Mexico In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division The Mexican states best prepared to accommodate nearshoring investment are Nuevo León according to an analysis conducted by organizations from Mexico and Germany The Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) evaluated the preparedness of all 32 federal entities to receive nearshoring investment based on 21 variables across four key areas: the labor market; housing and services; basic inputs; and the regulatory environment The organizations published the results this week in a report entitled “Nearshoring: Priorities for Regional Development.” “The results show that Nuevo León, Aguascalientes and Coahuila have a better performance than the rest of the states and have the facilities to take advantage of the trend of relocating production chains,” IMCO and FNF said in the executive summary of the report, which was published in English and Spanish México State and Zacatecas are regions whose structural conditions make it difficult to attract investment and increase economic activities related to nearshoring,” the organizations added The 21 variables considered in the analysis across the four key areas — as abbreviated by IMCO and FNF — were: Nuevo León performed well across all four key areas assessed by IMCO and FNF The northern border state ranked among the top 10 entities in 13 of the 21 variables and the top five in nine Governor Samuel García is determined to make Nuevo León Mexico’s foremost nearshoring hub. He has actively courted investment from foreign companies, including during visits to China and Japan last year The IMCO/FNF analysis isn’t all good news for Nuevo León The state ranked among the last 10 entities in seven of the 21 variables Its worst results were 27th for higher-education institutes per capita and 26th on two indicators related to water Aguascalientes and Coahuila were also deemed to be well prepared to receive nearshoring investment Both states were among the top 10 entities in 11 of the variables Aguascalientes ranked as the second best state for nearshoring investment ahead of Coahuila as it was only among the bottom 10 states in three variables Located in Mexico’s industry-focused Bajío region Aguascalientes fared well in a range of variables including one that measures the number of water treatment plants in relation to the quantity of water licensed for industrial use Very few private homes in Aguascalientes lack access to basic services such as piped water and electricity allowing the state to rank among the top 5 in variables that measure the availability of basic services It also ranked highly for housing production and for higher-education units per capita and the percentage of the economically active population with tertiary qualifications Aguascalientes’ worst result was 30th for the availability of renewable water per capita Coahuila has the lowest labor informality rate in the country allowing it to rank first in that variable 3 for the number of technical professional level schools per capita and also ranked third for the percentage of companies that are aware of government programs aimed at attracting investment in the state Its worst result was 32nd (last) for English proficiency a surprise given that the state borders the United States Aguascalientes and Coahuila have favorable conditions to attract investment related to nearshoring,” IMCO said in a press release better working conditions and better infrastructure access to water as a basic input is a challenge.” The nearshoring preparedness rankings of all 32 states appears below Water and electricity are key considerations for companies planning to operate industrial plants in Mexico Data shows that while water is more abundant in the south Chiapas has more than 20,000 cubic meters of water per capita The entities with the lowest quantity of water per capita were Mexico City the states with the lowest prices per megawatt-hour were: The states with the highest power prices were Baja California Sur Among other important considerations for companies considering relocating all or some of their operations to Mexico are crime and the availability of appropriately qualified workers Yucatán has the lowest crime prevalence rate per “economic units” or businesses The highest crime rates affecting businesses were in Sonora more than 3,400 out of every 10,000 businesses reported being victims of crime in 2021,” the report said the rate was less than 1,300 economic units while in Jalisco 1,570 out of every 10,000 units reported crime in that year.” Extortion is one of the top crime threats businesses face in Mexico As for the percentage of the economically active population (PEA) with higher-education degrees Just over 41% of the capital’s PEA has a tertiary qualification Tamaulipas (29.6%) and Baja California Sur (29.3%) The five states with the lowest percentage of workers with higher-education degrees were Oaxaca The percentages in each of those states is below 20% The state with the lowest percentage of companies that perceive the regulatory framework as an obstacle to their business objective was Tamaulipas (2%) Nuevo León and Chihuahua ranked equal second with just 3% of companies complaining about the regulatory framework in those states Chiapas (4%) and Sonora (5%) ranked fourth and fifth 82% of companies in Michoacán see the regulatory framework as an obstacle to their business while the figures are also high in Jalisco (65%) and Puebla (48%) Nineteen people were killed and six others were injured when a bus crashed into a detached semi-trailer on a highway in the central state of Zacatecas The passenger bus was traveling from the Pacific coast state of Nayarit to the northern border city of Ciudad Juárez when the accident occurred early on Saturday morning was approaching mile marker 74 on the Zacatecas-Aguascalientes highway when it collided with the back of a trailer carrying corn that had come loose from the tractor truck The bus careened off the highway and rolled down a ravine First responders and security personnel — including soldiers and members of the National Guard — arrived on the scene and sifted through the wreckage looking for survivors but the damage to the bus was considerable The six injured passengers were being treated at hospitals in the city of Zacatecas on Monday — Contrapropuesta Mx (@ContraProMx) October 26, 2024 In a post to social media, Zacatecas Governor David Monreal said he ordered the local Health Ministry Public Works Ministry and Public Security Ministry to attend to the matter “on a permanent basis.”  