Mexico has a population of 109 million people and its official language is Spanish. Family is a fundamental value in Mexican culture and building close personal relationships through trust is important for business success. Mexican business culture emphasizes hierarchy, consensus decision-making, and formality in addressing counterparts by title. Discussing politics, sexuality, or saying "no" directly should be avoided.

1. MEXICO
FAST FACTS:
Population: 109 million people
Area: 754,120 square miles.
Government:Federal Republic comprising 31 States and a Federal District, as
well as 2,454 municipalities
GDP growth rate:: 4.7% (est.,2006)
Currency: Peso MX Peso (US$ 1.00 = MXP 12.80 aprox)
Official language: Spanish, a number of indigenous languages such as
Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya and Zapotec are spoken in the Indian communities,
especially in the southeast region of the country. There are some tourist areas
and expatriate communities where English is widely spoken
Language of business: Spanish
Religion:Over ninety percent of Mexico's population is Catholic, making it the
second largest Catholic country in the world after Brazil. Our Lady of Guadalupe
is a national symbol of Mexico
Capital: Mexico DF
Major cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla, Monterrey
National holiday: September 15 (Independence from Spain)
Gross National Income per capita: US$ 7,310 (World Bank estimate, 2006)
KEY POINTS:

2. lFamily - A fundamental Mexican value is that of the family and the place it
holds in society.
lTime - In Mexico, time is considered to be flexible, relaxed and circular, and is
therefore unlimited. nctuality and time keeping are less closely observed;
therefore, planning a tight daily schedule when doing business in Mexico should
be avoided.
lBusiness lunches are a favourable method of conducting business in Mexico.
lIn most Mexican cities, working hours are generally 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., but
may extend until 7.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Business is rarely conducted
at the weekend, which is normally reserved for family
lThe structure of Mexican companies is representative of the country’s social
structure. Hierarchy and social status are particularly significant in Mexican
culture and the boundaries they create should be observed.
lFinal decisions are generally made by a central authority figure. However, in
Mexican business culture, general consensus is taken into account and
subordinates are encouraged to openly express their point of view.
lIn Mexican business culture, cultivating close personal relationships and
building trust are considered vital components for a successful working
environment. Mexicans prefer to do business with people whom they know/trust
and it is not uncommon to find many family members working for the same
business.
REDUCING COMMUNICATION NOISE:
lDuring an initial business meeting, the most appropriate form of greeting is a
warm and firm handshake.
lAn important part of Mexican business protocol is securing reliable contacts
that can introduce and vouch for you. The use of personal introductions through
a mutual friend or an appropriate professional is crucial for establishing trust
and ensuring your future business success in Mexico
lDO take your time during business dealings with your Mexican colleagues and
avoid pressing for final decisions, remember that time in Mexico does not
always equal money, as in some western countries.

3. lDON’T be overly aggressive while negotiating business deals, as it is
considered rude.
lDon’t be in a hurry to end the negotiations. The Mexican culture is more
permissive about time and deadlines than you find in USA or Europe
DAY-TODAY POINTERS
lRespect is a key component in Mexican business culture and is reflected in the
extensive use of professional titles and the formal “you” (usted).
lMexicans adopt a more formal approach to business relationships; therefore it
is customary to address your Mexican business partner with the appropriate
title. Courtesy titles such as “Mr” (Señor), “Mrs” (Señora), or “Miss” (Señorita),
and professional titles (i.e. “Licenciado”, “Doctor”, “Profesor”) should be used,
followed by a surname.
GENDER ISSUES:
The Constitution of the United Mexican States in its articles provides
fundamental guarantee of equality to announce that men and women are equal
before the law, and which provides that no distinction shall be, inter alia, by
ethnic or national origin, by gender, age, disability, social status, any other that
undermines human dignity. From this we can remove to interpret workplace and
labor rights for both the woman and the man are the same, however it is
important to note that women by their social and physical conditions we have
social security rights inherent in motherhood and children. In our Constitution
also recognizes the right and freedom to have a decent job, lawful and socially
useful.
TABOOS:
-Saying “i don’t know”; instead say something like “Let me find out.”
- Saying no; instead try to say yes first then add something that keep things
very vague
-Don’t talk about politics (Peña Nieto)

4. -Don’t add sexuality topics (sex, homosexuality,etc)
-Avoid akward silence (just add silly comments such as, and how you doing?)