Trento

Ciudad Obregon Industrial Park Expanding

            Trento Industrial Parks of Sonora is a real estate development corporation that offers prime industrial facilities in its fully developed industrial parks. It has more than 15 years experience in the real estate business and approximately 180 acres of prime industrial land to offer.

            The enthusiastic support of the community of Ciudad Obregón and Trento's proactive support of the growth and development of its tenants contribute significantly to the success of all new manufacturing operations that choose to establish in one of Trento's parks.
            Inmobiliaria Trento, S.A. de C.V. was organized in 1985. It purchased land and constructed facilities in what was then the state-owned and operated Parque Industrial de Ciudad. Obregon (PICO). In 1996, it acquired all the available land in the PICO and has since been its only promoter/developer.

            Marcel E. Alvarez is general manager of Trento Industrial Parks of Sonora. He says the Ciudad Obregon area offers everything a foreign investor needs.

            “Labor is the first requirement on the list of any firm seeking to establish a maquiladora plant,” Alvarez says. “Also on that list are the availability electrical power, accessibility to highways and airports, travel distances, quality of life available to the new operation’s managers, and some companies include the availability of good water as being crucial. Ciudad. Obregon not only offers all of these, but it offers an abundance of the very best of each and every item.”

            The following are some advantages that Trento Industrial Parks of Sonora has to offer companies seeking to relocate or expand existing maquiladora operations:

            *A young, well educated work force (no strikes in the city's history).

            *Efficient infrastructure.

            *Worker housing.

            *Daycare facilities.

            *Ample water.

            *Ample electrical power.

            *A modern telecommunications network.

            *Five universities and thirty-seven technical schools eager to work with               companies to develop any skills and training courses.

            “What Ciudad Obregon has in abundance, besides water and electrical power, is labor,” says Alvarez. “An outstanding fact is that 81 percent of the population is native to the city. The total employment considering the Mexican industry located here and the maquiladoras, is at about 12,000 workers. We have about 10,000 young persons entering the workforce each year. And, there has not been a labor strike in the city’s 75-year history.

            “There are five universities and 10 technical schools. There is a good base of young people available for management, middle management and technical positions available. As for the workforce, the average employee in the maquiladora plants has twice the level of education of the national average.”

            Trento Industrial Parks of Sonora parks is located near the international highway that connects to U.S. Interstate 10. Additionally, it is five minutes from downtown Ciudad Obregon, 55 minutes from the beaches of San Carlos, and five hours from downtown Nogales, Ariz.

            While other parts of Mexico are feeling the effects of the slowdown in the U.S. economy, Alvarez says Trento and Ciudad Obregon are doing well.

            Now under construction is Trento Industrial Parks of Sonora’s newest development, located in the heart the Ciudad Obregón Industrial Park. This 18-acre mini-park will be totally fenced and gated. It will be supported by the larger park’s infrastructure, with access to the same electrical power and water sources, and will be connected to the municipal sewer system.

            The mini-park will have its own recreational facility and will be landscaped with low-maintenance dessert greenery. A 32,428 square foot building is already available for occupancy.

            Current tenants include:

            *Yazaki (Acosa)

            *American Safety Razor

            *Midcom

            *Proman-HFI

            *Digital Imaging Industries

            *Springford Industries

            “Ciudad. Obregon and Trento have not been adversely affected by the status of the U. S. economy,” says Alvarez. “The community’s economy is rooted in agriculture and more recently in aquaculture. Fortunately these two sectors are productive and as healthy as world prices for cotton and wheat will allow. As for Trento, all but one of its current tenants is producing at full capacity or close thereto.

            “We have had a number of important prospective customers visits to Ciudad Obregon and to our sites. Many of them are gathering information on the well kept secret that is Ciudad. Obregon, with an eye on being ready to move when the time is right. In fact, the number of visitors we had in 2001 greatly exceeds any that we have experienced in the past.

            “We are looking forward to a very eventful 2002. So much so that we have invested in a new speculative building which is now ready for occupancy.  We had not made this type of investment in the past.”

Giving back

            Trento has also been active in community affairs. “Trento dedicates an important part of its budget to contributions aimed at repairing the communities roads and pavements,” says Alvarez. “And, we have selected a number of local charities to which we make regular donations. We have a history of contributing generously to the community.  We are convinced that we must return some of the benefits that we gain from it.  Many attribute the phenomenal growth of Trento’s parent company, to its founders’ and current leadership’s approach to community support and charity.”