• proximity to the border - 180 miles to Laredo, Texas
• central location for distribution into U.S. and Mexican markets
• Saltillo is on the "NAFTA Highway"
• access to the seaports of Houston and Tampico
• just 50 miles away from Mexico's industrial center, Monterrey (population 3.5 million)
• proximity to huge base of industrial suppliers, facilitates just-in-time production
• "mile high" city with temperate, arid climate
• pro-business environment, strong work ethic
• competitive, stable, educated work force, with one of Mexico's highest productivity rates
• historically cooperative relationship with unions
• very low average employee turnover
• strong connections with the local business community: Offshore shareholder Alberto
• Covarrubias is president of the Saltillo Chamber of Industry and was named Mexico's
Medium-sized Exporter of the Year in 1997 (www.walmi.com.mx)
• dependable sources of energy
• huge base of local suppliers and materials, including several foundries
• excellent transportation routes - (rail, 4-6 lane divided highways, international airport 50
• miles away in Monterrey; local domestic airport)
• Mexico's highest average level of education
• 17 universities, 11 research centers and 23 technical schools
• a campus of the Monterrey Institute of Technology, accredited by South American Colleges • and Schools (SACS), one of few Mexican schools whose credits transfer to American
universities; http://www.sal.itesm.mx
• more technical schools in Saltillo than anywhere else in Mexico, including 17 universities, 11 • research centers, 15 professional technical schools
