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Announced investment in Mexico in 2024 so far totals over US $45B

By
MND Staff
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DHL worker in Mexico moving boxes on an conveyor belt in a warehouse
DHL ranks third in the largest investment announcements in Mexico so far this year. The company is making a push to expand its reach in Latin America via hubs in Mexico, like this one at Felipe Angeles International Airport in México state. In its annual Global Connectedness Report for 2024, DHL highlighted Mexico as a major hub for Latin American logistics. (Octavio Hoyos/Shutterstock)

In the first six months of 2024, private companies announced plans for more than US $45 billion in investment in Mexico, according to the federal Economy Ministry (SE).

The SE said in a report that private — mainly foreign — companies made 143 investment announcements for Mexico between Jan. 1 and June 30.

Infographic in Spanish from Mexico's Economy Ministry listing the top countries who have announced private investments in Mexico between January and June 2024 and which 10 Mexican states received the largest percentages of investment by monetary value. The US, Germany and Argentina are the top three investing countries and Queretaro is the top recipient of investment
A look at which countries were responsible for the largest total value of announced investments in Mexico between January and June 2024 and which states will benefit. (Economy Ministry)

In those announcements, companies outlined plans to invest a total of $45.46 billion in Mexico, with just over half of the money earmarked for manufacturing projects.

The SE said it expects the money to flow into Mexico in the next two or three years.

The amount private companies have committed to invest in Mexico so far this year exceeds the total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico in 2023, by more than $10 billion.

Mexico’s FDI totaled $36.06 billion in 2023, while companies made investment announcements last year that together amounted to $110.74 billion.

Where will Mexico’s new investment come from, and where will it go?

The SE said that United States companies made investment announcements for Mexico totaling $21.94 billion in the first six months of the year. That amount accounts for 48% of the total investment announced from January to June.

German companies committed to investing $6.79 billion in the country, or 15% of the total, while Argentine firms announced plans to invest $4.39 billion, or almost 10% of the total.

Germany was the country with the second highest amount of investment between January and June of 2024, after the United States. An example is Volkswagen, which recently announced an investment of nearly US $2 billion into its Puebla plant. (Volkswagen AG)

U.S., German and Argentine companies together accounted for just under three-quarters (73%) of the more than US $45 billion total investment announced for Mexico between Jan. 1 and June 30.

The SE said that 53% of the $45.46 billion is destined for the manufacturing sector.

Projects to build beverage, automotive, auto parts, and iron and steel plants accounted for 85% of the $24.23 billion in manufacturing investment announced to June 30.

Based on the investment announcements made so far this year, the next biggest recipients of capital inflows will be the following sectors:

  • Commerce: earmarked to receive $6.87 billion, or 15% of the total
  • Transport: $5.13 billion, or 11% of the total
  • Mass Media: $4.96 billion, or 11% of the total
  • Construction: $2.08 billion, or 5% of the total
  • Energy: $1.33 billion, or 3% of the total

Among Mexico’s 32 federal entities, Querétaro is set to be the biggest recipient of investment announced by companies in the first six months of 2024. Just over $6.35 billion, or 14% of the total investment, is destined for the Bajío-region state.

The next biggest recipients will be:

  • México state: $4.68 billion, or 10% of the total
  • Nuevo León: $4.12 billion, or 9% of the total
  • Puebla: $2.64 billion, or 6% of the total
  • Coahuila: $2.1 billion, or 5% of the total

Over half of the investment (52%) is earmarked for just seven states — the five listed above plus Sinaloa and Aguascalientes.

Three-quarters of the investment announced so far this year will go to 15 federal entities, while the other 17 will share the remaining 25%.

Chiapas woman making yellow woven textiles on a hand loom
Incoming economy minister Marcelo Ebrard noted that 2024’s foreign investment figures had good news for Mexico’s historically disadvantaged southern states. An example of these southern states is Chiapas, probably known more for its agriculture and cultural exports than for attracting manufacturing or technology investment. (Alan de la Cruz/Unsplash)

How many jobs will the new investments create?

The SE said that 62,940 new jobs are expected to be created as a result of the $45.46 billion in investment announced so far this year.

Just over 45% of that number — more than 28,400 jobs — are expected to be concentrated in the automotive sector, Mexico’s top earner of export revenue.

More than 8,000 new jobs are expected to be created in Coahuila, more than any other state. The northern border state is set to receive just 5% of the total investment announced between January and June, but 13% of the jobs created from that investment will be concentrated there, according to the SE.

San Luis Potosí and Nuevo León are slated to be the next biggest beneficiaries in terms of job creation, with 8,048 and 5,757 positions, respectively, expected to be added.

