Feature City: Aguascalientes, Mexico

When thinking about doing business in Mexico, cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey immediately come to mind, but what of Aquascalientes?  The state is home to 60 IT firms, including Hildebrando and Softrek, and has a low crime rate, modern infrastructure, and a growing talent pool. The workforce in the area is skilled and career-oriented, keeping attrition rates low, all for a lower cost than many other areas in Mexico.  The problem?  Lower salaries and a lack of outdoor activities and night life are keeping young people away from the city.  This means that English language services are lacking.

Ann Harts performed a market study of the city, and here's what she found:

·         The city is planned around three beltway loops allowing for ease of transportation and access 

·         Electricity ring around city equals 100% blackout free

·         7 fiber optic rings cover the city, providing 100% coverage

·         A lack of available real estate, but the government has not released any quantifiable data on this issue

·         The city and streets are very clean with a strong police presence

·         One of the lowest (if not the lowest) crime rates in Mexico

·         As of 2007 it is mandatory to teach English in the schools 

·         English reading and writing skills are good, but spoken is average

·         25+ educational institutions (colleges, universities) with 35,000 plus students

·         Eight museums

·         Four live performance theaters

·         Cultural centers

·         55 movie theaters and an Imax screen

Of the focus group respondents:

·         86% have either lived in or recently visited the US

·         100% have internet

·         100% see English as the language of commerce and critical for future success 

·         100% viewed call center work as a career opportunity  

Read it here from Nearshore Americas.