CloudHQ announces US $4.8B plan to build 6 data centers in Querétaro

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September 25, 2025

A long hallway between servers in a data center — CloudHQ will join companies like Google and Microsoft that already have data centers in the central Mexican state of Querétaro. (İsmail Enes Ayhan/Unsplash)

U.S. tech firm CloudHQ will invest an estimated US $4.8 billion to build six data centers and complementary infrastructure on a single site in Querétaro, a company executive said Thursday.

Keith Harney, CloudHQ’s chief operating officer, announced the investment at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Thursday morning press conference.

CloudHQ COO Keith Harney shared the news at President Sheinbaum’s Thursday press conference. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)

“Our site in Querétaro is 52 hectares and we will be building six data centers, most likely for cloud compute and AI and it will be up to 900 megawatts of critical IT load,” he said.

The project was first announced in 2023, at which time CloudHQ said that the investment would be $3.6 billion.

The data center campus is “in close proximity to Querétaro Airport and will be the biggest data center campus in Mexico designed to accommodate 6 buildings of 48MW of IT load powered by an onsite substation,” according to the CloudHQ website.

Querétaro Airport is located about 25 kilometers east of Querétaro city.

Harney described the project as a “hyper-scale data center campus in Querétaro,” a state that has become a data center hub due to factors including its central location in Mexico and a growing electricity supply.

He said that it is anticipated that construction of the data centers will create “7,200 highly-skilled construction jobs.”

The campus — which will have its own 900-megawatt substation — is expected to be completed in 2027. Once operational it should provide 900 permanent jobs, and create off-campus jobs as well, according to the CloudHQ executive.

Harney said that CloudHQ “is respectful of sustainable design” and highlighted that the data centers will be equipped with “waterless cooling” infrastructure. Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that campus’s water usage will be “very low.”

However, there are concerns about the impact data centers will have on water supply in Querétaro, which, like many states in Mexico, has faced significant water stress in recent years.

Google and Microsoft are among the companies that already have data centers in the Bajío region state.

Microsoft opens new data center region in Querétaro

Harney noted that CloudHQ is “one of the largest data center developers in the world” and leases the facilities it builds to “the world’s largest technological companies.”

The companies that lease the data centers make their own significant investments in the facilities, he said.

“The capital investment I shared with you is our cost. We rent our space to our customers. Our customers will make a capital investment into the property to make it ready for their business,” Harney said.

“Typically that investment could be three to five times the cost of our building, and that would be for a cloud compute and if that was AI it would be significantly higher. So as you can see, [there will be] significant capital investment,” he said.

“… Our customers ultimately determine what they will use the space for but we’re highly confident that this space will be used for cloud compute and AI, so artificial intelligence,” Harney said.

“… We are pleased to be playing a supporting role in enhancing the digital economy for Mexico,” he added.

Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of expanding Mexico’s data processing capacity. (Saúl López Escorcia/Presidencia)

Sheinbaum said that investment in data centers is “important for Mexico,” explaining that it gives the country “the capacity to process data related to artificial intelligence and information technology.”

“We also need these investments to bring benefits for the community,” she said.

Ebrard highlighted that “practically all the services in our daily lives will be connected to these kinds of data centers.”

“… That’s why [the investment] is very important — because of its amount, the number of jobs [it will create] and the effect it will have,” he said.

CloudHQ’s data center campus in detail

Harney provided a range of other details about CloudHQ’s project in Querétaro. He said that:

CloudHQ has collaborated with authorities in Querétaro on “the land and pre-development process” since 2021.
Cloud HQ has also collaborated with the Federal Electricity Commission and the National Energy Control Center to “secure initial power” for the company’s campus and “will continue to collaborate as we upsize capacity.”
Cloud HQ will “seek to secure a long-term anchor tenant” for the data center campus.
CloudHQ is building a separate “2-gigawatt maneuvering substation” to provide power to the data centers.
CloudHQ will rely on “the Mexican supply chain as much as we can” while building the data centers.
The campus site is “just west” of the Querétaro Airport.

With reports from El Economista and Reuters

New economic data casts a shadow on Mexico’s recent rosy growth forecasts

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MND Staff

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September 25, 2025

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Tomato packers in Zacatecas grab tomatoes off a conveyor belt and pack them in boxes — The primary sector, which includes agriculture, fisheries and forestry, declined 12.2% year-over-year in July. Since the sector is heavily dependent on seasonal resources, volatility is to be expected, experts say. (Adolfo Vladimir/Cuartoscuro)

The IMF and the OECD recently upgraded their economic growth forecasts for Mexico in 2025, but the national statistics agency INEGI delivered some bad news this week: The economy contracted in annual and month-over-month terms in July.

Weighed down by weak primary and secondary sector activity, the Mexican economy declined 1.2% annually in July and 0.9% compared to June, INEGI reported.

A backhoe at a construction site for the Maya Train — The secondary sector, which includes manufacturing and construction, also showed a weak performance in July, but less so than the primary sector. (Cuartoscuro)

In the first seven months of the year, GDP increased just 0.1% compared to the same period of 2024.

The annual contraction in July was the worst performance for the Mexican economy in any month since February 2021.

The month-over-month contraction was the worst sequential result since April 2024.

Analysts from the Monex financial group said that the economic result for July was “weaker than anticipated” and reinforced “signs of cooling in economic activity” in Mexico.

