Winds of Change in Mexico
From Boomers abroad
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a loan of up to 72 million usd to help finance the construction of a 396-megawatt wind farm in Mexico, a project that will expand renewable energy supply in the country and contribute to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
The project, the biggest wind farm in Mexico and one of the largest in Latin America, will be located in the La Ventosa region of Oaxaca, one of the world’s best regions for wind resources.
The project, forecast to reduce emissions by up to approximately 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, will be made up of 132 towers with turbines and include the construction of a 52-kilometer transmission line linking the farm with the electricity grid.
The operation is part of growing IDB support to help Mexico develop its renewableenergy industry. The Bank has been supporting Mexico in developing the regulatory and institutional framework necessary to incorporate renewable sources of energy into the energy
matrix as well as implement its Renewable Energy Law.
www.bajainvestment.com
Monday, January 23, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Baja wants the movie spotlight again
By Richard Marosi, Los Angeles Times
January 3, 2012
Reporting from Rosarito Beach, Mexico— Hollywood made a big splash here when it sank the movie replica of the "Titanic" in an enormous water tank built specifically for the cinematic spectacle. The films "Master and Commander" and "Pearl Harbor" followed, with the cannon shots and explosions from those productions rattling high-rise condos and palapa bars up and down the craggy Baja California coast.
But fears of drug wars and incentives from rival production facilities all but shut down film-making at Baja Studios, a 35-acre facility on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. Also closed was the Titanic-inspired theme park, which once drew thousands to gawk at the mementos from Hollywood's second-biggest box office film of all time.
Now, movie fever may be building again. Cameras began rolling this summer on the first feature filmed in years at the studio. The movie, "Little Boy," a World War II-era film set in a Northern California fishing town, drew Academy Award-nominated actors, put local movie crews to work and signaled the studio's ability to still lure major productions south of the border.
Casting the film was a challenge as some actors shied away because they feared local crime, said Eduardo Verastegui, "Little Boy's" executive producer. But the 12-week shoot went off without a hitch for a cast that eventually included Kevin James, Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson.
"They lived there for a while and were having a great time, and loving the people," Verastegui said. "It's an amazing studio … and you save a lot of money at the same time."
Built in 1996 by 20th Century Fox, Baja Studios has four sound stages and outdoor water tanks that are among the biggest in the world. Other pluses: Local film crews are cheaper than their Hollywood counterparts and the studio's location just south of Rosarito Beach is a few hours' drive from Southern California. The trip is even shorter for people using the facility's heliport.
Over the years, all or part of about nine films were produced there. In 2005, one of the stages hosted rehearsals for the rock group U2 ahead of the band's Vertigo world tour. In 2007, 20th Century Fox sold the studio to a group of local investors who hoped to make it a job growth engine in the region.
But in 2008, during pre-production work for the "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," Mexico's drug war flared in Rosarito Beach. Seven cops were killed in one month, and the studio moved the production to New Zealand.
Security concerns were only part of the reason for the switch, according to Kurt Honold, a Tijuana-based businessman who is part of an investors' group that owns the studio. With facilities elsewhere offering aggressive incentive packages, Baja Studios, as well as the broader Mexican film industry, had lost its competitive edge, he said.
The Mexican government responded by establishing incentive packages offering up to 17.5% cash rebates and tax breaks for the costs of movies shot in Mexico. President Felipe Calderon announced the incentives program at the studio in March 2010, saying he wanted Mexico to become "Latin America's movie capital."
U.S. and international locales continue rolling out ever-more enticing incentive packages, so Mexico's ability to attract film shoots faces serious challenges. Some observers say that Mexico's incentives still don't match other regions' aggressive offerings. And negative perceptions about drug violence persist, even though crime in Baja California has declined significantly in the last two years.
Mexican investors and government officials are hoping that the studio's track record for turning out blockbusters will provide an edge. With a deep pool of local film crew professionals, many of whom have worked in Hollywood, the studio is a "turn-key solution," said Ricardo Alvarez, the head of innovation at Pro Mex, the government agency that promotes the film industry.
"We have the people, we have the resources, we have the facilities and we have the supply chain," he said. "It's one of the advantages of being so close to Hollywood. Lots of our talent has experience working in Hollywood productions. That is really helpful. It allows you to solidify your credentials."
