Mexico City, Mar 17 (EFE).- French aerospace and communications group Safran on Wednesday inaugurated two aircraft component plants in the central Mexican state of Queretaro.

The plants will create a total of 500 new jobs manufacturing landing gear and represent an investment of nearly 2.5 billion pesos ($197.6 million), executives said.

The Queretaro facilities bring to nine the total number of Safran factories in Mexico, including seven devoted to aerospace, with a combined workforce of around 3,000.

Speaking at Wednesday's ceremony, Mexican President Felipe Calderon celebrated the rapid growth of his country's aeronautical sector.

"Today this sector is made up of more than 200 firms that generate quality jobs for around 30,000 people in this country," he said, adding that 150 of those companies established themselves in Mexico over the past 28 months.

The 300 French companies with operations in Mexico employ some 80,000 people and France trails only the United States and the Netherlands among foreign investors in the country.

Mexico's attractions include its location and the North American Free Trade Accord, which enables many goods assembled here to enter the United States free of tariffs.

Source: La Prensa