Monreal said his administration had established two hotlines to manage information about the injured and the deceased while also declaring that the state Attorney General’s Office (FGJE) had opened a criminal investigation into the accident the FGJE said it was “carrying out investigations to arrest the driver” of the tractor-trailer State authorities reported an initial death toll of 24 on Saturday before revising the final count to 19 authorities had confirmed the identities of 17 of the 19 victims according to the newspaper Express Zacatecas matching the names on the bus’s passenger list The Zacatecas State Commission for Victims’ Assistance was lending attention to the families of the dead and injured Express Zacatecas also reported that experts with the National Guard had confirmed that the wayward tractor-trailer had caused the accident coinciding with the conclusions of the initial forensics investigation Zacatecas authorities are working with officials in neighboring states to identify the driver and the owner of the tractor-trailer involved in the accident Volume 5 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2023.1177179 This article is part of the Research TopicWater and Sanitation: privatization of the services and environmental injusticeView all 6 articles After three decades since the concession for drinking water and sewerage services was granted to a private company which eventually became part of the Veolia group in the city of Aguascalientes The local government chose not to renew the contract and opted to remunicipalize the system and its management This document provides an evaluation from the perspective of political ecology which focuses on two dimensions: social inclusion and environmental justice The primary outcomes are within the framework of water commodification where the service operation primarily views users as customers who must pay their fees promptly while the city’s growth is seen as a business opportunity The logic of market environmentalism also restricts the exploration of options to secure water resources for the region’s future there is a failure to address the substantial overexploitation of groundwater sources that the drinking water service relies upon which jeopardizes both the population’s fundamental right to water and the city’s sustainability is significant because it represents not only the initial foray into private company involvement in providing drinking water services in this country but also stands as the first instance where the contractual term concluded local authorities opted for remunicipalizing the service to be administered by a public organization The objective of this article is to assess the situation as the concession contract for drinking water and sewerage services in the city of Aguascalientes initially awarded to a private consortium and eventually headed by the French corporation Veolia was initially granted in 1993 and is set to expire in 2023 The decision made by the municipal government of Aguascalientes was to discontinue the private participation scheme and instead remunicipalize the service To begin, the article initiates a theoretical reflection on privatization and the current ongoing situation. Despite the unsatisfactory outcomes of private involvement in this sector, particularly in terms of ensuring equitable access to water for the population and achieving environmental balance for environmental justice, there persists a reluctance to depart from the market environmentalism paradigm, even as water management returns to public control (Bakker, 2003) the article provides a concise overview of how private participation in the water sector has been promoted in Mexico over the past three decades It then delves into the case of Aguascalientes which was a pioneering example in the early 90s as the first city in the entire country to adopt this approach The comprehensive analysis of the Aguascalientes case is conducted through an examination of data pertaining to the management of drinking water and sewerage services, which are sourced from official outlets. This analysis sheds light on the dimensions that the paradigm of market environmentalism, as discussed by Bakker (2003) compels us to consider social inclusion and environmental justice Globalized cities have become arenas of contention for scarce resources such as land and water Although urban governance structures have undergone transformations aimed at becoming platforms for territorial decision-making and the inclusion of local actors the opening to diverse social stakeholders has remained limited the outcomes of public policies often fall short of addressing social inequalities and environmental injustices Breaking away from the market-enviromental paradigm in water management has proven challenging. Neoliberal reforms have managed to adapt and coexist with the routines and structural conditions they aimed to