What were the largest Mexico investment announcements between January and June?

The largest investment announcements for Mexico in the first five months of 2024 were those made by:

  • Coca-Cola bottler and convenience store owner FEMSA: $9.96 billion.
  • Amazon Web Services: $4.96 billion.
  • DHL Supply Chain: $4 billion.

FEMSA, the owner of the Oxxo chain of convenience stores and 17 Coca-Cola bottling plants in Mexico, among other assets, said in February that its outlay would go to “organic growth initiatives in our key businesses.”

Amazon Web Services announced in February that it would open a cluster of data centers in Querétaro.

Incoming economy minister: investment climate in Mexico is “very good”

Marcelo Ebrard, who will be the nation’s economy minister in the incoming administration to be led by Claudia Sheinbaum, noted on Tuesday that between January and June, private companies committed to invest “around $46 billion” in Mexico.

“It’s a very high figure if it’s compared with what has historically been the rate of foreign investment in Mexico,” he said, adding that the investment announced is not just for projects in the north and center of the country but for the south as well.

Mexico’s southern states have been historically ignored by investors in comparison to the nation’s other regions.

“… The investment climate we have is very good, perhaps the most optimistic we’ve seen so far this century,” Ebrard said.

Mexico News Daily 

Why this Mexican misfit loves Mexico

By
Louisa Rogers
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Louisa Rogers and Barry Evans
Even if you think you might not fit in with Mexican life, this country can always surprise you, says Louisa Rogers. (Louisa Rogers)

Is Mexico a good place for everybody? Sometimes I find myself wondering, “Do I really belong in Mexico?.” Loud music, crowds, nationalistic parades, and sunshine most days are not my thing. Unlike the Mexican indirect communication style, I much prefer to ir al grano (get to the point) and am usually in bed by 9:00 pm. Mexican food is ok, but I prefer Asian. 

So how did an outlier like myself fall in love with Mexico?

Guanajuato military parade
Soldiers parading through the streets can sometimes feel like an overt display of nationalism and a stark reminder that you are out of your comfort zone. (Maxwell)

A few months ago, I had an experience that answered my question. I was on my way to a friend’s home in Guanajuato, the UNESCO World Heritage site in central Mexico where my husband Barry and I live part of the year. Strolling along one of the city’s maze-like callejones (alleys), I passed several kids kicking a ball. It hit a corner next to me, and to my amazement, I kicked it back. They shrieked; I grinned. They weren’t expecting a woman the age of their abuelitas to play ball, a gringa no less. The ball bounced near me again. I kicked it hard, and we all raced after it, laughing. “Fun!” I thought. Divertido. Still laughing, I waved goodbye and headed on my way.

I don’t often find myself kicking balls around with kids like a goofy eight-year-old. That evening when I told my husband about it, Barry said, “You laugh more in Mexico. You’re lighter and friendlier.” After living in Guanajuato part-time for twenty years, I wonder if I’m, well, a nicer person. I’m certainly less argumentative and defensive. More playful. 

Is it being around Mexicans, or is it Spanish? Studies suggest that speaking in another language brings out different qualities in a person. Novelist Isabel Allende thinks so: “I live in California — in English — but I can only write in Spanish. In fact, all the fundamental things in my life happen in Spanish, like scolding my grandchildren, cooking, and making love.”

I never thought learning a language would bring out dormant parts of me, but with Spanish, I get to be someone else for a change, instead of my same old English-language brand, the one I’ve been living with for so many years. Photos of myself as a kid show me laughing and being silly, but that gradually lessened as an adult. I enjoyed my work as a training consultant, but owning a business in Silicon Valley was highly competitive, and in order to succeed even moderately, I had to be focused and serious. I constantly worried about my persona and how I came across. While leading the seminars themselves was great fun, marketing my business was very stressful.

Banda musicians in Mazatlán
As a relatively quiet Californian, the bustle of Mexico’s streets can be overwhelming sometimes – but somehow it’s perfect. (Dania Robles/Cuartoscuro)

When I began learning Spanish in Mexico, something about the vocabulary and the sounds lightened my spirit. Spanish has certain words I love to use that I simply can’t express in English. Rincón literally means a corner, but it could be a nook, a niche, or a feature — like the altars of Guadalupe, Guanajuato’s patron saint, which turn up every so often on callejones. Or ojalá, a word of Arabic origin, meaning “if it be God’s will,” and more commonly, “hopefully.” I can’t imagine saying “if it be God’s will” in English.

As for the subjunctive, the Spanish learner’s curse, I now enjoy it so much that I seek opportunities to use it. The subjunctive expresses uncertainty, doubt, and the unknown. In English, I diligently trained myself to be the complete opposite: assertive, direct, and “certain-sure,” as we used to say as kids. Don’t mess with me; I am woman, hear me roar! But in Spanish, it’s a different story, a place where I willingly surrender to unpredictability and mystery.