INEGI published its economic data for July on Tuesday, the same day that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development raised its 2025 growth forecast for Mexico to 0.8% from 0.4%. Last week, the International Monetary Fund revised upward its 2025 growth forecast for Mexico to 1% from a prediction in April of a 0.3% contraction.

Primary sector plunges 12.2% annually, secondary sector contracts 2.8%

INEGI’s data shows that Mexico’s primary sector, which includes agricultural, forestry and fishing activities, contracted 12.2% in July compared to the same month of 2024.

The secondary sector, which includes manufacturing, construction, mining and electricity generation and distribution, shrank by 2.8% annually.

The tertiary or services sector was the only sector to grow, expanding 0.4% compared to July 2024. Still, that level of growth was the weakest in four months for Mexico’s large services sector.

On a month-over-month basis, all three sectors contracted in July. The primary sector declined 3%, the secondary sector contracted 1.2% and the tertiary sector shrank by 0.4%.

In the first seven months of the year, the primary sector grew 2%, the secondary sector contracted 1.5% and the tertiary sector expanded 0.8%.

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, said that the “poor performance of the secondary sector, particularly in construction and manufacturing, presents a significant risk for employment.”

The construction sector contracted 4.1% annually in July and 1.2% on a month-over-month basis. The sector’s poor performance was attributed in part to the decrease in government spending on infrastructure projects.

OECD follows the IMF in lifting Mexico’s economic growth outlook for 2025

The manufacturing sector declined 1.8% annually in July and 1.6% compared to June.

The significant contractions of the primary sector in July didn’t surprise the chief economist at the brokerage firm Valmex.

“Primary [sector] activities are characterized by being very volatile, with abrupt declines followed by sharp upturns, reflecting their high exposure to climatic and seasonal factors,” Gerónimo Ugarte said.

The month-over-month decline in the tertiary sector was attributed to factors including the decline in inflows of remittances and a wetter-than-normal rainy season in various parts of the country.

The outlook for the rest of the year

Banamex analysts anticipate that the Mexican economy will remain weak in the coming months. In a written analysis, they forecast that GDP will decline 0.2% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the previous three-month period.

The Banamex analysts are predicting that the Mexican economy will grow 0.4% in 2025, on par with the forecast of the brokerage firm Vector.

Mexico’s Finance Ministry is forecasting growth of between 0.5% and 1.5% this year.

Uncertainty created by the United States’ volatile trade policy has affected the Mexican economy in 2025, although Mexican exports to the U.S. have continued to grow.

The USMCA free trade pact will be reviewed in 2026. The completion of the review process should provide greater certainty for the Mexican economy and investors in the years ahead.

With reports from El Financiero and El Economista

Mexican business magnate buys 25% stake in Banamex ahead of planned IPO

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MND Staff

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September 25, 2025

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Fernando Chico Pardo stands at a podium at Veracruz airport in front of a sign reading ASUR — Ferando Chico Pardo, seen here at a 2017 event in Veracruz, is the president of the international airport operator ASUR and has served on the boards of Inbursa, Sears de México and many other companies. (Ise Huesca/Cuartoscuro)

Fernando Chico Pardo, president of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), has agreed to purchase 25% of Banamex’s shares — equivalent to 520 million common shares — from Citigroup for an estimated sum of 42 billion pesos (US $2.3 billion).

Banamex, officially Banco Nacional de México, one of the oldest and most important financial institutions in Mexico,was founded in 1884 after the merger of Banco Nacional Mexicano and Banco Mercantil Mexicano.

Citibanamex building — Citibanamex officially split into Grupo Financiero Citi México and Grupo Financiero Banamex at the end of 2024, one step in Citigroup’s divestment from Banamex. (Cuartoscuro)

The transaction means that a key stake in Banamex, until now under the control of the U.S. conglomerate Citi, is returning to Mexican ownership.

“Fernando Chico Pardo’s investment demonstrates his confidence in Banamex’s future and the development of its current strategy to continue growing across all lines of business and advancing its digital and operational transformation,” Citi CEO Jane Fraser stated in a written statement.

The purchase is still subject to regulatory approvals in Mexico and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.

In its statement, Citi said that Chico Pardo will be appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Banamex, while Manuel Romo will remain as CEO.

“We are very committed and happy to be part of Banamex, an iconic institution in Mexico with a very promising future,” Chico said. “We have a lot of confidence in the team and will continue working closely on the transformation they have already started.”

Chico explained that they want to prioritize digitalization with special focus on client satisfaction during every point of interaction between the customer and the banking institution.

“Our long-term commitment is to work together to achieve better positioning in all areas and thereby further boost sectors, companies and people throughout the country,” Chico stressed.

The news of Chico’s investment comes three years after Citi announced its plans to divest from the bank and exit consumer banking in Mexico.

As part of Citi’s divestment from Banamex, the spin-off of Banamex and the U.S. conglomerate was finalized at the end of 2024, resulting in two independent financial groups in Mexico: Grupo Financiero Citi México and Grupo Financiero Banamex. Citi will focus on corporate and institutional banking, while Banamex will serve consumer banking. The U.S. bank’s strategy is to focus on large corporations, while a portion of Banamex will be sold on the stock market through an initial public offering (IPO).

Fraser explained that Citi continues to work towards an initial public offering (IPO) for Banamex, which is expected to take place late this year or in 2026.