eradicate, including political clientelism, selective public investment benefits, and the influence of influential economic and political groups at the local level (Castro, 2009; Bakker, 2010) water is perceived as a highly productive factor for capital the market is considered the most efficient allocation mechanism (with the primary goal of maximizing the surplus value water can generate) particularly in regions with limited water resource availability The preferred public policies in water management within this context involve increasing supply through large-scale transfer projects from neighboring basins These projects require public investments in infrastructure that can be delegated to private entities for construction and operation allowing them to benefit from tariff collection who are primarily viewed as customers rather than citizens This structural issue explains why models of private management or even remunicipalized drinking water and sanitation systems in Latin America, where privatization was previously implemented, struggle to break free from the prevailing commercialization scheme of the commercial-environmental paradigm and to restore public control over water management (Pigeon et al., 2013) The suboptimal performance in the provision of drinking water and sanitation services is primarily attributed to the absence of effective governance institutions, particularly the trio of transparency, social participation, and accountability mechanisms (Tortajada, 2010 numerous medium-sized cities have aimed to facilitate private sector involvement in the delivery of drinking water services these efforts often lacked the design of institutions and mechanisms necessary for user control and supervision There was a misconception that technocratic management and market incentives alone would suffice to ensure the satisfactory provision of these services disregarding other social and environmental dimensions Evaluating private participation experiences or various forms of delivering public services in their corporatized formats in the region necessitates examining not only traditional operational indicators but also those shedding light on the outcomes related to social inequality and environmental injustices attention should be given to multiple dimensions including effective and high-quality access to drinking water and sanitation services This extends beyond tariff values to encompass other expenses associated with accessing water within or outside the home Such analysis requires a focus on the impacts that affect different segments of the population with particular emphasis on the most disadvantaged groups Regarding the dimension of environmental justice, it is imperative to assess the condition of water supply sources in terms of their sustainability and balance for the future. This involves examining the direction of infrastructure investments to optimize resource utilization and the commitment to implementing strategies that align with adjusting the demand for water resources within the city (Figure 1) This article undertakes an analysis encompassing two critical dimensions: social inclusion and environmental justice It reviews the outcomes within the city of Aguascalientes which has operated under a management model based on the concession of drinking water and sewerage services for the past 30 years The examination of data draws upon publicly available sources including databases and official documents containing recent city diagnoses These diagnoses have played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s planning over the past 2 years and have served as the foundation for determining the future operating model post-concession contract expiry The establishment of a suitable institutional framework for privatization in Mexico commenced with the reform of the Law of Rights and the Water Law in 1985. This reform marked the end of a “long period, which began in 1929, during which the federal government largely refrained from charging for the use of the nation’s water” (Aboites Aguilar, 2009 the collection of fees for water usage became a critical component for implementing the overarching direction of water policy This policy was later institutionalized through the National Water Commission (Conagua) a government agency responsible for water management since 1989 Conagua has consistently advocated for the adoption of market mechanisms to encourage private investment and the efficient utilization of water resources in the drinking water, sewerage, and sanitation sectors. From its inception, Conagua published guidelines aimed at ‘modernizing’ this subsector, emphasizing principles such as decentralization, autonomy, and the involvement of private initiatives in service provision (Pineda Pablos, 2002) Perceiving that the agencies responsible for delivering these services at the state and municipal levels often operated with limited technical capacity and low levels of administrative efficiency and revenue collection Conagua initiated efforts to promote necessary legal and institutional transformations in states across the country To facilitate these institutional transformations in states and municipalities Conagua relied on the National Program for Drinking Water This program involved the development of master plans and infrastructure projects as well as the reorganization of operational agencies Conagua actively promoted the involvement of private initiatives in various schemes and transfer) arrangements for hydraulic infrastructure This primarily included aqueducts for long-distance drinking water transfer and wastewater treatment plants Cases of private participation in the water sector in Mexico It is indeed true that many cities in Mexico continue to adhere to the model