What is Mexico Connect?

Mexico Connect is the premium Internet resource all about Mexico. It is both a free monthly electronic magazine and an encyclopaedic resource of over 10,000 articles, documents and photographs.

It is a content-rich, interactive resource. It is meeting the needs of people wanting to know about Mexican business, trade, retirement, relocation, education, current affairs, history, culture, travel and tourism.

It is the only electronic magazine on the web devoted to an entire country. It has a growing monthly readership (currently 280,000). Although 87% of the readership is from the US, Canada and Mexico, people from over 120 countries, Albania to Zambia are frequent visitors to the site.

How long has Mexico Connect been online?

Mexico Connect went on-line in 1996 and in 1997 appeared in its popular current format and became Mexico's first on-line magazine.

Why did you start this enterprise?

Necessity.

My wife and business partner, Dona and I were researching the possibility of living and working in Mexico. At that time, the only reliable resources were Travel Books, which, although wonderful for tourist needs, did little to answer our questions about living in Mexico, working in Mexico or starting a business in Mexico.

Using the Internet for research made us realize its potential to assist others who were seeking the same answers.

When we moved to Mexico in 1995 from Saskatchewan, Canada, Mexico Connect came along on 3.5" floppy disc.

Has anything surprised you in the development of this electronic magazine?

Not really, other than the usual surprises that come with starting and nurturing a new business in a foreign country. I am very gratified at the way in which our vision of what was possible has become a reality for both our readers and ourselves.

We are also gratified at the tremendous popularity of Mexico Connect as a research resource as well as the degree with which the "New Economy", E Commerce, and expansion of "on-line communities" have grown like nothing else in history.

These are all very satisfying and we are delighted to be a part of it.

Do you have a favourite section?

No! Like one's children, one loves them all equally even though each of them is different and unique.

The sections that are the most popular with readers, and the most linked to by other sites are:

The four Forums (General; Living, Working & Retiring; Mexico Business and Trade; and International Trade Forum) are the heart and soul of Mexico Connect. The knowledge exchange, insights, and business interactions that take place are quite amazing!

The Kyron Gallery Section, which presents lithographs by top Mexican artists such as Colunga, Mayo, Tamayo, Zuñiga and 13 others, is very popular. It is the only place in the world where these works can be seen.

The award-winning bilingual Mexico Kitchen section is constantly being accessed by people the world over for its recipes and articles. Interestingly, our friends who often travel to Europe and Asia tell us that almost everywhere they go they find a Mexican restaurant and we know that in the United States, Mexican cuisine -- Tex-Mex and otherwise -- is the most popular.

The Business and Commerce section, with its reference information and interactive classified ads is linked to and used by thousands.

There are many more sections that are equally as popular, but these are a good place to start.

How long have you lived in Mexico and what brought you here?

Unlike the movie "South Park" and its very famous theme song "Blame Canada," we loved living in Canada and credit it for a good life there. However, we felt that it was time for new adventures and Mexico had been pulling at our heartstrings for some time. Of course, we considered other places such as Bali, but decided, as enticing and exotic as it was, the distance from our friends and family was simply too far

In the five years we have been here, we have had absolutely no regrets (except distance from our daughter in Victoria B.C.). We've made Mexico our home. We love the people, especially their generosity of spirit in welcoming strangers, the fact that the family unit is alive and well, the vitality, the energy, the strong sense of a positive future, and the wonderful colors and sounds that surround and delightfully astonish our senses every single day.

Why did you choose to live in Lake Chapala?

Simple.

Climate, integrated community of nationals and expatriates, accessibility to an international airport, a large robust international city within a 40 minute drive, good communications, opportunities to contribute to the community locally and nationally, very talented craftspeople, artists, writers and artisans. Since our site is so content-rich we had to be in a place where talented people who write for us lived.

How Internet savvy are the residents of Jalisco?

Very much so. The state of Jalisco and its capital, Guadalajara, are Mexico's Silicon Valley. The Internet is growing exponentially in Latin America with Mexico leading the pack (the Spanish-speaking marketplace is 70% that of the English marketplace and growing much faster). Business and commercial use is really accelerating.

How do you see Mexico benefiting from the Internet?

Mexico will be one of the winners of the Internet revolution. I believe that Mexico, along with Brazil, will be the leaders in exploiting the potential of the Internet and electronic commerce in the Latin world.

Mexico is so close to the largest consumer blocs in the world -- the United States, Canada, China and Japan -- that it is ideally positioned to be the interchange point for many services and trade relationships.

Mexico is already well positioned. NAFTA, the recent Trade Agreement with the European Union, the Latin Trade Agreements that Mexico has signed onto, these are the beginnings of a powerful international and commercial positioning which, when amplified by her exploding Internet savvy, assures a leading position in the E Commerce future

Are you satisfied with the Internet presentation of Mexico?

Definitely. The first major sites about Mexico were University or Government. They broke the ground for today's slick, well-designed and well-organized sites. Different areas and interests are well represented. I think the explosion of quality sites, presenting world class information has greatly contributed to the world's understanding of Mexico.

How does the web differ from other media in its portrayal of Mexico?

Mexico is clearly benefiting from the web's immediacy, interactivity and wealth of information. There are sites on any Mexican subject. Newspapers are now on-line in both Spanish and English. Discussion groups are highly active. Email-groups are everywhere. All are responding to the incredible worldwide interest in Mexico and all things Mexican. This interest is not restricted to tourists. There are business people, politicians, historians, orchid growers, Spanish students, artists, music lovers, students and teachers. Everybody, everywhere is learning about Mexico.

Over the last two years Mexico Connect has received a huge increase in queries from all sectors, and from all parts of the globe. Something is happening out there. And I know it is good for Mexico!

Where do you see Mexico Connect a year from now?

Mexico Connect is a content-rich site, and will stay a content-rich site. We are good at what we do and will keep that focus

Our readership is guiding our development. That's why Mexico Connect is so popular and is growing at such a rate. Of all the millions of sites out there, Mexico Connect is ranked in the top 1%. Our viewers put us there and for that we are thankful.

Specifically, we are expanding the depth and breadth of our information. Our nation-wide classified advertising section is becoming powerful as an instrument of business exchange. Our new Mexico Links database is developing into a unique and rich resource and helps other Mexico sites to be found more easily.

All this helps readers to locate what they want.

What are your thoughts on the future of the Internet and Mexico?

The intense competition between such companies as Starmedia, T1MSN, Yupi.com, Yahoo.mx, YeYeYe and so on, to become THE Latin Portal; the accelerating awareness of and interest in Mexico around the world; these energies all mean only good things for Mexico and Mexico Connect.

The rate of Internet adoption here is phenomenal! Eighteen months ago, few businesses had email addresses; fewer still maintained web sites. Now, the majority use email as a major means of communication. New web sites are appearing daily. Internet access is nearly universal in Mexico, and computers are becoming commonplace in both homes and businesses.

Mexico is the number two trading partner of the US, and is among the top five tourist destinations. Mexican business people are smart. They are adapting to the world of E-commerce very quickly. They view the world as their target, not just Mexico. I see this in the amount and type of postings on the Mexican Trade Forum. The only impediment I can see is the speed with which the Mexican banking system can support the concept and systems of international electronic commerce and electronic banking.

This country is the bridge between Latin America and the rest of the world. Mexico's place on the Internet is assured.