Who is Fernando Chico Pardo?

Fernando Chico Pardo, is the eighth wealthiest person in Mexico with a fortune valued at US $2.8 billion, according to Forbes’ 2025 ranking of the wealthiest people in the country.

He has served on the boards of Grupo Financiero Inbursa, Condumex, Grupo Carso, Sanborns Hermanos, Sears de México and Grupo Posadas. Since 2005, he has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASUR, an international airport operator with a portfolio of concessions to operate, maintain and develop 16 airports in Mexico, Colombia and Puerto Rico.

With reports from El Economista and El País

The joys of buying your furniture at La Lagunilla market in Mexico City

By

Andrea Fischer

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September 25, 2025

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La Lagunilla market in Mexico City — Mexico City is the capital of nostalgia. Where else in the world is there a Sunday market dedicated to antiques, ranging from the 16th century to the Space Age of the 1960s? (Wikimedia Commons/Alejandro Linares García)

I’ve had a very close relationship with Mexico City’s Historic Center ever since I was a child. From my first time at Mercado de Sonora, at the early age of 7, to learning how to ride a bike in Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, some of my dearest childhood memories were collected in the Cuauhtémoc borough.

When I was in middle school, my mother started teaching at Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, so I often accompanied her to work and took two-hour-long strolls to the Zócalo and back. On Sundays, after Mass at some 17th-century Baroque church, my family never missed the chance to visit La Lagunilla market.

Map of Tenochtitlán's ancient lakes — La Lagunilla market was founded on the shores of one of Tenochtitlán’s ancient lakes. (Wikimedia Commons/UNAM)

My father was rather reluctant to go, but he almost always gave in. Everyone falls for the mysterious charm of a market selling Bauhaus furniture and pieces by Rafael Coronel (potentially real, potentially fake) side-by-side, scattered on the street, eventually. But what exactly is La Lagunilla, and what can you find there?

What exactly is La Lagunilla market?

Present-day Mexico City was built on a lake — actually, on a set of five lakes. In pre-Columbian times, what is now known as the Valley of Mexico was divided into several ancient bodies of water: Texcoco, Chalco, Xochimilco, Xaltocan and Zumpango. Although “their boundaries were fluctuating and unstable,” notes the UNAM Institute of Historical Research, “they did not constitute a single body of water but rather distinct basins.” This is also why Mexico City is so prone to flooding during the rainy season.

La Lagunilla — or “little lake,” in Spanish — was a distinct, separate lake from the greater ones in the Valley of Mexico. That’s where she got her name, originally. Today, however, it could easily be described as the Mexican version of a flea market, or tianguis.

Tianguis and traditional Mexican markets have, indeed, been around for a long time, especially in the area. Archaeological remains show that the present-day Plaza de las Tres Culturas held one of the largest markets in Mesoamerica, dating back to 1337. La Lagunilla market, however, is not as ancient as the ‘little lake’ after which she was named.

Underground ruins suggest La Lagunilla was established as a residential and working-class neighborhood around the 16th century. At that time, the area was “used to receive and unload canoes arriving at the giant and famous Tlatelolco market, just to the west (of the area).”

Once the Tlatelolco marketplace dissolved, merchants migrated to this place, right in the vicinity of their previous workplace. Impressively enough, La Lagunilla continued to receive merchant canoes and trajineras until the early 20th century. In the 1950s, however, the last lake was artificially dried up, and the ancient merchant families moved in to found their own residential neighborhood.

What can one find at La Lagunilla market?

There is no official area or square footage that defines La Lagunilla. In fact, there are parts where the barrio bravo of Tepito and the antiques market not only adjoin, but also merge and blend into one another.

However, what locals often refer to as Mercado de la Lagunilla is bordered by Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, República del Perú and Tenochtitlán (of course, Tenochtitlán) streets, in the Guerrero neighborhood of Mexico City. On a Sunday morning, one can easily take the Reforma route on a bike and get there in 30-40 minutes. One block east of the monument to José de San Martín, on Paseo de la Reforma, you’ll find the heart of this Sunday flea market.

To date, per La Jornada newspaper, La Lagunilla market houses over 5,000 stands, with roughly 17,000 people earning a living from the Sunday market. On a regular weekend, merchants in the area receive 100,000 clients from Mexico City and abroad. What exactly can one find at the Sunday market? Honestly, the sky’s the limit.

First edition books, lithographs allegedly signed by Leonora Carrington, LP records, Van Beuren desks and mid-century bedroom sets: all of this (and really, so much more) is available at La Lagunilla market. Everything and anything that screams antiquities is on sale. I even remember finding a Space Age dining room set, which my grandmother must have seen at a department store when that style was fashionable. You can also find Fender bass guitars and jukeboxes from the 1960s, if you’re lucky.

Is it safe to visit La Lagunilla market?

My mother used to say that even Mexico City natives are foreigners when it comes to Tepito and its neighboring areas. And it’s true. It is called barrio bravo for a reason, after all. It is also “common knowledge” that local merchants take care of their customers, especially on Sundays, when they can sell entire living room sets — or “authentic” Diego Rivera’s — for 12,000 pesos on average.

There is no sugar coating it: Tepito and the surrounding areas can be very dangerous. Although there has been a heavy tourism wave to the area in recent years, visitors should not arrive after dark. La Lagunilla market is really a sight to be seen, but try arriving before noon — to avoid the crowds — and leaving before dusk.

