news Obama’s Nominee for Ambassador to Mexico Withdraws from Consideration 07
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resident Barack Obama’s nominee for ambassador to Mexico has withdrawn her name, citing “the prolonged confirmation process,” the White House said Sunday. Maria Echaveste, a Texas native who served as deputy chief of staff to former President Bill Clinton during his 1993-2001 administration, was nominated for the diplomatic post by Obama last September and was awaiting
Senate confirmation hearings. Echaveste “cited the prolonged confirmation process and her family’s best interests in her request” to have her name withdrawn from consideration for the ambassadorship, White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz told The Washington Post. “While the president regrets the long delays in this confirmation process that have led her to this decision, he accepts it and wishes
her all the best in future endeavors,” Schultz told the newspaper. Echaveste’s support for immigration reform and her work on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s likely 2016 presidential run probably worked against her, especially after Republicans won the 2014 midterm elections, the newspaper said. Obama named the 60-year-old Echaveste a special envoy to Bolivia in 2009. Original: Lath.com
Soriana to buy 166 stores from Comercial Mexicana for 2.6 billion USD
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exican supermarket chain Comercial Mexicana has agreed to sell most of its stores to its rival Soriana for 39.19 billion pesos (US$2.66 billion), the two companies said on Wednesday. Comercial Mexicana said the sale of 160 stores, including the low-price Mega and Bodega Comercial Mexicana formats, will allow it to focus on its other brands where it sees greater growth opportunities. Comercial Mexicana, which first said it was exploring a sale in January 2014, will be left with just 40 stores. It will keep its upmarket, higher-margin retail formats such as City Market, and some other assets that contribute around 22% of its revenue. It will spin off those assets into a new company, allowing Soriana to make an offer to buy the rest of
Comercial Mexicana, subject to competition and stock exchange approvals. The deal will give Mexico’s No. 2 supermarket Soriana, which had 664 stores at the end of the third quarter, rights to Comercial Mexicana branding for two years, use of technology systems for three years
and 21,300 employees. Soriana said the new stores would lift its total sales by 37%. Market leader Wal-Mart de México, Mexico’s largest retailer, had 2,225 stores in Mexico at the end of September. Source: http://www.eluniversal. com.mx/
Tianguis Turistico Mexico Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary in Acapulco By Bryen Dunn
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ianguis is the largest tourism showcase in all of Mexico, attracting hundreds of local exhibitors, and thousands of international buyers. The event is also open to the general public, providing locals with the knowledge they need to visit other parts of their own country. Still, the main objective remains to put Mexico first and foremost in the global marketplace for tourism. Last year Tianguis was held in Cancun / Riviera Maya, a region known for its beautiful beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and party atmosphere. However, there are other options for those seeking something more traditional and laid back. There are many nearby islands easily reached by public and private vessels, some inhabited and some completely natural. From the beginning, the event had always been held in Acapulco, until a few years back when the organizers decided to have the show travel to other regions, including Puerto Vallarta / Riviera Nayarit and Puebla. This was in part due to the tarnished reputation that Acapulco was quickly getting with international media. Not only were inbound visitation
ExPats In Vallarta February Schedule
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Mexican contemporary artist
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osé Rivelino brings his world famous work to the United States. His exhibition “Our Silence,” organized by the Mexican Cosulate in San Diego, consists of ten monumental figures made of bronze, measuring 3.50 x 2.20 x 1.10 meters, weighing about a ton per piece. San Diego is the first U.S. city where “Our Silences” is displayed, said the Foreign Relations Secretariat (SRE).
Feb 5 - 11, 2015 www.vallartatribune.com
Between 2009 and 2011, the exhibition was mounted in Lisbon, Madrid, Brussels, Potsdam,
London, Rome, Moscow, St. Petersburg and Mexico City. Original: THE NEWS
uring the month of February, ExPats in Vallarta will be having two Happy Hour gatherings. On Tuesday, February 10th and Tuesday, February 24th at Langostino’s from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Langostinos is located on Los Muertos Beach just north of the new pier. Wine and Appetizer evenings are scheduled for Friday, February 6th in the 5 of Diciembre area and Friday, February 20th in the Amapas area. Since these events are held in private homes seating is limited and reservations are necessary. Special event dinners are scheduled for Thursday, February 12th at Mama Rosas and Thursday, February 26th at Encanto. Tickets must be paid for in advance when reservations are made. No tickets
numbers on the decline, so were the number of attendees at Tianguis. With recent changes at both the regional tourism and government sectors, newly implemented infrastructures to the oceanfront Costera Avenue, and new hotel properties being built, things are once again on the upswing. As well, a new urban transit service called Acabus is being introduced, and the "Macrotunnel Project" will now connect the Diamante Zone with the Traditional Zone. There's even a new campaign, "The best is yet to come. Acapulco is reborn", proving that Acapulco eagerly wants to get the message across that their new drug is tourism. Tianguis Turístico Mexico 2015 will be held in Acapulco, Guerrero between March 23rd and 26th at Mundo Imperial Acapulco, presented in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Mexico Tourism Board. Attendees can find information on a variety of interests, such as Sun and Beaches, Culture, Luxury, Business, and Adventure.
are sold at the door. Neighborhood coffees will be held on Tuesday, February 3rdh at Starbucks in the Marina and Tuesday, February 17th at Starbucks in Nuevo Vallarta in Paradise Village. Coffees are from 10 to 11:30 am. Reservations are not necessary for coffees. To make reservations for events and details go to their website http://www.expatsinvallarta.com/ The local group of Expats In Vallarta is open to all ExPat residents, visitors and investors from other countries. The purpose of the group is informal fellowship and assistance for ExPats around Vallarta for those considering the area. There is no membership fee or requirement; everyone pays for only what they use or consume.