Mexico's financial leasing companies should issue 12bn pesos (US$1.09bn) in new loans in 2004, up 71% from an estimated 7bn pesos last year thanks to pent up demand from small- and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) eager to modernise their equipment.
"If you take into account that our loans grew 22% when the Mexican economy grew almost zero you get an idea that there is a lot of demand among businessmen to modernise their companies," said chairman of financial leasing association AMAF, Jose Alfredo Chacon.