La Lagunilla market CDMX — It’s a Mexico City classic hack to buy your furniture in La Lagunilla market if you’re finally moving out and are on a budget. (Wikimedia Commons/Alejandro Linares García)

Also, try not to wear anything fancy. Sweatpants and a simple T-shirt will do. No jewelry, of course, and no iPhone 18 (or whatever this year’s model is). All of these warnings could suggest that the La Lagunilla market is not safe to visit.

This is not the case: again, merchants take care of their customers. However, to visit consciously and responsibly, avoid diving too deep into the Tepito area. This way, you’ll be able to focus on refurnishing your new CDMX apartment, or buying a magnificent Kodak Brownie camera that still works.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

Where to find real estate in Mexico by personality type

By

Ian Ostroff

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September 25, 2025

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Mexico City homes — What does wanting to live in Mexico City say about you? Find out in our real estate personality test. (Wikimedia Commons/VV Nincic)

Mexico has 32 states and probably hundreds of places to choose from when shopping around for a home. From beach towns to big cities, there’s something for everyone. But a part of understanding where you’d like to live in Mexico is being honest with yourself and knowing where your interests lie. It’s in moments like these that taking a personality test may be an effective way to decide which part of Mexico speaks to you most. You know what they say: it’s an idea so crazy that it just might work.

The Big 5 personality traits outline a person’s common characteristics and how they are influenced throughout their life. Everyone falls under one of the following categories: openness, consciousness, extraversion, agreeableness or neuroticism.

It turns out your personality can also indicate the kind of energy you’re most attracted to. If you’ve always dreamed of moving to Mexico but don’t know where, we’ve got you covered. The answer to this question may surprise you (it definitely surprised me)!

Openness: San Cristóbal de las Casas

This is the personality trait I scored the highest on,. It defines people who are creative, curious, and open to new experiences. It can also indicate someone’s openness to intellectual knowledge and risk-taking, including adventures outside of their comfort zone.

If you’re like me, San Cristóbal de las Casas may be where you feel most at home. In the heart of Chiapas, it’s surrounded by nature, beaches and waterfalls. I like all these things, particularly the image of chasing a new waterfall every weekend and going on hikes to find local beaches.

San Cristóbal is also filled with history, from well-preserved colonial architecture and the yellow San Cristóbal Cathedral to museums and flea markets that sell artisanal gems that would fit well in anyone’s living room.

At first, I wasn’t sure if this Mexican pueblo was a good fit for me. But then, I thought about it. No, San Cristóbal wouldn’t have been my first choice to buy property. Yet it is a new place to discover. If that’s not the making of an expat adventure, I don’t know what is.

Consciousness: Huatulco

Huatulco, Oaxaca — Huatulco is rich in culture and traditional values, with affordable prices for houses and condos. (Wikimedia Commons/ProtoPlasma Kid)

Oaxaca has grown to become my favorite state in Mexico over the last 3 years. From the food in Oaxaca City to the waves in Puerto Escondido for surfing, there’s a lot for me to see and explore there. In my experience, Oaxaca is a part of Mexico that stays true to tradition and is rich in communities, whether it be among locals, expats, or a mixture of both. Since those who fit into consciousness value stability and appreciate order, Huatulco might be the perfect choice to find your dream home.

It’s also reasonably priced if you look at the condos available to purchase in this beach town. Properties are between US $185,000 to $300,000, which is pretty good compared to other parts of Mexico.

From the delicious flavors of Oaxacan cuisine, the rich traditions of Day of the Dead and consistently good weather, you can’t go wrong here.

Extraversion: Mexico City

Mexico City at night — Mexico City is no place for introverts, at least according to our real estate personality expert. (Unsplash/Oscar Reygo)

Social events, lots of restaurants, museums, shopping malls and hip neighborhoods alone would attract most people to Mexico City. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, and I never have a shortage of fun things to do, people to meet, family to get tacos with, and new experiences to be had. I always find a new tour or meet up with a friend of a friend who knows of a good bar to watch a football match.

But I’m also what is called an ambivert, a mix between an introvert and an extrovert, depending on who I’m surrounded by or where I am in the world. Sometimes, I need to recharge my social batteries. If I’m being honest, I’d need a beach trip at least once every 3 months if I were to live in Mexico City.

That isn’t the case with those who fall under extraversion. In fact, the results indicate you’ll thrive in a place like Mexico City, where something cool is always happening.

From historic neighborhoods like Condesa to modern suburbs in Interlomas, you’ll find a variety of different condos and houses. Naturally, it’ll be better to live within Condesa, Coyoacán, or even Polanco if you’re looking to meet new people and be within walking distance to parks, social meetups and events. But if you have a family and want to be somewhere quieter, areas like Contadero and Santa Fe will be the safest bet.

Agreeableness: Tulum

Tulum, Mexico aerial view — If you’re an agreeable sort, you’d probably love living in Tulum, Mexico. (Unsplash/Spencer Watson)

The definition of agreeableness applies to those who love environments that foster trust and shared purpose. It may not be the most traditional or culturally appealing part of Mexico, but if you’re an expat looking to connect with like-minded people, I can’t think of a better location to call home than Tulum.

