Mexico is the biggest Spanish speaking country of the world, with 104 million inhabitants. At the same time, of all Latin America, it is the one with the highest income per capita. The Mexican United States constitutes an emerging and powerful market, which has been confirmed by the more than 2,200 Spanish companies that have set up there. Therefore, Mexico stands out as a strong world economy nation (it occupies the twelfth position within the World Bank ranking). This year it will be the Guest Country of the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition.
Mexico has become a logistics referent worldwide. With thousands of kilometres of coast in the two biggest oceans (the Pacific and the Atlantic), very close geographically to the Panama Canal, its ports are the access gates of freight goods entrance of Europe and Asia in their way to the North American market. Due to cultural reasons, but overall for their demographic and economic importance, Mexico is a country that Spanish companies have right on target for their expansion.
During the first half of 2006, the figures of investment of 2,247 national companies in Mexican territory raised up to 6,492 million dollars (5,275 million Euros). The proof of the interest for the Mexican market lies in the fact that the most important Spanish companies have been located there for a long time ago. There are BBVA, Banco Santander, Grupo Inditex, Telefónica or Sol Melià, among others.
The relationship between the Spanish and Mexican economies has marked a reciprocal character. In the last years, the big Aztec companies have built subsidiaries in Spain. Some of them are: Cementos Mexicanos (CEMEX), Grupo Modelo, IMSA, Vitro Cristalglass, DESC or Grupo Hotelero Posadas, among others.
The presence of Mexico as Guest Country within 9th SIL edition will help to strengthen and develop the commercial links with the region in the pavilion that will be assembled in the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition 2007. Together with the institutional representation of the Federal Government, the States of Tamaulipas, Yucatán and Sinaloa will also be present, as well as several other companies from the Mexican Republic.

An economic power
Mexico is one of the countries that manufactures internationally and exports raw material.  Its economic activity has largely merged with that of the United States, which consumes more than 85% of the Mexican exports. GDP raised more than 4% in 2004, and more than 3% in 2005, while the rate of unemployment hardly reaches the 4%.
Since the 80’s the country has tended towards a Neoliberal economic model with a strong intention to open-up to other markets, a fact that shows that Mexico has become a worldwide leader in Free Trade Agreements, since it has signed this kind of agreements with 40 countries in 12 different treaties. Its main business association is in the North America Free Trade Agreement  (NAFTA), integrated by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Mexico also counts with Free Trade Agreements with the European Union, Israel, Norwegian, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Japan and some other countries of Latin America, and is as well an observer partner and Mercosur future Associate Member.