For Rosarito Beach, the movie dollars and big-spending studio executives and stars nourish all levels of an economy struggling from a collapse in tourism. During film shoots, actors and production crews fill dozens of hotel rooms and oceanfront homes. Residents still remember the sight of Russell Crowe jogging from his hotel to the studio every morning, and photos of Leonardo DiCaprio line the walls at a nearby Marriott Hotel.
For years, eateries offering Titanic-themed burgers and seafood did brisk business, and hundreds of extras would be shuttled from downtown Rosarito Beach. Honold said everyone from hotel maids to highly skilled camera technicians benefit from a film production, as well as businesses across the border in San Diego, where people often make big-item purchases like cars.
"For every penny spent in Mexico, 50% goes back to the U.S.," Honold said.
Little Boy's production provided a taste of past windfalls, pumping about $14 million into the local economy, according to Honold. Crews constructed a Norman Rockwell-esque town overlooking the ocean and long-vacant production offices and dressing rooms — one still bearing the name of Peter Weir, the director of "Master and Commander" — were once again buzzing with activity.
Verastegui, the executive producer, said filming in Baja California sliced 50% off the budget, without sacrificing quality. Some cast members agreed. "I think that if people knew about this facility — that it's this good, with people around here that are this competent — they'd be flocking down here in droves," Wilkinson, the actor, said in an interview with filmmakers.
www.bajainvestment.com
January 3, 2012
Reporting from Rosarito Beach, Mexico— Hollywood made a big splash here when it sank the movie replica of the "Titanic" in an enormous water tank built specifically for the cinematic spectacle. The films "Master and Commander" and "Pearl Harbor" followed, with the cannon shots and explosions from those productions rattling high-rise condos and palapa bars up and down the craggy Baja California coast.
But fears of drug wars and incentives from rival production facilities all but shut down film-making at Baja Studios, a 35-acre facility on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. Also closed was the Titanic-inspired theme park, which once drew thousands to gawk at the mementos from Hollywood's second-biggest box office film of all time.
Now, movie fever may be building again. Cameras began rolling this summer on the first feature filmed in years at the studio. The movie, "Little Boy," a World War II-era film set in a Northern California fishing town, drew Academy Award-nominated actors, put local movie crews to work and signaled the studio's ability to still lure major productions south of the border.
Casting the film was a challenge as some actors shied away because they feared local crime, said Eduardo Verastegui, "Little Boy's" executive producer. But the 12-week shoot went off without a hitch for a cast that eventually included Kevin James, Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson.
"They lived there for a while and were having a great time, and loving the people," Verastegui said. "It's an amazing studio … and you save a lot of money at the same time."
Built in 1996 by 20th Century Fox, Baja Studios has four sound stages and outdoor water tanks that are among the biggest in the world. Other pluses: Local film crews are cheaper than their Hollywood counterparts and the studio's location just south of Rosarito Beach is a few hours' drive from Southern California. The trip is even shorter for people using the facility's heliport.
Over the years, all or part of about nine films were produced there. In 2005, one of the stages hosted rehearsals for the rock group U2 ahead of the band's Vertigo world tour. In 2007, 20th Century Fox sold the studio to a group of local investors who hoped to make it a job growth engine in the region.
But in 2008, during pre-production work for the "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," Mexico's drug war flared in Rosarito Beach. Seven cops were killed in one month, and the studio moved the production to New Zealand.
Security concerns were only part of the reason for the switch, according to Kurt Honold, a Tijuana-based businessman who is part of an investors' group that owns the studio. With facilities elsewhere offering aggressive incentive packages, Baja Studios, as well as the broader Mexican film industry, had lost its competitive edge, he said.
The Mexican government responded by establishing incentive packages offering up to 17.5% cash rebates and tax breaks for the costs of movies shot in Mexico. President Felipe Calderon announced the incentives program at the studio in March 2010, saying he wanted Mexico to become "Latin America's movie capital."
U.S. and international locales continue rolling out ever-more enticing incentive packages, so Mexico's ability to attract film shoots faces serious challenges. Some observers say that Mexico's incentives still don't match other regions' aggressive offerings. And negative perceptions about drug violence persist, even though crime in Baja California has declined significantly in the last two years.
Mexican investors and government officials are hoping that the studio's track record for turning out blockbusters will provide an edge. With a deep pool of local film crew professionals, many of whom have worked in Hollywood, the studio is a "turn-key solution," said Ricardo Alvarez, the head of innovation at Pro Mex, the government agency that promotes the film industry.