of public management for drinking water services the pressure to expand private participation in the sector persists particularly through partial contracts that involve specific areas of cities or various aspects of service management These aspects may include tariff collection or even the construction of new facilities with subsequent operations entrusted to private companies This trend has continued despite the 2012 reform of the Mexican Constitution The challenge lies in the development of derived laws that could translate this constitutional principle into a tangible reality reaching a consensus among the different political parties within the Congress of the Union (National Legislative Power) regarding the specific regulatory and financial mechanisms required for effective implementation has proven to be a complex task the full realization of the human right to water remains a goal yet to be fully achieved in practice GRAPH 1. Investment in water and sanitation in Mexico, by origin of the resource. Prices in US dollars base value of 2018. Source: Author’s construction based on Conagua (2022) Concerns about water scarcity and the need for an efficient water service prompted residents to organize in the first half of the 20th century. Their demands included the federalization of the water service system in 1936 and the exploration of new water sources for the working-class neighborhoods near the railway workshops in 1941 (Delgado Aguilar, 2019) MAP 2. Municipality of Aguascalientes and its urban area. Source: Author’s construction based on INEGI (2022) For a more detailed understanding, the table below presents data for the four municipalities in Aguascalientes with the highest social lag and the four municipalities with the least social lag, out of a total of 11 municipalities in this Mexican entity. This information underscores Aguascalientes’ relatively favorable socio-economic conditions, especially when compared to less fortunate regions in Mexico (Table 1) Aguascalientes, despite its strong economic performance and its ranking as the seventh “most livable” city in Mexico according to the Peace Index of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IPC) in 2021, has experienced growth and economic development over the last four decades that heavily relied on the intensive use of its limited natural resources, particularly water (Herrera-Nuño, 2022) MAP 3. Aguascalientes Valley Aquifer. Source: Conagua (2020 we will briefly outline the key moments and actions that contributed to shaping the rules and the environment within which the concession of water services took place in this central-western Mexican city the case of Aguascalientes marked the first case of private sector participation in the drinking water sector in Mexico in January 1993 was awarded to a partnership consisting of the ICA group (Ingenieros Civiles Asociados) Banamex (Banco Nacional de México) and the Compagnie Générale des Eaux (which later became part of Veolia-PROACTIVA The concessionaire adopted the name Concesionaria de Agua de Aguascalientes (CAASA) and the local government entrusted the Aguascalientes Municipality Drinking Water Commission (CAPAMA) which had been the public operating body since 1984 this privatization experience was met with significant controversy all aligned with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) They argued that this approach would address the issue of overexploitation of the Aguascalientes aquifer by introducing incentives to alter consumption patterns through the introduction of a economic value for water they believed it would inject resources to settle existing liabilities The underlying premise was that local public administration represented by the municipality of the capital should focus on core governance responsibilities and collaborate with private initiatives to enhance service coverage coupled with the economic crisis of 1994 and the complex national political landscape led to a political shift at the local level in 1995 the new municipal government attempted a “service rescue” in March 1996 this move resulted in the intervention of higher levels of government (state and federal which were still under the control of the hegemonic PRI party at the time) the parties (the company and the municipal government) reached a revised concession agreement This renegotiation included several key terms: Extension of the concession period from 20 to 30 years Creation of a Social Support Fund aimed at benefiting users with fewer resources Funding for this fund would be generated from a small percentage included in the user tariff Commitment from all three levels of government (municipal and federal) to cooperate with the concessionaire company in settling its debts which would henceforth be known as the Citizen Water Commission for Drinking Water and Sewerage of the Municipality of Aguascalientes (CCAPAMA) • User register “not updated”; • Billing not delivered to users on time in 10% of the total register; • Delivery of receipt to users that varies toward the discharge in 25% of their consumption they are before performing physical inspection; • Failure to comply with housing connection deadlines when the user has paid; • Measurement of “air” in pipes; • Failure to meet deadlines for replacing meters that fail in homes; • For not repairing leaks on public roads within a period greater than 48 h from the report; • For not meeting the request for tank cars in rural areas; • Due to loss of water pressure in pipes subsequent changes to the regulatory framework and the thresholds of service quality indicators could only be reviewed every 4 years The supervision by CCAMPAMA toward CAASA/Veolia only materialized in several audits: the first in 1998 which encompassed