LETTER TO OUR READERS.

Since the publication of our last edition of BUSINESS MEXICO (Special Edition, 2000), the country, rocked with small earthquakes and sprinkled with volcanic ash, has already celebrated and digested its dramatic political turnover and has begun to get to work. As President Vicente Fox said on national news, he's converting his "V" for victory sign into a "T" for trabajo--work. A little cutsie, perhaps, but we get the point. That's why in this month's cover story ("Mexico in transition," p. 24) we've examined where the country currently stands to get a better idea of the work that needs to be done. We've also included the new government proposals in vital sectors, along with Cabinet member bios. Just to keep a closer eye on what s going on, this month we are unveiling a new gossip column (p.21), where the staff of BUSINESS MEXICO taps our sources to get the skinny. We are in no way implying, however, that all the gossip is true. The important thing is that these are the chismes on the lips of the insiders, movers and shakers.

Also this month, we are bringing back our "Market moves" column, giving you an independent, objective source on Mexican stocks. For those of you concerned about the U.S. economic slowdown and its possible ripple effect, in this edition we recommend a few solid stocks that promise to weather the storm.

Scarlet Pruitt

Editor