Tulum is notorious for being expensive, and I recently learned that property there has the highest acquisition cost in the Riviera Maya at 4%. Luxury apartments and penthouses there can also be well over half a million dollars. It has come a long way from being the quiet fishing village it once was 20 years ago.

However, when I visited Tulum five years ago, it had island vibes and a close-knit atmosphere that made it a draw for digital nomads and entrepreneurs.

I also noticed yoga retreats and spiritual healing workshops that provided a safe space for people to get to know each other through shared activities. If you want a good balance of an expat adventure and being surrounded by foreigners that make you feel at home, Tulum may be the place to be on the market for a condo. But for obvious reasons, I’d suggest hiring an independent real estate agent to help find something in your ideal price range.

Neuroticism: Bacalar

Bacalar, Quintana Roo — Bacalar is a relaxing place to live … even if you’re a little neurotic. (Unsplash/Max Harris Brassil)

My favorite little beach town in Mexico. It’s one of those places that may not be as mainstream as Cancún or Playa del Carmen. However, once you know about it, you’ll want to make sure it remains a secret.

If you’re partial to excellent food, boat rides, swimming, peaceful walks, and not many tourists, then you’ll love Bacalar. It also happens to be the perfect location to move to if your personality trait is neuroticism.

Bacalar is a small town that is the definition of a getaway destination. People who score high on neuroticism tend to be prone to stress and anxiety. Everything that an overrun tourist or expat hub may cause for those who prefer to be away from the bustling streets of Mexico City or the energy in Tulum. Bacalar is more laid-back and also quite affordable. It’s possible to find several properties in the US $130,000-$300,000 range here.

My advice is to purchase something before tourism begins to surge and home prices skyrocket. If you ask me, Bacalar has the potential to become one of Mexico’s next hot destinations.

What are your personality traits?

Of course, a personality test isn’t the only factor involved in buying property in Mexico. It may not be your sign to move to a certain place within the country, but it should be one of many reasons to chase the perfect version of your best life.

What are some of your unconventional ways to map out the location of your ideal Mexican dream home? Let us know in the comments below.

Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist, and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café, or anywhere within Mexico, visiting family and friends.

Sheinbaum denies security policy shift after US ambassador praises ‘bold change’: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped

By

MND Staff

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September 24, 2025

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Sheinbaum 24 September 2025 — Sheinbaum argued there is no "rupture" with AMLO's security approach or a "new strategy" on Wednesday. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

The federal government’s security strategy and water concession irregularities were among the topics President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Wednesday morning press conference.

Here is a recap of the president’s Sept. 24 mañanera.

Sheinbaum responds to US ambassador’s praise for her security strategy

A reporter noted that the United States Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson commented on the Mexican government’s security strategy on Tuesday.

Johnson, who was sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Mexico in May, said that the Sheinbaum administration has made a “bold change” in security strategy in Mexico by ramping up operations against drug cartels.

His remarks came during a conference in Washington, D.C., organized by The Heritage Foundation and the America First Policy Institute.

There doesn’t appear to be any publicly available video or transcript of Johnson’s remarks, but according to a Reforma newspaper report, the ambassador spoke positively about security collaboration between Mexico and the United States, and declared that “a new era of cooperation between our governments” has commenced.

Johnson also compared the current security strategy in Mexico to the “more passive” approach of the administration led by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), who championed a so-called “hugs, not bullets” strategy.

Asked about the ambassador’s remarks on Wednesday morning, Sheinbaum rejected that her government has made major modifications to the security strategy of AMLO’s administration.

Sheinbaum responde a embajador de EU: ¡No se pondrá en contra de AMLO!

Watch this video on YouTube

“You already know that when they want to differentiate us, we don’t allow it because we are a project,” she said, a tacit acknowledgement that the current Morena party government represents continuity with the previous Morena party government.

“There is an intention, I don’t know whether it is of the ambassador, I’m not going to attribute it to him, … but there is an intention of the commentators from … [Mexico] to create the condition so that I could say: ‘No, we are different,'” Sheinbaum said.

“What are they looking for? A division within our movement,” she said, referring to the Morena party and the so-called Fourth Transformation political project she leads.

“There will never be that because, in addition, we recognize the work of [former] president López Obrador in all its magnitude,” Sheinbaum said.

“… I wouldn’t say there is a distinction [in security policy]. Rather, we made the decision for there to be greater investigation and intelligence from the Ministry of Security and Civilian Protection,” she said.

“… The attention to the causes [of crime] continues,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the “hugs” aspect of the security strategy implemented by AMLO, which includes welfare payments and social programs.

She also said that there is now “perhaps greater coordination” on security issues between authorities of different levels of government.

“It’s a next stage [of the security strategy],” Sheinbaum said, adding that there are no grounds to say there is a “rupture” with AMLO’s security approach or a “new strategy.”

“We’re simply strengthening certain areas that we felt needed to be strengthened,” she said.

Since early in Sheinbaum’s administration, there have been claims that her government is abandoning the “no bullets” part of AMLO’s strategy because it appears to be more prepared to fight fire with fire, so to speak, as it seeks to combat drug cartels and the narcotics they transport to the United States.

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the United States’ pressure on Mexico to do so has intensified, and Sheinbaum — who is determined to protect trade with the U.S. as much as possible — is widely considered to be receptive to U.S. demands, although she stresses that she always acts in Mexico’s best interests and frequently defends Mexican sovereignty.

