Mexico must work on increasing Internet usage

Including more people into the digital world is a major challenge in Mexico, just like in other Latin American countries, a Mexican expert said Thursday.

"The main goal is that all Mexicans are connected and not just on a whim, but in order to avoid digital illiteracy," said Cintya Martinez, president of the Mexican Internet Association (Amipci).

Martinez made the remarks at a meeting organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which is being held in Mexico's Caribbean resort of Cancun aimed at discussing how to counter the challenges posed by the digital economy.

Around 65 million people, or 59 percent of the population, use the Internet in Mexico, according to official figures.

On the one hand, Amipci works to increase the number of Internet users and on the other hand, they work toward providing people who are already connected with suitable content and what they really need, Martinez told Xinhua.

Changing mindsets is also crucial.

"Many Internet users believe that electronic operations such as bank transactions are insecure when actually they aren't. We are lacking an Internet culture in this sense," the expert said.

To establish a strong digital world locally and regional, e-commerce is key, Martinez said.

"The Internet and e-commerce, and everything that falls under the umbrella of digital economy could be a focus for allowing us to grow because jobs can be developed." Endi