I once asked a Spanish teacher if the subjunctive was used more by women than men. He was surprised by the question, but after considering it, said yes. I wasn’t surprised. Traditionally, women are conditioned to speak in a placating way, using an upward inclination at the end of a sentence and asking questions like “Could you…” “Would you mind if…” and “If it’s not too much trouble…” While my English-language self would run like hell from the uncertain subjunctive, my Spanish self courts it.

Meanwhile, the rhythm and sounds of Spanish are sheer music. When I hear Spanish vowels spilling out of me like a cascade, I feel lyrical, mellifluous. Other times I sound like a rolling train whose wheels clackety-clack on the tracks of Spanish consonants.

I’ll always be loyal to English. I love its richness, its Euclidean bluntness, its fusion of Germanic and Latin. English is the language of my birth, my family, my roots. But I have space in my heart for more than one language, and Mexican Spanish is the gift that transports me not just to new worlds, but to a new self.

Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are on her website, https://authory.com/LouisaRogers

President-elect Sheinbaum announces new business advisory council

By
MND Staff
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Claudia Sheinbaum standing at a podium with her name on it with her hands out before her, palms up, as she addresses reporters outside in a courtyard. To either side of her are Altagracia Gomez Sierra and Marcelo Ebrard, looking on.
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, center, announced yesterday that her administration will create a special business advisory council that will better connect her government to Mexican and international business interests. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has announced the creation of a business advisory council for her presidency that will focus on regional development and Mexico’s nearshoring opportunity.

The Advisory Council for Regional Development and the Relocation of Companies will be headed up by businesswoman Altagracia Gómez Sierra and function as a link between the private sector and the incoming government led by Sheinbaum, who will take office on Oct. 1.

A man and a woman sitting side by side at a conference banquet table bent toward each other in conversation.
Sheinbaum’s new business advisory council will be headed up by businesswoman Altagracia Gómez Sierra, seen here on June 19 with Eduardo Osuna, director general of BBVA bank’s business and government banking division, at the annual meeting of Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

“It’s a council of businesspeople that Altagracia will coordinate and which will be in contact with” government ministers, Sheinbaum said Tuesday after meeting with foreign and Mexican financial industry executives at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Conference, which — for the first time ever — was held in Mexico City.

Sheinbaum said that incoming economy minister Marcelo Ebrard, current and future finance minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O and soon-to-be energy minister Luz Elena González will be among the government officials that will collaborate with the advisory council.

Sheinbaum also said that the council will provide a forum for her to engage with Mexican businesspeople.

Gómez, chairwoman of corn flour company Grupo Minsa, will lead “a council linked to the private sector, to encourage private investment associated with regional development and the relocation of companies,” Sheinbaum said.

The 32-year-old businesswoman — who was included on Forbes magazine’s 2024 list of the 100 most powerful women in Mexico — is already working for the president-elect’s transition team in a role focused on nearshoring investment and regional development.

Sheinbaum didn’t reveal who else will be on the council Gómez will lead, only saying that the members will be “various businessmen and businesswomen.”

Claudia Sheinbaum at the Internationnal Monetary Conference at a podium in front of a screen projecting a six-step investment plan for her incoming government.
Sheinbaum’s administration has pledged to identify 10 specialized regions across Mexico. In each, investment by certain business and industrial sectors would be prioritized. (Claudia Sheinbaum/Cuartoscuro)

After meeting with CEOs of major banks including BBVA, Scotiabank México and the Bank for International Settlements, Sheinbaum also told reporters that “there is a lot of interest in investing in Mexico,” where foreign direct investment is on the rise as companies expand their existing operations or relocate here as they seek to shorten supply chains and in some cases reduce their reliance on Asian countries, especially China.

“We have a lot of enthusiasm for the next six years,” Sheinbaum said, adding that her government’s aim will not just be to attract business investment but to ensure that money flowing into Mexico leads to development across the country and generates “well-being” for all Mexican people.

“We spoke [to the bank executives] about shared prosperity, which is the central axis of what our government will be in the next six years,” she said.

“… We spoke about our development project for the country … and the infrastructure we’re going to develop,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the construction of new highways and railroads, among other plans.

Sheinbaum is also planning to create 10 “specialized” industrial corridors across Mexico, each of which will prioritize foreign and Mexican investment in different sectors.

“We have a lot of enthusiasm about the role Mexico will play in the coming years,” the president-elect said Tuesday, noting that the USMCA trade pact and “other international agreements our country has” make Mexico an attractive place to invest.