In addition to arresting over 30,000 alleged perpetrators of high-impact crimes in the past year, the Mexican government has seized large quantities of narcotics, dismantled clandestine drug labs, confiscated more than 16,000 firearms and sent 55 cartel figures to the United States to face justice.

Omar García Harfuch and Claudia Sheinbaum — Sheinbaum, along with Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, has taken major strides to improve security during her first year in office. (Cuartoscuro)

Murders are down and data on drug seizures and migrant arrests at the Mexico-U.S. border indicate that the quantity of narcotics being shipped north, and the number of migrants attempting to enter the U.S., have declined.

While the United States continues to impose so-called “fentanyl tariffs” on imports from Mexico that don’t comply with USMCA rules, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Mexico City earlier this month that the current security cooperation between the United States and Mexico is the “closest … we have ever had, maybe with any country.”

In contrast, the United States’ former ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, asserted last November that the “hugs, not bullets” security strategy failed, and blamed AMLO for a breakdown in bilateral security cooperation. Salazar was ambassador for more than three years while Joe Biden was in the White House.

‘You can’t do everything in 6 years’

A reporter asked the president how the number of “inconsistencies” in water concessions in Mexico was able to grow to more than 52,000, a figure cited by a senior National Water Commission (Conagua) official in an interview with the newspaper El Universal.

Conagua’s deputy director for water management, Mauricio Rodríguez Alonso, said that the federal agency had detected cases in which water was being exploited by people whose concessions were no longer valid, as well as cases in which water was being used for purposes unrelated to the applicable concession.

Sheinbaum said that during a period of “many years,” previous governments “didn’t want” to put the concessions “in order.”

Inside Conagua’s quest to eliminate water theft in Mexico

She said that AMLO told her that his government didn’t have the time to do a lot of things he would have liked to have done.

“Just imagine, 36 years of neoliberalism, plus the corruption that came before,” Sheinbaum said, referring in the first instance to the period between 1982 and 2018.

“You can’t do everything in six years,” she said.

“So we, I, took the decision, when we arrived to put the concessions in order. And the truth is that [Conagua director] Efraín [Morales], Mauricio and the entire [Conagua] team has done an extraordinary job,” Sheinbaum said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Chinese manufacturer Intretech opens US $60M Nuevo León plant

By

MND Staff

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September 24, 2025

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Factory in Nuevo León — The new facility, Intretech’s first in Mexico, is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs in the region. (Samuel García/ X)

Chinese tech manufacturer Intretech recently inaugurated a US $60 million plant in the northern state of Nuevo León. The new facility, Intretech’s first in Mexico, is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs in the region.

Intretech, founded in 2011, specializes in smart manufacturing, including products such as automotive rearview mirrors, hearing aids, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and navigation systems.

Intretech Mexico Board President Linden Lin was joined at the plant’s inauguration ceremony by Nuevo León Gov. Samuel García and Economy Minister Bestabe Rocha, and Apodaca Mayor César Garza Arredondo. (Samuel García/X)

The new plant is located in the municipality of Apodaca, near the state capital of Monterrey. It joins the company’s three existing global facilities in China, Malaysia and Hungary.

Joining Intretech executives at the opening ceremony were Nuevo León Governor Samuel García, state Economy Minister Bestabe Rocha and Apodaca Mayor César Garza Arredondo.

“We are a strong economy, which is why we continue to be the epicenter of nearshoring in Mexico,” Governor García said. “As we welcome companies like Intertech, we tell them: ‘You weren’t wrong. You’re betting on the best state, and your dollars will multiply.’”

Intretech Mexico Board President Linden Lin thanked the state government and the municipality of Apodaca, adding that the state plays an important role in the strategy of the new industrial park. He noted that given its location in Nuevo León, the new facility will help the area serve as a crucial manufacturing hub and will enhance the efficiency of Intertech’s services across the continent.

Commenting that Intretech’s arrival shows his municipality’s leadership in Nuevo León, Apodaca Mayor Garza said, “We celebrate the arrival of Intretech as a demonstration of our city’s economic power, which generates one in three jobs in Nuevo León and one in two manufacturing jobs.”

Nuevo León has historically led industrial development in Mexico. According to official figurres, the state had received in 2025 US $3.03 billion in foreign direct investment as of Q2, a figure that represents a 13.9% growth compared to 2024.

With reports from Datoz

Mexico’s leading role at the world’s largest tourism fair will include a ‘Taco Challenge’

By

MND Staff

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September 24, 2025

1

tacos on a plate — The rules are yet to be disclosed, but it's known that the Taco Challenge will consist of combining Spanish and Mexican ingredients in the traditional taco. (Frankie López/Unsplash)

Mexico has set the table for its upcoming role as partner country at the world’s largest tourism fair by announcing a “Taco Challenge.”

The event will be part of a record-breaking showcase planned by Mexico for when it takes center stage at FITUR 2026 — which stands for Feria Internacional del Turismo, or International Tourism Trade Fair, always held in Madrid, Spain.

Josefina Rodriguez — Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez stressed that in addition to a valuable cultural exchange, Mexico’s partnership in the 2026 Fitur is a chance “to consolidate strategic markets and reinforce our international presence.” (Fitur/X)

The challenge, announced this week by Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez, will fuse Spanish and Mexican ingredients and be judged by chefs credited with helping Michoacán cuisine earn UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage recognition.

