In a repeat of President Benito Juárez’s vision of the 1860s, modern day Mexico has sought foreign investment to revive and advance the industry once again. Currently the fourth most popular destination in the world for mining investment after Canada, Australia and the US, Mexico in 2013 is on course to match and possibly surpass 2012’s $17 billion investment into its mining industry. The new chapter in Mexico’s story has brought about a new mining boom, this time dominated by Canada’s prominent resource sector. Despite the sector’s significant history, this kind of interest signals the height of Mexico’s first real mining boom.

Under newly elected President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration, all eyes are on Mexico DF, eagerly and anxiously awaiting his stance on governing the sector. One of the more controversial revisions to the mining law in Mexico is the introduction of a royalty, which until now, has been non-existent. The introduction of a new financial burden for mining firms at a time of global economic uncertainty, and more pertinently a time of severe downturn in mining’s financial markets, has certainly caused some debate. Most agree a moderate royalty is unlikely to cause a mass exodus of mining firms from Mexico. However with issues of drug cartel related crime and violence still looming large in Mexico’s north, it may be another point against the nation when being judged against other jurisdictions.