With the firm intention of continuing in the front line with respect to the services that the Association provides its members, in 2008 several diversification projects were approved. This will enable companies to have new services concentrated on improving their competitiveness and making training more widely available.

One of the services that was implemented was the creation of a department specialized in the preparation of market surveys, same department that will be in charge of research on several topics of interest for the chemical industry. The sector surveys undertaken in 2008 were in the Pigment, Resins, PVC and Adhesives sections.

These surveys give member companies a framework with information about the performance of their products in various markets, both in the domestic and the import/export markets.

As of next year, the Distance Training System will be implemented. This will enable companies to have access through Internet to a large number of courses that we will offer without the need of traveling to Mexico City. Also, the Electronic Invoicing System will be implemented.

In 2008 a strategy was developed for the marketing of the Pre-validation Program with the purpose of reaching the highest possible number of companies.

The strategy consisted of visits to several member companies in various states of Mexico. Also a comparative analysis of the savings for companies that validate with the Association was sent.

Such visits helped companies have better information about the service and the multiple benefits it entails such as the supervision of customs brokers, more control of transactions, etc., among others. These brought about an increase of transactions made by companies with our Pre-validation Program.

All the previous actions helped increase in about 15% the number of companies that use this program. Also, customs brokers have chosen to use ANIQ services since they have found a favorable response to their requirements.

ANIQ continued with the task of making unions aware of the current situation of the chemical industry and also generating information with respect to the performance of collective bargaining agreements.

Among the tasks carried out by the Labor Commission, a work culture was promoted that contributed to improve the competitiveness and productivity of companies in the chemical industry, emphasizing the importance of a comparative analysis of salaries and benefits for unionized personnel. This helped in the determination of real indicators of market situation and of the major aspects that companies must consider in the revision of collective bargaining agreements.

Also, the first stage of the information gathering project for several human resources areas was completed. The purpose of this project is the creation of tools that will help in decision making and give a global vision of the current situation of this area in the industry. The results were made available to the participating members.

I want to thank the Association authorities, all members and ANIQ's officers for their support, who all together made possible the excellent results achieved during this year.