additional components such as the technical the concessionaire company could not maintain investment commitments and even both the state and federal governments have contributed to these liabilities Of the $107 millons of Mexican pesos of debt that CAASA had acquired with the Santander Mexicano bank at the beginning of the concession they became $158 millons of pesos (approximately 12 millons of US dollars at 2000 prices) This amount was assumed by the Banking Fund for Savings Protection (Fobaproa) of the federal government in 1996 $70 millons of pesos were also recognized in debt with Conagua for payment of rights which added up to a total of $230 millons of pesos which by 1999 had already become $290 millons of pesos (a little more than 30 millons of dollars US dollars at 2000 prices) The 2000 agreement also agreed that the three levels of government should make investments in drinking water and sewage infrastructure in the city of Aguascalientes for an amount of $284.20 millons of pesos in the period 2001–2005 (approximately 30 million US dollars), and the concessionaire company $25.8 millons of pesos annually (26,000 US dollars annually) until the end of the concession (Proactiva Medio Ambiente CAASA, 2006) It is significant that the investment of “private” comes from the money of public funds that are channeled through the National Commission for the Promotion of Housing (CONAFOVI) and that finally is assumed almost 100% by the buyer of the house The results of which the proponents of the private participation model concentrate on the technical dimension The truth is that these results are a reflection of the millionaire investments coming not only from the concessionaire but also from public resources that both Conagua the state government and the municipality itself have applied through federal programs such as credits with public banks After the demand for the remunicipalization of the service the most heard demand among parties and leaders of social organizations attentive to this issue is to reform local legislation to prohibit service cuts to users with debts on their drinking water accounts The main argument used by the actors who are against the service cuts is that this measure violates Article 121 of the General Health Law the local legislative branch approved reforms to the Water Law of the State of Aguascalientes (LAEA) aimed at eliminating the possibility of cuts to debtor users The proposal also raised the possibility that Congress would be the one to determine the amounts of the rate and manage the operation of the Social Support Fund (El Heraldo de Aguascalientes the executive branch decided to veto these reforms it was a “pocket veto,” that is the executive simply did not publish the reform to the law in the official gazette to make it valid an issue that was made possible given the lack of clarity of the local constitution on this matter Issues such as remunicipalization or modifying the LAEA to avoid cuts to users with debts on their accounts due to the service are counterbalanced not only by municipal authorities or political actors linked to the government but also by social actors the set of local business and professional chambers on various occasions have asked for restraint and responsibility to make the best decisions that ensure the sustainability of the resource regardless of whether the service is provided by a private company or the municipal government also defending the possibility of service cuts The only effective modifications to the LAEA in the years that the concession has lasted have been secondary elements that apparently address issues that had temporarily generated controversy in the public debate technical-operational issues such as fee collection to public educational institutions; ‘encapsulation’ of water meters in homes and tadeo (interruption by areas of the city of the continuity of the flow of drinking water during the day or different days of the week) as well as negotiation of debts with users who owe their accounts The reforms address complementary issues for the efficiency of the service within the private participation model not approving any reform that could conflict with the model The conflict in the matter has been reduced over all these years and it was always threatened to take away the concession from CAASA/Veolia to make society believe that things had changed and the company leaves that name and openly assumes that of Veolia but Veolia had full control of the Aguascalientes concessionaire for at least 15 years During the 2021 electoral process to renew the state executive and municipal presidency of Aguascalientes including those who were winners of the National Action Party stated that the concession for Veolia would not be renewed at the end of the 30 years of this to be completed in October 2023 After some attempts to make it seem that the decision would be made by reviewing all options with the support of specialists and citizens the decision in March 2023 was to remunicipalize the service in the figure of a decentralized public body called the Aguascalientes Integral Water Model (MIAA with its stand out main feature being the formation of a “citizenized” Board of Directors having broad decision-making capacities and budgetary autonomy Veolia on its own has tried to enforce one of the alternatives that the concession title itself considers which is the extension of the contract for 2 more years in case the municipal government cannot take charge directly due to technical and financial incapacity the decision seems to be firm to return the service to the government apparatus in the figure of MIAA Several of the arguments of the current municipal authorities are based on the suboptimal results achieved in several of