I have 40 years’ experience in the public and private sector as a professional on foreign trade and investment for the manufacturing and services sectors.

From 2015 to 2017 as Undersecretary of Energy at the State Government of Nuevo León, Mexico and State Lead Negotiator with Kia Motors. From 2009 to 2015 as independent consultant of Foreign Direct Investment soft landing. Previously, held the position of General Director of Foreign Investment at the Secretary of Economy of Mexico (2003-2009). In this position, I oversaw all matters related to foreign direct investment in the country. Also, as Technical Secretary of the National Commission of Foreign Investment in Mexico. During same time, I held several positions in Multinational Organization such as: Chairman of the Advisory Group on Cooperation with Non-Members of the Investment Committee at OECD; Member of the Board of the Investment Committee al OECD, President of the Experts Group on International Investment Agreements at UNCTAD and Vice-President of the Special Committee on International Economic Relation and Investment of the Association of the Caribbean States.

Previously, I was Undersecretary of International Trade and Investment for the State Government of Nuevo Leon, Mexico (1999-2003).

Before these experiences in the public sector, Mr. Canales was General Director of the Monterrey Chamber of Commerce, Project Manager for an automotive company and Export Manager at Alfa Group in Monterrey, Mexico.

Recently I was able to finalize a new incentives agreement between the State Government of Nuevo Leon and Kia Motors, for the investment of 2.5 billion USD in an Automotive complex in Pesquería, N.L.  I had been asking to help the government with a complicated situation regarding the incentives agreement with Kia Motors that could turn to the worst at international courts.  Basically, the State government promised more than they can deliver, and the investor accepted and expect compensation. My roll was, as Lead Negotiator, to obtain a substantial reduction of incentives in such a way, that the investor wouldn´t decline its investment and the government reduce its budgetary burden. The result was a 65% reduction and a new agreement. This new contract proved to be essential to confirm Kia´s commitment to Mexico and the local governmental support.

In soft landing of foreign investments in Mexico I had the opportunity to support more than 50 manufactutring projects in Monterrey, Guanajuato and Queretaro States.

Mr. Canales graduated from Monterrey Tech in the field of Economics. Hold a Post-Degree in Economic Development and Projects Valuation from the “Istituto per lo Sviluppo Economico e la Pianificazione” of Naples, Italy; and a Master Degree in Public Administration from the Monterrey Tech and the JFK-Harvard School of Public Administration in Mexico City. He currently is a postulant for a PhD in Administration from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.