Acres of Diamond
ENESFR
Aerial view of Guadalajara, Jalisco
A domed church among the rooftops of Mexico City
Blue agave cultivated across a mountain landscape in Mexico
A large cut diamond resting in an open palm
A diamond merchant examining a stone through a loupe
Fine jewellery displayed in a lit showcase in a diamond store
Shoppers at the street window of a jeweller full of watches, rings and bracelets for sale
Rings, necklaces, bracelets and diamonds laid out for sale on a jeweller’s counter
Three volcanoes rising above Guatemala City
Wax palms rising from a green mountainside in Colombia
Aerial view of Guadalajara, Jalisco
A domed church among the rooftops of Mexico City
Blue agave cultivated across a mountain landscape in Mexico

Mexico

Season One, in scouting. The team is approaching Mexico state by state, beginning with the manufacturing corridors and agri-export base of Jalisco and Guanajuato.

Episode status

  1. Planned
  2. ScoutingCurrent stage
  3. In production
  4. Released

Photographs: Sergio Rodríguez, Leonardo Gaspar, stephan de MARANTHI on Unsplash

Film in production
Mexico — first look0:45 · A short film on what this episode sets out to find.

At a glance

Capital
Mexico City
Official currency
Mexican peso (MXN)
Main languages
Spanish; Indigenous languages are recognised as national languages
Time vs Los Angeles
2 h ahead1 h ahead while California observes daylight saving time · UTC−6
From Los Angeles
≈ 2,500 km / 1,550 miGreat-circle distance, LAX → MEX

Why it matters for the diaspora

Return migration to Mexico is large and well documented: about one million Mexicans and their families, including U.S.-born children, left the United States for Mexico between 2009 and 2014 (Pew Research Center, 2015). Rather than treat it as a single market, we are approaching it state by state, beginning with the manufacturing corridors and agri-export base of Jalisco and Guanajuato.

Sectors the episode will examine

  • Manufacturing corridors
  • Agri-exports
  • Return migration and the businesses it brings home

Filming base: Jalisco & Guanajuato

The investment-promotion agency

Secretaría de Economía and state agencies

Mexico has no single federal investment-promotion agency since ProMéxico was closed. Investment promotion is led by the federal Ministry of Economy (Secretaría de Economía) and by the economic-development secretariats of each state, including Jalisco and Guanajuato.

Because rules and incentives vary from state to state, the episode will speak to both federal and state officials.

Agencies are named as each country’s official investment-promotion body. Their appearance on this site does not imply a partnership; none exists until it is agreed in writing.

On the route ledger

Route ledger: great-circle routes from Los Angeles to the five Season One capitalsMap of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America showing routes from Los Angeles International Airport to Mexico City, Guatemala City, San Salvador, Santo Domingo and Bogotá, with distances and episode status. The same information is given in the table that follows.Mexico≈ 2,500 km / 1,550 miScoutingGuatemala≈ 3,530 km / 2,190 miPlanned · Episode 2El Salvador≈ 3,730 km / 2,320 miPlanned · Episode 1Colombia≈ 5,600 km / 3,480 miScoutingDominican Republic≈ 5,110 km / 3,170 miScouting
Great-circle distances computed with the haversine formula (mean Earth radius 6,371 km) between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the main international airport of each capital, rounded to the nearest 10 km and 10 mi. Outlines: Natural Earth.

What the diaspora should know

Verify before you commit.
Incentives, permits and land titles should be confirmed directly with the federal and state authorities and the public registries, and reviewed by licensed local counsel.
Rules vary by state.
Incentives, permitting timelines and land rules differ between states; what applies in Jalisco may not apply in Guanajuato.
Plan for the exchange rate.
Costs and revenues in pesos convert to and from dollars at a rate that moves; budget for that difference and for transfer costs.
Two tax systems may apply.
United States citizens and residents generally report their worldwide income. Take advice from a qualified cross-border tax professional before you invest.
This is reporting, not advice.
The episode documents what officials and returnees say on the record. Nothing in it is a recommendation to invest.

Did you return to Mexico and build something?

Tell us what worked and what nearly stopped you. Nothing is published without your written consent.

Share your return story Get notified at launch