The fair, slated for Jan. 21-25, will feature a huge Mexico pavilion and a delegation of more than 800 people representing each of its 31 states and Mexico City.

The size of the pavilion — 1,780 square meters of display area along with an office — will make it the biggest ever presented at FITUR by any country from the Americas.

The 2026 fair will be the 46th annual FITUR, which continued in person even during the COVID-19 pandemic (the 2021 edition was moved from its usual January slot to May and held with safety measures).

Beyond the exhibition floor, Mexico plans to infuse the city of Madrid with elements of its national culture. The lineup will include lucha libre wrestling, water parades featuring the brightly colored boats that ply the canals of Xochimilco, massive alebrije sculptures, concerts, catrina processions, and fashion shows with traditional textiles.

Mexico will also spotlight the relatively new Maya Train and the country’s role as a co-host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer. Its pavilion will include a section for the soccer tournament’s three host cities in Mexico: Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara.

And then there’s the Taco Challenge, which will focus on adding ingredients from Spain into traditional Mexican tacos, resulting in unique creations meant to highlight both countries’ gastronomy — while also generating buzz.

Specific details such as the exact rules, participating chef lineup and judging criteria are expected to be revealed closer to the event.

The promotion comes amid growing momentum for Mexican tourism, which welcomed 47.4 million international visitors from January through June 2025, up 13.8% from the year prior.

In August, President Claudia Sheinbaum said that the Tourism Ministry is aiming to establish Mexico as the fifth most-visited country in the world by 2030, from sixth position at present. Mexico was also the sixth most-visited in 2018.

The United States, Canada, and Argentina remain the main sources of visitors to Mexico, so officials are excited to expand their country’s presence in Europe — and open up people’s eyes that there are destinations beyond Cancún.

FITUR 2025 drew more than 250,000 attendees from 156 countries. The partner country was Brazil.

With reports from El Debate, Reportur.mx and Aristegui Noticias

Billionaire Ricardo Salinas pays US $25M bond to avoid incarceration in New York

By

MND Staff

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September 24, 2025

3

Billionaire businessman Ricardo Salinas, one of Mexico’s richest people, posted a US $25 million bond in the United States to avoid arrest over a debt some of his companies owe to the telecommunications company AT&T, according to a Bloomberg report published on Tuesday.

Grupo Salinas, a conglomerate headed up by Salinas, confirmed in a statement that it had paid a bond, but didn’t refer to the amount.

AT&T building — In August, Masley ordered Salinas to “either pay AT&T $20 million within two weeks or be jailed until he did so,” Bloomberg reported. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

Bloomberg reported that Salinas — the owner of companies including electronics retailer Elektra, Banco Azteca and TV Azteca — and his companies “posted a joint $25 million bond” before the expiration of a two-week deadline set by Judge Andrea Masley of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

In August, Masley ordered Salinas to “either pay AT&T $20 million within two weeks or be jailed until he did so,” Bloomberg reported.

The dispute between Salinas and AT&T stems from AT&T’s purchase of Salinas’ Mexican telecom business in 2014. In 2020, AT&T sued Salinas, “alleging it was owed money over unpaid taxes dating back to previous ownership,” according to Bloomberg.

“Salinas’ companies disputed this but lost, and were found to be in contempt of court,” the news agency reported.

“When that finding of contempt also failed to recover payment,” Masley “found Salinas personally to be in contempt” and thus ordered him to make the $20 million payment, Bloomberg reported.

“The previously unreported order also included Francisco Borrego, a top Salinas operative who serves as the general counsel to his companies,” Bloomberg reported.

“… Salinas and his companies posted a joint $25 million bond before the two-week deadline set by Masley, but are also appealing the ruling. A representative for Grupo Salinas did not respond to a request for comment,” stated the news agency’s report.

Grupo Salinas expressed confidence that the “definitive ruling” will be “favorable to us.”

A section of the court order demanding that Ricardo Salinas pay his debt or face incarceration. (@mrochabrun/X)

Marcelo Rochabrún, Bloomberg’s bureau chief in Peru and the author of the report, shared on social media the final page of Masley’s court order from August.

It states that Grupo Azteca, Banco Azteca, Salinas and Borrego are “in contempt of the court’s Turnover Order” and “are fined “$20 million jointly and severally.”

It also says that Grupo Azteca, Banco Azteca, Salinas and Borrego “shall pay the $20 million within 14 days of the date of this order [Aug. 12] or Salinas and Borrego shall be incarcerated until such time as they either pay the entirety of the penalty resulting from this decision or they comply with the Turnover Order.”

Sheinbaum weighs in

President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has accused Salinas and his companies of failing to pay billions in taxes allegedly owed in Mexico, was asked at her Wednesday morning press conference whether her government had information about the bond Salinas posted.

“The information we have is that which everyone knows about,” she said.

“We don’t have specific information,” Sheinbaum said, adding that her government is requesting more details, presumably from authorities in the United States.

She said that Salinas sold his telecommunications company — Grupo Iusacell — “with debts to tax authorities.”

Sheinbaum accused the 69-year-old businessman of committing fraud in the sale of his telecommunications company to AT&T. She asserted that he sold the company (for US $2.5 billion) “without informing all the conditions of the sale.”

