Members of the foreign community attended an information meeting sponsored by the Sinaloa government.
In the first of several planned information meetings, invited members of Mazatlán´s English media, community associations and foreign residents met with representatives of Codesin (Consejo para el Desarrollo de Sinaloa), Sectur (Secretary of Tourism) and CIT (Center – Investment & Trade) yesterday at the Codesin office in the Art Museum in Centro Historico.
The meeting was convened by Lissy Bernal Osuna, the Sinaloa Governor´s representative to the international community, to introduce Mazatlán´s foreign community to the workings of local government offices and NGOs.
Horacio Barrón, Director of Codesin for south Sinaloa, explained his organization is essentially a think tank composed of 14 advisors, eight of whom are local businessmen and five government employees from various departments. All the advisors are unpaid volunteers, with the exception of Barrón who is salaried.
The advisors, together with representatives from Sinaloa´s Center – Investment & Trade (the department´s name is indeed in English) plan strategies for public works, investment, future development and problem solve projects in southern Sinaloa, including Mazatlán.
Of particular interest to the foreign representatives attending the meeting was the revelation that one of the mandates of Codesin and CIT is to assist potential investors considering opening a business in Mazatlán, without cost.
While CIT is geared towards attracting large companies investing over 1.5 million pesos with an employee force of 16 where the State government offers substantial tax discount incentives, Codesin Secretary, Sergio Escutia told the group his association will work with small business investors to advise and guide them, free of charge, through the initiation process of setting up a business in Mazatlán.
This can be a vital resource for foreigners considering moving to Mazatlán, retired or not, who bring with them skills and knowledge they wish to put to use, but who do not speak Spanish and are unaware of the often confusing permit, immigration, custom and tax requirements they must comply with before opening a small business.
Also present at the meeting were members of the Governor´s foreign community advisory council (SIAC) comprised of ex-pats living in Mazatlán.
SIAC Chair of the Business and Investment Committee, Steve Backman, suggested setting up an “investor´s fair” where foreign businessmen are introduced to resources available to them.
The next information meeting on the program, said convener Bernal Osuna, will be with the director of the Instituto Municipal de Planeación de Mazatlán (Implan), a committee of citizens and municipal employees dealing with urban planning in Mazatlán.
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