_______________________

Christopher R. Sturdy
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York, 10286

(212) 815-2095

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:
Peter B. Tisne, Esq.
Emmet, Marvin & Martin, LLP
120 Broadway
New York, New York  10271
(212) 238-3010

For Further Information Contact:

Christopher R. Sturdy
The Bank of New York
ADR Department
101 Barclay Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York, 10286

(212) 815-2095

It is proposed that this filing become effective under Rule 466
[ ] immediately upon filing
[ ] on ( Date ) at ( Time ).
If a separate registration statement has been filed to register the deposited shares, check the following box.  [ ]

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

¹

For the purpose of this table only the term "unit" is defined as 100 American Depositary Shares.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a) may determine.

_______________________

The prospectus consists of the proposed form of American Depositary Receipt included as Exhibit A to the form of Deposit Agreement filed as Exhibit 1 to this Registration Statement which is incorporated herein by reference.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item - 1.

Description of Securities to be Registered

Cross Reference Sheet

Item - 2.

Available Information

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item - 3.

Exhibits

a.

Form of Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of ____________, 2004, among Fomento Econòmico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V., The Bank of New York as Depositary, and all Owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder. - Filed herewith as Exhibit 1.

b.

Letter Agreement dated as of December 22, 2003, among Fomento Econòmico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V., Citibank N.A. and The Bank of New York. - Filed herewith as Exhibit 2.

c.

Every material contract relating to the deposited securities between the Depositary and the issuer of the deposited securities in effect at any time within the last three years. - See (a) above.

d.

Opinion of Emmet, Marvin & Martin, LLP, counsel for the Depositary, as to legality of the securities to be registered. - Filed herewith as Exhibit 4.  

e.

Certification under Rule 466. - Not Applicable.

Item - 4.

Undertakings

(a)

The Depositary hereby undertakes to make available at the principal office of the Depositary in the United States, for inspection by holders of the ADRs, any reports and communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities which are both (1) received by the Depositary as the holder of the deposited securities, and (2) made generally available to the holders of the underlying securities by the issuer.

(b)

If the amounts of fees charged are not disclosed in the prospectus, the Depositary undertakes to prepare a separate document stating the amount of any fee charged and describing the service for which it is charged and to deliver promptly a copy of such fee schedule without charge to anyone upon request. The Depositary undertakes to notify each registered holder of an ADR thirty days before any change in the fee schedule.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that all the requirements for filing on Form F-6 are met and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 29, 2004.

Legal entity created by the agreement for the issuance of American Depositary Receipts for (i) from and after the date of the amended and restated Deposit Agreement to (but excluding) the Conversion Date, ten (10) Units, each Unit consisting of one (1) B share, two (2) D-B Shares and two (2) D-L Shares, each having no par value, and (ii) from and after the Conversion Date, thirty (30) B Shares and twenty (20) L Shares, each having no par value, of Fomento Econòmico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V.

By:

The Bank of New York,
 As Depositary

By:  /s/ Vincent J. Cahill, Jr.

Name: Vincent J. Cahill, Jr.

Title: Vice President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. has caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Monterrey, Mexico on January 29, 2004.

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V.

By:  /s/ Federico Reyes Garcia
Name: Federico Reyes Garcia
Title: Chief Financial Officer

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Carlos E. Aldrete Ancira and David A. González Vessi, and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact with power of substitution and resubstitution to sign in his name, place and stead in any and all capacities the Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) and any documents in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each of said attorneys full power to act with or without the other, and full power and authority to do and perform, in his name and on his behalf, every act whatsoever which such attorneys, or any one of them, may deem necessary or desirable to be done in connection therewith as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on January 29, 2004.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS