MAKING CONNECTIONS
TBY talks to Ernesto Samper Pizano, Secretary General of UNASUR, on Mexico's integration with Latin America and its status as an observer country in UNASUR.

BIOGRAPHY
Ernesto Samper Pizano was President of Colombia from 1994-1998. He was also Ambassador to the Assembly of the UN in 1983, Ambassador of Colombia in Spain from 1991-1992, Minister of Economic Development in 1990 and 1991, and coordinator of the meetings of Ex-Presidents of Latin America in the Global Agenda from 2000-2005. He studied law in Javeriana University of Colombia and later obtained a master’s degree in economics.How does Mexico's integration in Latin America differ from its relation with the US?
It is difficult to think that Mexico can totally liberate itself from its strong economic dependency on the North American economy. Both countries have a strong economic integration that is not easy to terminate. This means that Mexico cannot look in the same way to its southern neighbors, despite the signing of recent agreements such as the Pacific Alliance or more recent developments in the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Nevertheless, Mexico will always be an integral part of Latin America due to its historical and political heritage.
How has Mexico performed as an observer in UNASUR?
UNASUR has not yet regulated the condition of “observer countries.” This is why Mexico's condition as an observer is more of public relations exercise without practical implications for the time being.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary , UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
TBY talks to Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on Mexico's structural reforms in line with the 2030 Agenda and maintaining consistent growth.
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Frederic García, President, Consejo Ejecutivo de Empresas Globales (CEEG)
TBY talks to Frederic García, President of Consejo Ejecutivo de Empresas Globales (CEEG), on making Mexico a more attractive FDI destination and promoting growth and development in the South and Southeast.
read articleInterview
Dr. Enrique Cabrero Mendoza, Director General, National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT)
TBY talks to Dr. Enrique Cabrero Mendoza, Director General of National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), on investing more in science, technology, and innovation and positioning Mexico as a knowledge economy.
read articleInterview
Sergio Ayala, General Manager, GIFAN
TBY talks to Sergio Ayala & Alberto Rementeria, Directors of GIFAN, on identifying and capturing niche markets in Mexico, importing healthy and profitable solutions in the food industry, and working with forward-thinking, medium-sized companies.
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Carlos Morales Paulín, Country Manager, Telefónica
TBY talks to Carlos Morales Paulín, Country Manager of Telefónica, on how to provide the best customer service on the market, an ultra-competitive suite of products, and forcing the competition to improve customer standards in the process.
read articleFocus: Digital Television Transition
Digitalizati-ON!
Starting with the first analog blackout in Tijuana, Baja California in June 2013, Mexico has achieved an effective national transition to digital television. According to data from the Federal Telecommunications Institute, 95% of the population benefits nowadays from digital terrestrial television (DTT).
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