With Mexico predicted to become a global economic leader by 2040, the Latin American nation is definitely one to watch for construction firms

Hola from Mexico City, where I'll be scoping out opportunities for British construction companies to win work.

Over the next four days I will be meeting Mexican clients to find out about future developments in Mexico and Latin America and what they are looking for from their supply chain. I will be asking the handful of UK firms already operating out here how they broke into the market and what sort of work they are picking up now.

I am lucky enough to have a view right over the city from my hotel room. I am staying just next door to the Torre Mayor – the tallest building in Latin America – which has been famously designed to cope with the area's high earthquake risk.

Mexico City has a population of 22 million - which makes it the second-largest city in the world – and the Mexican economy is the 12th-biggest globally

I will be touring the building later today with the construction manager to find out how this was all achieved and whether similar structural principles may be used to build more high-rise buildings in Latin America in the future.

Because that's what really hits you about the landscape here – you can see all the way to the distant horizon, as most of the city sprawls out at a low level with very few tall buildings blocking the view. And “sprawl” really is the word – as we flew in yesterday I couldn't quite believe the vast expanse of land this city covers.

Indeed, Mexico City has a population of 22 million people – which makes it the second-largest city by population in the world – and the Mexican economy is the 12th-biggest globally.

As the downturn hits the UK and its former construction Meccas in the Middle East, the area is certainly worth keeping a close eye on

Goldman Sachs has predicted that by 2040 Mexico will be a leader in the world economy along with the US, China, Japan, India and Brazil. So, as the downturn hits the UK and its former construction Meccas in the Middle East, the area is certainly worth keeping a close eye on.

That is, if there is work to be won, of course. It all depends on how Mexico is expected to fare in the recession, the construction work available over the next few years, and how easy it is to break in as a UK firm. I'll keep you posted.

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