"We have the people, we have the resources, we have the facilities and we have the supply chain," he said. "It's one of the advantages of being so close to Hollywood. Lots of our talent has experience working in Hollywood productions. That is really helpful. It allows you to solidify your credentials."
For Rosarito Beach, the movie dollars and big-spending studio executives and stars nourish all levels of an economy struggling from a collapse in tourism. During film shoots, actors and production crews fill dozens of hotel rooms and oceanfront homes. Residents still remember the sight of Russell Crowe jogging from his hotel to the studio every morning, and photos of Leonardo DiCaprio line the walls at a nearby Marriott Hotel.
For years, eateries offering Titanic-themed burgers and seafood did brisk business, and hundreds of extras would be shuttled from downtown Rosarito Beach. Honold said everyone from hotel maids to highly skilled camera technicians benefit from a film production, as well as businesses across the border in San Diego, where people often make big-item purchases like cars.
"For every penny spent in Mexico, 50% goes back to the U.S.," Honold said.
Little Boy's production provided a taste of past windfalls, pumping about $14 million into the local economy, according to Honold. Crews constructed a Norman Rockwell-esque town overlooking the ocean and long-vacant production offices and dressing rooms — one still bearing the name of Peter Weir, the director of "Master and Commander" — were once again buzzing with activity.
Verastegui, the executive producer, said filming in Baja California sliced 50% off the budget, without sacrificing quality. Some cast members agreed. "I think that if people knew about this facility — that it's this good, with people around here that are this competent — they'd be flocking down here in droves," Wilkinson, the actor, said in an interview with filmmakers.
www.bajainvestment.com
Queen Victoria Sets Sail for Ensenada
By Monica Poling
Having recently endured a series of itinerary-intensive trips, I was looking forward to some much needed downtime. My upcoming Cunard Line cruise to Ensenada — part of Queen Victoria’s Americas Season — seemed to be the perfect opportunity to catch my breath.
While not a veteran cruiser, I’ve certainly been on enough cruise ships to have a general sense of what I could expect on board. My plan was to ditch all schedules, and my to do list largely included sleeping in, enjoying breakfast in bed and catching up on my reading (from my stateroom balcony).
The four-night sailing, which included two full days at sea and a day in the Port of Ensenada, seemed just long enough to get a taste of the ship, while still enjoying some much-needed “me” time. Looking back, I could have probably used at least another day onboard.
To my surprise, activities onboard the Queen Victoria were so plentiful that, by the end of the first day, I had to write a schedule for myself, just to make sure that I could do all the additional activities that I wanted.
Despite my plans for breakfast in bed, I opted to enjoy breakfast the first morning in the Britannia Restaurant. Here, I was coincidentally seated with a travel agent who I had met on another trip, several years prior, so we spent the time getting caught up on each other’s travels.
After breakfast, since I was already in the vicinity, I headed upstairs to the watercolor class being held in the Britannia Restaurant. Although my own attempts at interpreting a Mexican landscape were less than impressive, I enjoyed the fellowship with other like-minded travelers. In particular a traveler from France shared her sketchbook from the various cruises she had taken around the world, and we got caught up in a conversation about favorite sailings and her artistic renderings of those sailings.
As soon as the class came to an end, I found myself racing to the ship’s English Pub to sample some of the much-praised fish and chips. I had been warned that the line for lunch could be daunting, which accounted for my rush; however, I was already too late. Upon seeing just how many people were waiting for the famed meal, I instead went to Cafe Carinthia to enjoy coffee and sandwiches instead, with a mental note to try the fish and chips another day.
Although I’d carried my book with me, my coffee hadn’t even arrived by the time I was deep in conversation with another passenger, again sharing stories of sailings past and how she’s once traveled on the original Queen Mary. What I’d intended to be a short snack ended up being a lovely two-hour conversation.
After lunch, I finally accepted the fact that my onboard life would be governed by schedules after all — food schedules, that is — and headed to the Queen’s Ballroom to take in high tea, another one of the ship’s much-celebrated institutions. Again, however, I found the line too daunting for my first day. Instead, I returned to the cafe for another coffee and to map my afternoon’s activities, with high tea becoming another addition to my growing to-do list.
