Mexico:
General Economic Policy Criteria for 1998
Source: Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (http://www.shcp.gob.mx)
With the object of increasing the efficiency of the productive sector, actions will continue during 1998 to reduce the costs derived from economic regulation, and to promote a greater participation by the private and social sectors in activities with greater potential for creating jobs.
By its very nature, the process of structural change is a long-term one and therefore the benefits deriving from the actions undertaken materialize only gradually.
During 1998, the intention is to continue adapting the regulatory framework in order to provide greater clarity and certainty for investors in several sectors, to conclude the various separation processes already under way and continue promoting private participation in areas previously reserved for the State.
In particular, the structural change activities to be developed in 1998 will take place in the following sectors:
Telecommunications:
* Long distance: Efficiency in the long distance telephone service will be consolidated and the selection of operators for the long-distance dialing service will commence.
* Radioelectrical spectrum: The bidding processes for the concession of frequency bands on the radioelectrical spectrum will continue.
* Satellites: The bidding process for the 77°
W orbital position is expected to go ahead and the obtaining of new orbital positions will be negotiated. Likewise, the Protocol on Satellite
Reciprocity with the United States will enter into force, which will permit access to the fixed satellite services in that country's territory.
Railways:
* The separation of the Ferrocarril del Sureste, S.A. de C.V. and several short routes will be concluded.
Airports:
* The structural change process in the Mexican Airport System will continue and the process of separating 35 airports will begin.
Ports:
* The processes of separation and promotion of private participation will continue:
* Integral Port Administrations (APIs): Guaymas, Mazatlan, Topolobambo, Tuxpan.
* Efficiency and competitiveness between the terminal operators and service promoters will be promoted.
Petrochemicals:
* The Federal Government plans to implement the bidding process for the sale of 49 per cent of the capital stock of seven Pemex-Petroquímica subsidiaries constituted to date, and two other subsidiaries which will be constructed shortly.
Natural Gas:
* The biddings begun for the granting of permits to distribute natural gas will be concluded, in the geographic areas of north Tamaulipas, Monterrey, Federal District, Valle de Cuautitlan-Texcoco, and north east Baja California.
* It is programmed to begin those belonging to the geographic areas of:
- Queretaro zone;
- Bajio zone (Celaya, Irapuato, León and Salamanca);
- Puebla zone;
- Laguna zone, including Ciudad Laredo, Gomez Palacio and Torreón.
Electricity:
* Bidding for the generation projects corresponding to the diesel-type combustion stations San Carlos II and Guerrero Negro will be carried out, as well as the geothermic stations Tres Virgenes and Maritaro - El Chino, and those relating to the combined cycle thermoelectrical stations Rio Bravo, El Suaz,
Saltillo and Hermosillo.
* It is also planned to begin the bidding for another six projects, for which the financial scheme will be planned in due course.