the standards that the concession title itself defined in the technical and financial aspects in addition to presenting some of these results we reflect on them in terms of the dimensions of social inclusion and environmental justice supported by housing data on access to water and sanitation in Aguascalientes The data presented below seek to reflect not only the performance of recent years of water management in the city of Aguascalientes but also to take stock of how the service is toward the end of the 30-year concession period in the dimensions of social inclusion and justice GRAPH 2. Access to water. Source: Author’s construction with data on INEGI (2022) GRAPH 3. Water endowment. Source: Author’s construction based on INEGI (2022) The sewer or drainage connection data from INEGI (2022) indicates that 94.5% of homes in Aguascalientes are connected to the public network, whereas the national average is 66.2%. In Aguascalientes, only 3.4% of households dispose of their wastewater at home using a septic tank, whereas the national average is 27.4% (Graph 4) GRAPH 4. Drainage or sewerage. Source: Author’s construction based on INEGI (2022) GRAPH 5. Household implements to ensure availability and continuity of drinking water. Source: Author’s construction based on INEGI (2022) The main management indicators of the Veolia company in Aguascalientes as of 2018 indicate that the quality standard is generally met in the total water delivered, but on the other hand, sanitation is only applied to 5% of the water used in the pipes. In the city, 48% of the water is lost in distribution networks, there is only 80% commercial efficiency and only $8 of every $9 dollarse invested invested are collected (Instituto del Agua del Estado de Aguascalientes, 2022 GRAPH 6. Distribution of register of users of drinking water services in Aguascalientes. Source: Author’s construction based on ITESM/CCAPAMA (2012) GRAPH 7. Comparison of the rate of Aguascalientes and other cities in Mexico. Values in per cubic meter in US dollars, prices as of August 2018. Source: Author’s construction based on Conagua (2022) GRAPH 8. Water to drink by users in Aguascalientes. Source: Author’s construction based on INEGI (2018) the private company in Aguascalientes failed to ensure continuity of service They transferred the costs of their inefficiencies to users and did not invest adequately ended up bearing the brunt of these investments through their water bills and expenses on household equipment to store water Due to the storage devices citizens were required to have in their homes (water tanks and the company neglected its responsibility once the water entered users’ homes and was stored by them The high costs of the water rate affected accessibility making it one of the highest rates in the country even when compared to other cases of privatized drinking water services in Mexico There was no mechanism in place to hold the company accountable for its inefficiencies or to impose sanctions for rectifying its shortcomings The regulatory mechanisms were ineffective and the decision-making process lacked transparency As mentioned at the beginning, the city of Aguascalientes depends on human consumption or public-urban use of 99% of the water that comes from the subsoil (that is, from the aquifer of the Aguascalientes valley). The aquifer has an annual pressure of 140.24%, so there is overexploitation of this natural source of water (Instituto del Agua del Estado de Aguascalientes, 2022) In response to the ongoing issue of overexploitation which remains in effect indefinitely throughout the state of Aguascalientes This restriction permits only limited extractions from existing wells and no new concessions are granted for any purpose The city of Aguascalientes relies on 264 wells for its water supply, with an extraction rate of approximately 82.6 Mm3 per year. Although this represents only 20% of the total extractions from the aquifer within the urban area, these wells have the highest extraction flows, ranging from 250 m3/h to 436 m3/h, and the greatest well depths, reaching depths of 400–600 m (Rodríguez-Sosa, 2015 GRAPH 9. Users hoarders of water in Aguascalientes. Source: Author’s construction based on González et al. (2020) The specific issue of the concentration of water rights in the hands of a few entities particularly construction companies operating in these suburban subdivisions to provide drinking water services is a recent but gradually growing phenomenon The local government has not shown any intention to undertake regulatory actions or establish a clear roadmap with concrete steps to bring these small systems which are currently ‘privatized’ and ‘fragmented’ on the city’s outskirts under government control in the short or medium term a critical element to consider is the compromised state of the sole water supply source in terms of sustainability: the Aguascalientes Valley aquifer Approximately three-quarters of the water is consumed by agricultural activities which are not necessarily focused on ensuring local food security but rather on exporting agricultural products to both the national and international markets The water used for these agricultural products is not the most efficient choice for sustainable aquifer use Environmental injustice lies in how compromised the future water supply for human use has become There are no alternative or nearby sources that can ensure the population does not face a ‘day zero’ scenario Environmental injustice affects the entire population as they bear the responsibility of raising awareness about water conservation enduring the real costs of infrastructure inefficiencies and water hoarding entities are not held to the same standards Efforts to protect the ecosystem remain