Shortly after ordering coffee, I was again caught up in a conversation with fellow passengers, this time with mother and daughter duos who travel together annually. Although I am admittedly a generally gregarious person, having four long conversations in one morning is unusual for me, which I mentioned to the mom and daughter.
“Oh yes,” enthused the mom. “That’s what we love about the Cunard ships — they have so many interesting passengers.”
She was right. It occurred to me that there wasn’t a dominant demographic onboard the ship. Although there were certainly plenty of passengers in their golden years, there were also a handful of families traveling with young children, some college students and someone in every age group in between, with a healthy mix of domestic and international passengers.
As my two new friends wandered off in search of the bingo tournament, I added bingo to the list of things I wanted to do on a future date and finally pulled out my daily schedule, while caving in to the inevitable — I was going to have to make a yet another schedule to keep track of everything I wanted to on my next Cunard cruise.
www.bajainvestment.com
Having recently endured a series of itinerary-intensive trips, I was looking forward to some much needed downtime. My upcoming Cunard Line cruise to Ensenada — part of Queen Victoria’s Americas Season — seemed to be the perfect opportunity to catch my breath.
While not a veteran cruiser, I’ve certainly been on enough cruise ships to have a general sense of what I could expect on board. My plan was to ditch all schedules, and my to do list largely included sleeping in, enjoying breakfast in bed and catching up on my reading (from my stateroom balcony).
The four-night sailing, which included two full days at sea and a day in the Port of Ensenada, seemed just long enough to get a taste of the ship, while still enjoying some much-needed “me” time. Looking back, I could have probably used at least another day onboard.
To my surprise, activities onboard the Queen Victoria were so plentiful that, by the end of the first day, I had to write a schedule for myself, just to make sure that I could do all the additional activities that I wanted.
Despite my plans for breakfast in bed, I opted to enjoy breakfast the first morning in the Britannia Restaurant. Here, I was coincidentally seated with a travel agent who I had met on another trip, several years prior, so we spent the time getting caught up on each other’s travels.
After breakfast, since I was already in the vicinity, I headed upstairs to the watercolor class being held in the Britannia Restaurant. Although my own attempts at interpreting a Mexican landscape were less than impressive, I enjoyed the fellowship with other like-minded travelers. In particular a traveler from France shared her sketchbook from the various cruises she had taken around the world, and we got caught up in a conversation about favorite sailings and her artistic renderings of those sailings.
As soon as the class came to an end, I found myself racing to the ship’s English Pub to sample some of the much-praised fish and chips. I had been warned that the line for lunch could be daunting, which accounted for my rush; however, I was already too late. Upon seeing just how many people were waiting for the famed meal, I instead went to Cafe Carinthia to enjoy coffee and sandwiches instead, with a mental note to try the fish and chips another day.
Although I’d carried my book with me, my coffee hadn’t even arrived by the time I was deep in conversation with another passenger, again sharing stories of sailings past and how she’s once traveled on the original Queen Mary. What I’d intended to be a short snack ended up being a lovely two-hour conversation.
After lunch, I finally accepted the fact that my onboard life would be governed by schedules after all — food schedules, that is — and headed to the Queen’s Ballroom to take in high tea, another one of the ship’s much-celebrated institutions. Again, however, I found the line too daunting for my first day. Instead, I returned to the cafe for another coffee and to map my afternoon’s activities, with high tea becoming another addition to my growing to-do list.
Shortly after ordering coffee, I was again caught up in a conversation with fellow passengers, this time with mother and daughter duos who travel together annually. Although I am admittedly a generally gregarious person, having four long conversations in one morning is unusual for me, which I mentioned to the mom and daughter.
“Oh yes,” enthused the mom. “That’s what we love about the Cunard ships — they have so many interesting passengers.”
She was right. It occurred to me that there wasn’t a dominant demographic onboard the ship. Although there were certainly plenty of passengers in their golden years, there were also a handful of families traveling with young children, some college students and someone in every age group in between, with a healthy mix of domestic and international passengers.
As my two new friends wandered off in search of the bingo tournament, I added bingo to the list of things I wanted to do on a future date and finally pulled out my daily schedule, while caving in to the inevitable — I was going to have to make a yet another schedule to keep track of everything I wanted to on my next Cunard cruise.
www.bajainvestment.com
CNBC’s Stock Market Guru, Jim Cramer, Urges Invest in Mexico Real Estate
By Bob Patenaude
Jim Cramer, the Bombastic, high-energy investment Guru and host of CNBC’s massively successful show “Mad Money”, gave Mexico real estate investment a big boost this week. Cramer told his audience:
“It's not such a bad idea to diversify away from stocks, I think that out of favor real estate in Mexico, that's easily accessible... represents a great buy”.
