The following is an extract from the Parliamentary Gazette of the Mexican Senate:
In the great effort to increase the levels of competitiveness in the country, improving the existing technology and the national and international market and investments, we find as a very good area of opportunity, the impulse, promotion and permanence of the companies that operate a program of Maquila under the Modality of "Shelter“.
A Shelter Service basically refers to legal entities residing in the national territory. These entities, having approved an IMMEX (Maquila) operation program, enter into contracts with foreign companies which provide technology, materials, machinery, and equipment, while the entities operating under the maquila program (IMMEX) offer the corporate infrastructure necessary to conduct industrial or service operations in Mexico. This includes providing labor, legal, accounting, fiscal, and administrative support, as well as the required facilities, along with adaptation and maintenance services.
With these elements, the company that runs the Shelter Service, imports and exports raw materials and components, transports them to its facilities, where industrial activities are carried out, and exports the finished or semi-processed product, carrying out all logistics work and obtaining all permits and records for its operation.
Foreign companies that contract the Shelter Services in Mexico find a reliable party with experience in the local management of business with the administrative and labor authorities, who have the experience in managing the human resources, necessary for development of industrial and service activities. For a specified period of time, these services support foreign companies to facilitate the movement of goods and services, reducing risks and operating costs.
In this way, they have the opportunity to learn how to "do business in Mexico," with the perspective of becoming independent through the creation of their own subsidiary. In most cases, this involves expanding their activities, generating more employment and added value, and transferring technology that contributes to the competitiveness of the country
This type of business is highly recommended for any foreign company from any country, which tends to carry out basic, intermediate or consolidated manufacturing processes or to provides export services, such as the so-called “back rooms” or “call centers”, which could be administrative or accounting services, financial activities, business promotion, market penetration and consumer support.
It is therefore a very convenient way to “learn” to investing in Mexico offers in a safe “climatization” process, which exempts them from the responsibility of directly assuming the total operation, while maintaining control of their core business (production or services), with the presence, if you wish, of your technical or management staff.
