Weekly News Summary: March 1st

The Mexico Institute’s “Weekly News Summary,” released every Friday afternoon summarizes the week’s most prominent Mexico headlines published in the English-language press, as well as the most engaging opinion pieces by Mexican columnists.

What the English-language press had to say…

This week, Elba Esther Gordillo, the powerful leader of the SNTE, Mexico’s teachers’ union was arrested for allegedly embezzling over $150 million in union funds to support her lavish lifestyle. The arrest shocked the nation and came only a day after President Enrique Peña Nieto signed into law a new education reform package. Many interpreted the move as an attempt by the Peña Nieto administration to reassert state authority over special interests, and as a warning to other industries (e.g. telecommunications and energy) that reform is on the way. NYT columnist Thomas Friedman gave much to talk about following two very optimistic pieces. He suggested Mexico will become a dominant economic power in the 21^st century, and praised Mexico’s young ‘just do it’ generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya mirrored Mr. Friedman’s optimism by suggesting a reinvigorated energy sector will transform Mexico into the world’s “new Middle East.” Meanwhile, north of the border, looming automatic budget cuts prompted ICE to release several hundred low-risk immigrants from deportation centers across the country.

Energy links seen boosting U.S. ties to Mexico

The Washington Times, 2/28/2013

A senior Obama administration official voiced optimism about the growing economic relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, stressing that energy sector ties between the two nations have “enormous potential for progress.” Assistant Secretary of State Roberta S. Jacobson told a congressional hearing Thursday that Washington’s overall approach to Latin American ties “is as much about seizing opportunities as it is about countering threats.”

Her remarks during a hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs dovetailed with comments this week from a top Mexican official, who expressed optimism that the nation’s state-run oil monopoly, long managed as a closely held national asset, is on the verge of opening up to billions of dollars in foreign investment. Emilio Lozoya, the newly tapped chief of the monopoly — known as Pemex — told the Financial Times that he expects Mexican lawmakers to sign off as early as this summer on landmark changes to the sector proposed by recently elected Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Read more…

Pemex chief hails Mexico as ‘new Mideast’

Financial Times, 2/27/2013

Emilio Lozoya jumps to his feet and marches over to a wall cabinet in his  44th floor office at Pemex’s headquarters in Mexico City. “You see this?” the fresh-faced 38-year-old Harvard graduate, asks, holding  up a glass vial with a pale liquid inside. “That’s pure gold. It’s as good as it  gets.”

Mr Lozoya’s optimism is infectious as he contemplates the high-grade oil  sample which he believes is emblematic of Mexico’s future. To ram home the  point, he produces an investment bank report which describes the hemisphere as  the world’s “new Middle East”. Shale gas production north of the border has already slashed energy costs in  the US, setting the stage for a manufacturing resurgence few imagined only five  years ago. Mr Lozoya believes the same is possible in Mexico.

Read more…

Mexico Moves on Energy in Economic Reset

The Wall Street Journal, 2/13/2013

For decades, Mexico’s energy policy has largely boiled down to exporting oil for cash to fund state spending. Now the new government is negotiating with rival political parties to curb that practice and instead use state monopoly Petróleos Mexicanos to a different end: cheaper energy, said Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the 38-year-old chief said the administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto was striving to overhaul tax and energy laws this year that Mr. Lozoya said would result in cheaper energy for consumers and companies that could drive a more competitive economy.

Now, the Mexican government relies on Pemex, one of the world’s biggest oil firms, for 35% of government spending, leaving the company with little left over to invest in areas like natural gas. Private companies, meanwhile, are largely barred from investing thanks to Mexico’s nationalistic energy laws. The result is an energy-rich country where companies often pay higher prices for energy than elsewhere. Mexico has large reserves of natural gas, for instance. But since Pemex doesn’t invest enough in gas, the country imports gas from the U.S.—raising costs to Mexican firms as they try to compete with global players like China.

Read more…

EPN launches his transition team; they will visit Latin America [in Spanish]

El Universal, 9/4/12

Enrique Peña Nieto

EPN will announce his transition team shortly, they will subsequently leave Mexico on a goodwill tour to Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Chile.  So far the names mentioned are Cesar Camacho, as director of the National Developlement Plan 2012-2018, Emilio Lozoya as responsible for the international agenda, Luis Miranda as responsible for domestic politics, Idelfonso Guajardo as responsible for economic issues, Marcela Velasco on urban development, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza on infrastructure, Alfonso Navarrete Prida on security, and David Lopez for communication.  The majority of the people were members of Pena’s government when he was the governor of the State of Mexico.  In November, Pena will visit New York and Washington DC.Read More…

A Stronger Future: Policy Recommendations for U.S.-Mexico Relations

Mexico Institute, 07/11/2012

The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands and the Wilson Center seized the opportunity provided by simultaneous election years in the United States and Mexico to convene a high-level retreat of preeminent political, business, academic, and media leaders from the two countries in March 2012. From this retreat emerged a fresh set of ideas to take the bilateral partnership to a new level that are put forth in the report, A Stronger Future: Policy Recommendations for U.S.-Mexico Relations.  The report presents recommendations to enhance regional competitiveness; reform the U.S. immigration system; more effectively fight organized crime and strengthen public security; further educational exchanges; increase energy cooperation; and develop ports of entry that strengthen trade and border security.

To download report click here.

For a video from the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands from A Stronger Future: Policy Recommendations for U.S.-Mexico Relations click here.

The Anti-Drug Cooperation [In Spanish]

PODER 360, July 2012

Enrique Peña Nieto

PODER spoke with Emilio Lozoya,  International Relations Coordinator for Enrique Peña Nieto’s presidential campaign and now, possible member of the President-elect’s cabinet about Peña Nieto’s strategy against the drug cartels and the violence that plagues the country.

Download the PDF: P8 07 LOZOYA

Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico’s new president-elect, moving to reassure Americans

The Washington Post, 07/02/2012

Mexico’s new president-elect, Enrique Peña Nieto, is a mostly unknown figure in Washington, but he is moving aggressively to assure his northern neighbor that he will fight hard against Mexico’s drug lords and continue to pursue warm relations with its top trading partner.

A top Peña Nieto campaign official, Emilio Lozoya, said in a statement Monday, “Some may wonder what a Peña Nieto presidency will mean. The answer is simple. It will mean a stabilization of the situation in Mexico and advancement on many of the issues Americans care about.”

Read more…