limited as if the limits of Aguascalientes’ development have not been exceeded due to the finite nature of its natural resources Urban water management maintains a fragmented or sectoral policy vision as the prevailing paradigm is one of market environmentalism where water is primarily seen as a commodity water continues to be prioritized for productive uses such as agricultural exports and industrial activities There is no clear plan to ensure water for human consumption in the medium term through demand management and consumption adjustments based on the region’s water availability public discourse has been primarily centered on the city’s water management model without fundamentally shifting away from the market environmentalism paradigm and designing a comprehensive Without a commitment to securing water for human consumption as a fundamental human right and for environmental conservation the prospects for sustainability are bleak and environmental injustice prevails over the region’s population Discussing the privatization of the water sector in Aguascalientes necessitates a comprehensive reflection on the balance between physical and commercial efficiency which has thus far dominated as the primary indicators for evaluating the outcomes of private sector involvement in water management in Mexico as a mechanism to guide water governance that aligns with environmental interests encompassing the conservation of water sources and discharge management This persists due to the inherent nature of the private sector often overlooking the management of one of the most crucial public services for social wellbeing The economic interests of transnational companies involved in this sector clash with the defense of collective interests for universal access to affordable and equitable drinking water which also encompasses the preservation of water sources These conflicting interests form the focal points of the ongoing debate regarding the desired water management model for the future in the capital city of Aguascalientes After 30 years of Veolia group management in the city of Aguascalientes as the first privatization project in the Mexican water sector following the onset of the neoliberal model it is now possible to objectively analyze the results achieved by the corporate-led model The data presented reveal suboptimal performance in both technical and financial aspects an examination of housing data related to access to water and sanitation in Aguascalientes indicates that the management of the Veolia group has compromised social inclusion and environmental justice in favor of maximizing profits derived from tariff payments made by households connected to the network 3.5% of the Inhabitants in Aguascalientes city lacks access to drinking water which translates to 33,214 inhabitants who do not have this essential public service a significant portion of the connected population faces irregularities in their water supply the privatization model promoted by Veolia aligns with the characteristics of market environmentalism Aguascalientes stands out for having the highest water rates compared to private counterparts in other Mexican cities thereby undermining social inclusion by straying from affordability standards This issue is compounded by the additional costs borne by users to ensure access to drinking water for human consumption leading to a high demand for bottled water Veolia has not made progress with respect to the care of its main source of supply which continues to show indicators of high depletion that puts at risk the viability of the human right to water and not to mention the sustainability of the liquid This lack of attention at the source intersects with the physical efficiency of Veolia and its relationship with the problem of water waste identifying clearly that it maintains the challenge of environmental dissociation since it presents a physical efficiency of 52% in their water distribution networks throughout the city which demonstrates the low commitment of the corporate in a city with an aquifer that presents strong water stress to raise the efficiency in the use of the resource that shows guidelines for environmental responsibility by the corporate The primary justification for granting the concession and advocating for private sector participation in the full control of the drinking water and sewage system in the early 1990s was the belief that the financial investment from these private entities would facilitate the discovery of new water sources market mechanisms such as setting appropriate pricing through tariffs were expected to encourage rational consumption behaviors fostering a sense of responsibility toward water conservation and the preservation of water sources after 30 years of private sector involvement neither of these anticipated outcomes materialized it has been government actors at the federal and municipal levels who have primarily sustained investments in the sector and there have been no substantial efforts to address the significant overexploitation of the aquifer The lackluster outcomes in the drinking water and sanitation subsector prevalent not only in Aguascalientes but across the nation can be attributed to a configuration that perpetuates power concentration inadequate institutional structures that fail to promote engagement from most users and a propensity to prioritize patterns of influence and negotiation among the elite This approach tends to sideline meaningful discourse committed to the human right to water and democratic collaboration among stakeholders Worldwide best practices in water governance have demonstrated that the most effective institutional frameworks are those in which the population not only has guaranteed access to water