With as many as 2.5 million investors viewing the show each week, the controversial host wields quite a bit of influence among his viewership and in the marketplace as a whole. His following is so intense that it has created a unique phenomenon in the stock market known as the “Cramer Bounce”, which can be best described “as the sudden overnight appreciation of a stock’s price after it has been recommended by Jim Cramer on his CNBC show”, “Mad Money”.
Following his own advice, Cramer recently announced to his audience that he had already purchased three properties in Mexico within the last few weeks. When asked about hyped headlines about drug violence and turmoil in Mexico, Cramer downplayed those fears, he said, "Mexico is a big country and not every province, every state is involved in the drug trade”, and he added, “it has to be one of the nicest places I've ever been."
How to Own
Jim Cramer aside, Americans and others have been flocking to Mexico and in particular, Los Cabo, on the Baja Peninsula for several decades now. Their quest is to seek out and enjoy the beautiful weather, landscape, water, as well as the culture and leisure activities that abound.
The magic of the Baja lies in its amazing beauty and history. Property ownership is as alluring as the seas that surround it. But the seas and coastlines of Mexico were off limits to property ownership as a result of the revolution of 1914. With the prospects of tourism, an enlightened government under President Luis Echeverria Alvarez, wrote a presidential decree allowing Mexican banks to hold titles to property In Trust for foreigners. It is called a Fideicomiso and it provides for all rights of ownership as any citizen would enjoy.
The term of the Trust is for 50-year periods and is automatically renewable by law. In other words, title to the property may rest in one beneficiary indefinitely-which protects your heirs and your investment. As purchaser of a property, you may use and enjoy, build, rent, will or sell the beneficial rights in the trust anytime, conforming only the general laws of the country established for all persons. Today, U.S. Title insurance is available for properties held in trust. It assures the utmost security of your purchase as it would in the U.S.
www.bajainvestment.com
Jim Cramer, the Bombastic, high-energy investment Guru and host of CNBC’s massively successful show “Mad Money”, gave Mexico real estate investment a big boost this week. Cramer told his audience:
“It's not such a bad idea to diversify away from stocks, I think that out of favor real estate in Mexico, that's easily accessible... represents a great buy”.
With as many as 2.5 million investors viewing the show each week, the controversial host wields quite a bit of influence among his viewership and in the marketplace as a whole. His following is so intense that it has created a unique phenomenon in the stock market known as the “Cramer Bounce”, which can be best described “as the sudden overnight appreciation of a stock’s price after it has been recommended by Jim Cramer on his CNBC show”, “Mad Money”.
Following his own advice, Cramer recently announced to his audience that he had already purchased three properties in Mexico within the last few weeks. When asked about hyped headlines about drug violence and turmoil in Mexico, Cramer downplayed those fears, he said, "Mexico is a big country and not every province, every state is involved in the drug trade”, and he added, “it has to be one of the nicest places I've ever been."
How to Own
Jim Cramer aside, Americans and others have been flocking to Mexico and in particular, Los Cabo, on the Baja Peninsula for several decades now. Their quest is to seek out and enjoy the beautiful weather, landscape, water, as well as the culture and leisure activities that abound.
The magic of the Baja lies in its amazing beauty and history. Property ownership is as alluring as the seas that surround it. But the seas and coastlines of Mexico were off limits to property ownership as a result of the revolution of 1914. With the prospects of tourism, an enlightened government under President Luis Echeverria Alvarez, wrote a presidential decree allowing Mexican banks to hold titles to property In Trust for foreigners. It is called a Fideicomiso and it provides for all rights of ownership as any citizen would enjoy.
The term of the Trust is for 50-year periods and is automatically renewable by law. In other words, title to the property may rest in one beneficiary indefinitely-which protects your heirs and your investment. As purchaser of a property, you may use and enjoy, build, rent, will or sell the beneficial rights in the trust anytime, conforming only the general laws of the country established for all persons. Today, U.S. Title insurance is available for properties held in trust. It assures the utmost security of your purchase as it would in the U.S.
www.bajainvestment.com
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