Since the foundation of the New Kingdom of Galicia, the Mexican state of Jalisco has established itself as a main hub in the national economy and as the business centre of the western portion of the country. [1] Although its economic strength is mainly concentrated in the capital, Guadalajara, the rest of the state enjoys a growing prosperity in diverse economic areas. [1] [2] Forest products are obtained along the coast, and mining for silver, gold, mercury, copper, and precious stones is an important activity. The beverage tequila, distilled from the juice of the agave cactus, is named for the town of that name in Jalisco and is one of the state’s best-known products. Since the state is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, [3] tourism is an important economic engine. In 2006 20 million local and international tourists visited the state, contributing to an economic revenue of 25 billion pesos, 11% higher than in 2005. [4] Guadalajara is served by one of the country’s busiest airports and is one of the state’s major tourist centres. Puerto Vallarta is a popular tourist destination among young students. [5] The state ranks number three in terms of nominal GDP behind Nuevo León State. [6] Since the adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 the state has been experiencing a high rate of investment. Jalisco, like many other industrial states in the country, has evolved from a producer of cheap, low-quality goods into an exporter of sophisticated products, from auto brake systems to laptop computers. [7] 86% of the population is urban, higher than the national average of 76%. [4]
Guadalajara is one of the ten largest economic cities in Latin America in terms of GDP, third in Mexico just behind Mexico DF and Monterrey. [8] The geographical location of the city and its communications infrastructure make it very favourable for commerce and trade with the rest of the country, and the city attracts investors and commerce worldwide. In 1987, the Expo Guadalajara Convention Centre was created and has since been recognized as the most important centre of its kind the country.[ citation needed ] Guadalajara has more than 25,000 lodging rooms.
The city is the national leader in investment of shopping malls. Many shopping centres have been built, such as Plaza Galerias, one of the largest shopping centres in Latin America. Plaza del Sol, designed by Guadalajara architect Alexander Zohn, is one of the busiest places in the city. [9]
Guadalajara is experiencing fast-growing development. A product of the current development projects, Puerta de Hierro has become one of the most important districts in Guadalajara. Buildings in Puerta de Hierro include Aura Altitude, a project of 42 floors that has been recently finished. [10] The construction of Andares, a shopping complex, is almost completed. [11] More buildings are on their way in the Puerta de Hierro district, such as Torre G, Torre Zapopan and Pleyades. Providencia Country has many scheduled apartment projects.
In its 2007 survey entitled "Cities of the Future", FDi magazine ranked Guadalajara highest among major Mexican cities, and designated Guadalajara as having the second strongest economic potential of any major North American city behind Chicago. FDI Magazine also ranked the city as the most business-friendly Latin American city in 2007. [12] Due to its economic opportunities and its high human development index, Guadalajara has been dubbed the "city of the middle class." [1]
Year | Exports | Imports |
---|---|---|
1994 | 3.01 MMD | N/D |
1995 | 3.92 MMD | N/D |
1996 | 5.05 MMD | N/D |
1997 | 6.51 MMD | N/D |
1998 | 7.76 MMD | N/D |
1999 | 12.27 MMD | N/D |
2000 | 14.1 MMD | 16.1 MMD |
2001 | 15.6 MMD | 17.2 MMD |
2002 | 16.2 MMD | 17.6 MMD |
2003 | 14.3 MMD | 14.1 MMD |
2004 | 14.7 MMD | 18.7 MMD |
2005 | 15.9 MMD | 21.4 MMD |
2006 | 18.5 MMD | 24.2 MMD |
2007 | 27.0 MMD | 33.9 MMD |
Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands of the central western Mexican state of Jalisco.
Guadalajara is a city in western Mexico and the capital of the state of Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of 1,385,629 people, making it the 8th most populous city in Mexico, while the Guadalajara metropolitan area has a population of 5,268,642 people, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in the country and the twenty-second largest metropolitan area in the Americas. Guadalajara has the second-highest population density in Mexico, with over 10,361 people per square kilometer. Within Mexico, Guadalajara is a center of business, arts and culture, technology and tourism; as well as the economic center of the Bajío region. It usually ranks among the 100 most productive and globally competitive cities in the world. It is home to numerous landmarks, including Guadalajara Cathedral, the Teatro Degollado, the Templo Expiatorio, the UNESCO World Heritage site Hospicio Cabañas, and the San Juan de Dios Market—the largest indoor market in Latin America.
Mezcal, sometimes spelled mescal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave.