for both human and productive use in adequate quantities but primarily because all interests are adequately represented in the decision-making process and facilitates learning for both service providers and users To ensure universal access to drinking water and sanitation services to introduce criteria that promote greater equity in public action the government should manage its policies with a strong focus on redistribution This involves mechanisms such as implementing cross-subsidies guaranteeing a minimum level of access through municipal networks and infrastructure or establishing support transfer programs for those in greatest need These measures should be implemented regardless of whether the drinking water and sanitation systems are managed by public or private entities While private sector investments are necessary and should yield fair returns it is unrealistic to expect the subsector to rely solely on market criteria for the distribution and provision of services in an equitable manner Water scarcity is not just a technical problem; it is fundamentally a political and social issue that must be addressed to ensure both social inclusion and the conservation of natural water sources for environmental justice DT: data collection in official documents and newspaper sources All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 1. ^The latter is a phenomenon of the main cities of Mexico where Aguascalientes is not the exception as will be seen later 2. ^The specific data from the table are not provided in your text but it would typically include metrics related to education and other social wellbeing indicators for these municipalities Aboites Aguilar La decadencia de agua de la nación Estudio sobre desigualdad social y cambo político en México México: El Colegio de México Google Scholar Badillo, D. 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Alex Ricardo Caldera Ortega, YXJjYWxkZXJhQHVndG8ubXg=; Daniel Tagle Zamora, ZGF0YWdsZUB1Z3RvLm14 Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish In conjunction with Day of the Dead celebrations in collaboration and under the management of the Consulate of Mexico in New York and the Mayor's Office of the city The authorities of the government of the state of Aguascalientes have brought the emblematic Monumental Catrinas of the Day of the Dead to the heart of Manhattan in Times Square the more than 330,000 daily visitors of this iconic place will have the opportunity to admire and take photos with these majestic characters symbols that pay homage to the cultural wealth of Mexico and keep the tradition of the Day of the Dead alive in one of the busiest places in the world One of the great symbols of the Day of the Dead is the iconic skeleton "La Calavera Catrina." The artist who created it was José Guadalupe Posada originally from the State of Aguascalientes Posada began producing illustrations of death in 1882 Watch this video of the Festival Cultural de Calaveras 2023 The State of Aguascalientes was present and enamored New Yorkers and visitors in the iconic Times Square with the exhibition of La Catrina which represents the passion of Aguascalientes and its culture in one of the nerve centers of global culture highlights not only the color and history of the Catrinas but also the deep respect and celebration of life and death that characterizes the Mexican people As one of the states of greatest cultural importance in Mexico Aguascalientes offers an unparalleled Day of the Dead celebration travelers can experience the most deep-rooted traditions of the holiday music and community events that honor the past and celebrate the present artistic expression and warm hospitality makes Aguascalientes an ideal destination for those looking to immerse themselves in one of Mexico's most important cultural celebrations the Calaveras Cultural Festival is taking place in the city of Aguascalientes This festival pays tribute to the world-renowned José Guadalupe Posada creator of "La Calavera Garbancera," an icon of the Day of the Dead celebration Bay Area Reporter Bay Windows [email protected] Get Newsletters About EDGE Work Here OUTreach Partners Advertise Privacy and Terms Enter your email address below to receive daily email updates including news Enter your email address below to get on the list today Please consider whitelisting us in your ad blocker developing and manufacturing fluid systems for heating and cooling lines in the automotive industry announced an investment of US$8 million for the expansion of its plant in Aguascalientes Governor Tere Jimenez commented that the expansion of Teklas' operations will have a positive impact on the development of the state as it is a company that is committed to high technology and innovation she also mentioned that the arrival of new companies has led Aguascalientes to occupy the first place in attracting Foreign Direct Investment related to nearshoring it is one of the two entities with the highest growth in economic activity exceeding the annual target of 4.5% and the national average of 1.9% “This expansion is part of our long-term strategy to diversify our product offering and strengthen our ability to respond to the demands of the global market” He also mentioned that the competitive advantages offered by Aguascalientes such as its geographic location and the dynamism of the automotive industry have allowed Teklas to grow in the last five years Head of the Secretariat of Economic Development highlighted that the expansion of this company dedicated to the manufacture of plastic rubber and metal auto parts complements the ecosystem of the automotive sector in Aguascalientes generating added value to the supply chain of this industry Our goal is to improve our clients’ competitiveness.