Mexico is full of colors. Lying on the tan sandy beaches of the Sea of Cortés with white shells strewn like stars, one can look out over the blue, calm sea or tan themselves under the bright yellow, inviting sun, all while surrounded by opportunities for green.

This is the discussion at the first ever Ventana de Mexico held at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, 3800 E Sunrise Dr. last Tuesday through Thursday, May 1 through 3.

The event that had been held in Baja California the past three years looked at Tucson, Phoenix and San Diego as possible locations to bring investors from all over country and the world to learn about the growing opportunities in Mexico.

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“Tucson has really become the gateway to Mexico and the Sea of Cortés area,” said Felipe Garcia of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The more that Northwest Mexico is developed, the better it is for us here as well.”

Ventana de Mexico brought in international flair as members from the French embassy, the British consol, Japanese and Canadian citizens joined Mexicans and Americans to network and learn how to invest in Mexico.

“I think people are more confident with investing now because they aren’t the first people doing it,” said Pete Spencer of the Pelican Cove Resort in San Carlos, Sonora. “Once one or two people go first successfully, others begin to follow.”

Bruce Greenberg has quickly become the go-to guy for what will work in Mexico and what might not work. He has also been appointed the Bi-national Director of the U.S. Mexico Chamber of Commerce and will have his first meeting at the White House this month.

“There are risks in buying down there like there are anywhere,” Greenberg said. “But you don’t leave your brain at the border. You have to do your due diligence in order to feel safe in any transaction and that is what this whole event is about.”

Throughout the event, information was available on residential projects, dream homes, condo and hotel projects, audit, tax and legal advice, title insurance, escrow services, relocation experts and banking services for foreign nationals, as well as networking meetings pitching new projects and ideas.

“Things are really changing down there,” said Charlotte Bohner, a Coldwell Banker Realtor in Rocky Point. “Americans discovered Rocky Point many years ago and focused on the beach, it was Arizona’s beach.”

But, Mexico discovered Rocky Point only a few years ago seeing it as an economic development possibility further in from the beach.

“They figured out that all these people who are working in the hotels Americans built need places to live, they need entertainment, restaurants, everything,” Bohner said. “Because of this, there is a growing middle class in Mexico that we haven’t seen before.”

Bohner likened the growth and the possibilities to what happened in the Phoenix market several years ago. It makes the timing of an event like this perfect.

“I have tried to give everyone all the facilities necessary to close deals,” said Javier Godinez Villegas, president and CEO of Ventana de Mexico. “We brought people in who have invested in Mexico and when the people interested can meet the people who have done it, it is very good.”

Throughout the event, mini seminars were offered on subjects such as: obtaining financing in Mexico, tax and legal framework for businesses in Mexico, where the opportunities are in Mexico, tourism trends and sustainable development among others.

Gene Hood, sales manager for Impulsa located in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, thought the conference schedule was well chosen.

“The agenda touched on everything investors or buyers would need to know about doing work in Mexico,” Hood said. “This event was better organized than any other I have been to.”

Hood reaffirmed the timing is right for investment in Mexico.

“Baja is past its prime, it has already hit its stride,” he said. “But in Sinaloa and other states further south, you can buy land for one-third of the price from the north. But in five years or so, that will not be the case.”

The group will hold its third annual Baja California Meeting Point in Tijuana, Baja California October 2, 3 and 4 2007.

For more information on this meeting or future meetings visit ventanademexico.com.

Joe Pangburn

Inside Tucson Business

Contact Joe Pangburn by e-mail at jpangburn@azbiz.com or call (520) 295-4259.

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