Salinas launches counterattack accusing Sheinbaum of lying about ex-security minister’s extradition

On Wednesday morning, Salinas responded to Sheinbaum’s remarks in an X post in which he referred to her as “la presidente” instead of the correct “la presidenta.”

“La presidente, instead of defaming me, should explain to the Mexican people how it’s possible that in the transfer of the criminal accomplice of @adan_augusto, the criminal Hernán Bermúdez, it took 33 hours to bring him from Paraguay to Mexico,” he wrote.

The extradition flight of former Tabasco security minister Hernán Bermúdez from Paraguay to Mexico on Sept. 17 took over 24 hours. (SENAD Paraguay/Cuartoscuro)

The post referred to Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández and the man who served as his security minister when he was governor of Tabasco between 2019 and 2021. Bermúdez, who is currently in a federal prison in México state, is accused of heading up a criminal group called La Barredora.

Salinas’ post included a video of Sheinbaum’s remarks at her press conference that was posted by another X user, who asserted that “there is no evidence of the supposed “$25 million bond in New York.”

On Tuesday night, Salinas had appeared to deny that he had paid a bond in the United States.

“The information that spokespeople of @JesusRCuevas circulated today about a supposed payment to the USA is nothing more than another disinformation campaign of the 4T,” he wrote on the X social media platform.

Jesús Ramírez Cuevas is President Claudia Sheinbaum’s coordinator of advisors. The 4T, or Fourth Transformation, is the name of the political project Sheinbaum leads.

In its statement, Grupo Salinas said that it was “deeply” concerned that the Supreme Court of the State of New York had declared “highly respected foreign citizens” — Salinas and Borrego — to be in contempt of court.

Those two people “haven’t been part of the trial,” the conglomerate said.

Later, Grupo Salinas posted a follow-up statement titled “Lying Has a Cost,” declaring that the conglomerate would pursue a defamation lawsuit due to harassment from President Sheinbaum.

“Once again, we are being used as a distraction to divert public attention and prevent discussion of what is truly important: the highly unusual nine-hour stopover in Chiapas, where, coincidentally, former President López Obrador resides, of the plane that transported Hernán Bermúdez Requena,” the statement reads.

According to available flight information, the airplane returning Bermúdez to Mexico made two layovers before arriving in Toluca, the capital of México state, on the evening of Sept. 18. After departing Asunción, Paraguay, on Sept. 17, flight XB-NWD spent 12 hours in Bogota, Colombia, before making an additional six-hour layover in Tapachula, Chiapas.

The statement from Grupo Salinas also accuses the former and current administrations of mentioning its CEO on over 200 occasions just during morning press conferences.

With reports from Bloomberg

Mexico’s Olmeca refinery awarded 3rd place at the International Project Excellence Awards

By

MND Staff

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September 24, 2025

1

Olmeca refinery entrance — Often referred to as Las Bocas for its location on the Gulf Coast, the Olmeca Refinery was inaugurated in 2022 and began production in 2024. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

The Olmeca refinery, Pemex’s recently activated crude oil processing plant in the southern state of Tabasco, won third place in the megaproject category at the 2025 International Project Excellence Award granted by the International Project Management Association (IPMA).

The award, presented on Friday in Berlin, Germany, places the Pemex (Petróleos Mexicanos) project among the most outstanding worldwide.

AMLO at Olmeca 2024 — Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador attended the August 2024 initiation of production at his flagship energy project, the Olmeca refinery, just weeks before the end of his term. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

The Olmeca refinery, also known as Las Bocas for its location at the Port of Las Bocas in the southern Gulf Coast municipality of Paraíso, competed with more than 150 large-scale projects from around the world and was recognized for its best practices in planning, technological innovation, and execution capacity.

The first two places went to the French company Alstom for the Wanda Zhonghe Shulin Line project, and the Chinese company CNOOC for the Daxie Petrochemical Refining project.

Pemex said IPMA’s recognition underscores the refinery’s importance as a strategic project for Mexico’s energy sovereignty.

Some of the fuel produced by the Olmeca refinery includes Pemex Magna gasoline, Pemex Premium gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), eco-friendly diesel (EDE), coke, sulfur, LP gas and propylene.

According to Pemex, Olmeca is the only refinery in Mexico that produces eco-friendly diesel, supplying the Yucatán Peninsula and strategic projects like the Maya Train.

However, since going online in August 2024, Olmeca has yet to reach its processing capacity of 340,000 barrels per day across 17 state-of-the-art processing plants. According to Pemex, the refinery processed 156,200 barrels of crude oil per day during July, down 18.4% compared to the previous month.

State oil company Pemex is drowning in debt. Can the Sheinbaum administration save it?

Production is expected to gradually increase to 158,000 barrels of gasoline per day and 122,000 barrels of diesel per day, strengthening the country’s fuel market.

Olmeca was one of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s flagship projects, officially inaugurated on July 1, 2022. The more than two-year delay in starting operations has been blamed on technical problems, poor performance and environmental roadblocks.

The project was controversial from the start, and seen by many as a symbol of López Obrador’s reluctance to embrace clean and renewable energy sources. But Olmeca came in for its heaviest criticism when huge overruns more than doubled its cost to US $20 billion from the budgeted US $8 billion. According to the Mexican Institute of Chemical Engineers (IMIQ), that figure makes it one of the most expensive refineries in the world.

With reports from El Financiero, La Jornada, El País and Energy and Commerce

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