Within the international community, Mexico acts as an intermediary between industrialised and developing countries. The country plays an active role in international organisations such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS).
The World Bank classifies Mexico as an upper-middle-income country. However, the country is characterised by vast social disparities. More than 40 per cent of the people live in poverty. Crime, governance that lacks transparency, a shortage of skilled workers, human rights abuses and corruption are impediments to development.
Development cooperation
As a G20 member, Mexico is engaged in efforts to foster close international consultation on financial, technical and environmental cooperation. The country is one of the global development partners with which the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) seeks to engage in a close strategic partnership.
The focus of Mexican-German cooperation is on protecting and conserving global public goods. The emphasis is on supplying sustainable energy in line with the country's needs, and on the protection and sustainable use of natural resources. Germany does not support any activities that Mexico, thanks to its strong economy, is able to fund using its own resources.
In recent years Mexico has itself taken on a donor role in the field of development policy within Latin America. Germany is supporting this new role. Through triangular cooperation arrangements, Mexico and Germany are able to pass on their combined experience to other countries in the region. In addition, the two countries have set up a Joint Mexican-German Fund to finance governance projects, with each side contributing an equal share of the funding.
