• Was established in 1965 by the Mexican government to help alleviate unemployment along the U.S. - Mexico border.
  
• Allows a foreign (non-Mexican) individual or firm to establish wholly owned operations in Mexico for the purpose of manufacturing products for exportation.
  
• Allows for temporary, duty-free (in-bound) importation of the capital equipment and machinery as well as the materials for production.
  
• Allows foreign ownership of real estate in border areas (and seashores) by establishing a trust through a Mexican bank.
  
• Temporary immigration (work) permits can be readily obtained for foreigners to allow management, technical and support personnel to work in the Maquiladora operation.
  
• Items assembled and manufactured in Maquiladoras are to be exported from Mexico, however, permission to sell in Mexico can be obtained.
  
• Maquiladoras must be incorporated under Mexican law.
  
• More than 340 Maquiladora plants in Juárez employ over 210,000 workers.
  
• The state of Chihuahua has 428 Maquiladora operations employing 276,340 people.
  
• As a whole, the Mexican Maquiladora industry employs more than 1,160,000 people in 2,844 plants.