Mexico has become an ideal location for light manufacturing and assembly operations because of its strategic geographical location, the quality of its workforce and its competitive costs. This sector, consequently, offers a wide range of possibilities. Many are in the automotive sector, but other opportunity areas include the following:

• Medical devices: In 2013, Mexico imported USD 4.3 billion worth of medical equipment, dental products and disposable medical goods. In any given year, in fact, imports supply 90 percent of Mexico's medical equipment and instrument needs, and 40 percent of its disposable and dental products requirements. The health care infrastructure expansion under the NIP, noted above, will drive increasing demand in this sector.

• Plastics: The plastic industry is driven largely by the automotive sector and by the increasing packaging needs of the food and beverage industries. In 2013, Canada's plastic exports to Mexico totalled CAD 57.5 million, primarily in films and sheets, piping, foam products and laminates. Plastic resins are in short supply, and imports provide about half of Mexico's requirements for these products. On the production side, moulds and moulding machinery are in high demand.

• Environmental technologies: Mexico's total environmental technologies market was estimated at about USD 3 billion in 2014, with USD 1.73 billion accounted for by imports. Some of the best prospects for the sector are water resources equipment and services, solid waste management, soil remediation, recycling, air monitoring, hazardous waste transportation, medical waste management and environmental engineering and design services. The numerous water-related infrastructure projects under the NIP will stimulate demand in the water treatment subsector in particular.

• Safety and security: This sector has been growing steadily, and imports accounted for about USD 2.4 billion worth of products in 2013. Some of the products needed are perimeter and residential protection systems, digital security systems, access controls, alarms, industrial protection devices and CCTV systems.

• Packaging: Mexican companies have been investing extensively in packaging equipment to support modernization and expansion projects. In 2013, Mexico imported an estimated USD 625 million worth of such equipment, with the total Mexican market for that year being about USD 720 million. The main imports have been in the food, beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical sectors.