Colima, located in central−western Mexico, is the capital of the state of the same name and the seat of the municipality of the same name. It is located near the Colima volcano, which divides the state from Jalisco. Colima is the state's second largest municipality by population after Manzanillo.
Santiago de Tequila is a Mexican town and municipality located in the state of Jalisco about 60 km from the city of Guadalajara. Tequila is best known as being the birthplace of the drink that bears its name, "tequila," which is made from the blue agave plant, native to this area. The heart of the plant contains natural sugars and was traditionally used to make a fermented drink. After the Spanish arrived, they took this fermented beverage and distilled it, producing the tequila known today. The popularity of the drink and the history behind it has made the town and the area surrounding it a World Heritage Site. It was also named a "Pueblo Mágico" in 2003 by the Mexican federal government.
Jose Cuervo is the best-selling brand of tequila, selling a fifth of the tequila consumed worldwide.
Arandas is a municipality of the Altos Sur region of the state of Jalisco in Mexico. Arandas is also the name of the municipality's main township and the center of the municipal government. The city centre is located approximately 86 miles (138 km) east of Guadalajara, the state capital. Arandas is accessible to residents of Guadalajara by the Mexican Federal Highway 80D and Jalisco State Highway 314.
Amatitán is the seat of a municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco, and is home to one of the world's largest tequila distilleries.
Clubes City Club is the wholesale club of Mexican grocery store Soriana founded in 2002, in this same year it opened the first club in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, in Fundadores Square, that also has a Soriana store. As of 2024 it has 40 stores.
Jalisco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in western Mexico and is bordered by six states, Nayarit, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Colima. Jalisco is divided into 125 municipalities, and its capital and largest city is Guadalajara.
The Tequila Express is a Mexican regional passenger train service that operates from Guadalajara, Jalisco, to the Sauza Tequila distillery in the municipality of Tequila. The municipality of Tequila is located approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Guadalajara and 32 kilometres (20 mi) southeast of the town of Tequila, Jalisco. The train service is so named because it features tequila tastings and transports its passengers through blue agave fields to the distillery "La Perseverancia" in Tequila.
Don Julio is a brand of tequila produced in Mexico. It is the largest brand in value and eighth largest in volume. It is owned by the British-based multinational alcoholic beverage maker Diageo. It is distilled, manufactured and bottled by Tequila Don Julio, S.A. de C.V. from its corporate facility in the Colonia El Chichimeco district, in the city of Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico.
Don Cenobio Sauza, known as the "Father of Tequila," was one of the earliest and longest lasting distillers of the tequila spirit – founding the Sauza Tequila distillery – La Perseverancia – in 1873.
El Arenal is a town and municipality in the state of Jalisco in central-western Mexico. El Arenal is known as the gateway to the so-called "blue agave" region in the Jaliscan Highlands. The municipality has an area of approximately 111.8 square kilometres (43.2 sq mi).
Puerta de Hierro is a neighborhood in Zapopan, Mexico, as part of the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. It was developed through a joint venture by the Leaño family, owners of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara and the Gómez Flores family, owners of GIG, Minsa, Grupo Geo and Dina.
Tequila Herradura is a tequila distillery located in Amatitán, Jalisco, Mexico. It was formally founded in 1870 by Aurelio López and the business remained in the family for over 125 years. Today it is owned by US beverage maker Brown-Forman, but the tequila is still made in the same place and facilities under a Mexican subsidiary. Tequila products sold under the Herradura name are 100% agave. The company makes other tequila products, such as El Jimador, which is the best-selling tequila in Mexico, as well as New Mix, a tequila and grapefruit soda beverage. Since its acquisition by Brown-Forman, Herradura has had many promotional efforts in Mexico and the United States, including inviting artists to use tequila barrels as the bases for art pieces, which are then displayed and auctioned off for charity.
Plaza Patria is the fourteenth station of Line 3 of the Guadalajara Urban Electric Train System from south-east to north-west, and the fifth in opposite direction.
Distrito La Perla is a mixed-use development featuring a 35,000 m2 (380,000 sq ft) shopping center that opened in 2021 in affluent Zapopan, in the Guadalajara metropolitan area, Jalisco state, Mexico. Distrito La Perla includes a 4-building office complex, "central park" and adjacent Wyndham Garden hotel. The architects were Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
The Hyatt Regency Andares is a mixed-use skyscraper in Zapopan, municipality of Guadalajara, Mexico. Built between 2014 and 2017, the tower stands at 173 m (568 ft) tall with 41 floors and is the current 25th tallest building in Mexico.