Ebrard, who also met with the bank CEOs, said that the reception to the incoming government’s regional development and investment plan was “very positive because it’s very definite, very specific.”

“… The investment climate we have is very good, perhaps the most optimistic we’ve seen so far this century,” he added, noting that companies made investment announcements for Mexico in the first half of 2024 that together totaled more than US $45 billion.

Sheinbaum also spoke to bank leaders about other aspects of her administration’s agenda, including its energy and water plans. The president-elect has pledged to invest more than US $13 billion in a renewables-focused energy plan, and is also committed to making water use “much more efficient” and building new water infrastructure, including aqueducts and dams.

The availability of water and electricity in Mexico is among the top concerns of foreign and Mexican investors. Other concerns include insecurity, potential disrespect for the rule of law and lack of infrastructure.

Closeup photo of Marcelo Ebrard
Sheinbaum’s incoming economy minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said that the IMC’s members responded well to Sheinbaum’s regional development and investment plan. Mexico’s current investment climate is “perhaps the most optimistic we’ve seen so far this century,” he said. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Seeking to calm concerns over a proposed judicial reform that Congress will consider later this year, Sheinbaum said last month that investors in Mexico have “nothing to worry about,” and that “their investments in Mexico are safe, obviously within the framework of our laws.”

The Mexican peso depreciated sharply after she won the June 2 presidential election in a landslide and a coalition led by the ruling Morena party secured large majorities in both houses of Congress that put it in a strong position to approve a raft of constitutional reforms.

However, the peso has now recovered some of the ground it lost, and was trading at 17.83 to the US dollar at 11 a.m. Mexico City time.

With reports from El Financiero, El Universal, El Economista, El País and Reforma 

How soccer and AI helped Indigenous artisans create a masterpiece

By
Bethany Platanella
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Mexico soccer jersey
The national team may not have scored big at the Copa America, but an unlikely partnership between Mexican soccer, AI and Indigenous women has created an invaluable lifeline for rural artisans. (Adidas)

The ever-burning question that sits atop the mind of any creative these days is this: Is artificial intelligence a friend or foe?

For Antonio Nuño, CEO and co-founder of Someone Somewhere, AI is more than a friend. It’s a best friend. Without it, he may not have landed the once-in-a-lifetime partnership that most creators only dream of – designing the home and away jerseys for the Mexican National football team. What’s more, the jerseys would be released during Copa America, football’s second most-coveted tournament after the FIFA World Cup. 

A Mexico soccer jersey being stitched
An AI-generated design for the Mexican national soccer team helped Antonion Nuño score big. (Adidas)

Using AI-generated imagery, Nuño and his design team came up with two prototype jerseys for the potential use of Mexico’s National football team. Each jersey showcased over 100 meters of colorful embroidery that would, in theory, be applied by female artisans based in Naupan, Puebla. As soon as the team let the image of these jerseys loose on the internet, it went viral, hitting over 1 million views and reaching the far depths of the sports world. 

The next day, Adidas called. A call that’s surely any fashion designer’s dream come true.

Employees from Adidas Mexico didn’t just see the video, they saw the interest it generated. They wanted to collaborate on a special collection of jerseys to celebrate Mexico’s participation in Copa America

In order to do so, Someone Somewhere invited several of its most talented embroiderers to participate in the project, including Cata and Cristina. Both ladies reside in Sierra Norte de Puebla and learned their craft at a young age through their mothers, grandmothers, and cousins. 

 

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Decorating the jerseys was no simple task – the artists dedicated 11 hours of their time to hand-embroider each and every jersey, a symbol of the 11 players representing Mexico at the Copa America.

“I’m proud to embroider the jerseys for Mexico’s National football team. When I told my family, they didn’t believe me. It’s an important job,” Cris told Fox Sports Mexico.

“It’s incredible to know that the Mexico National football team’s jerseys have a bit of our tradition, so the world can know what we’re capable of. We realized we have the ability to accomplish what we set out to do,” said Cata. 

According to Periódico Central, the regions of La Sierra Negra and Sierra Norte are the poorest in Puebla State, with half to 92.3% of inhabitants living in extreme poverty. This means lack of critical access to social security, public transportation, viable infrastructure, and basic housing, education, and jobs. Artisanship is often the only way to make money and find purpose. And with many artisans living in such remote villages with unreliable transportation, it can be hard to reach the right customer base.

For those artisans that do leave to earn minimal wages as street vendors, they’re often faced with dirty and sewage-ridden working conditions. They’re not afforded the luxury to skip a day of sales, even during heavy rain or extreme heat. To top it off, local governments in cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara are known for imposing strict regulations on street vendors that, when broken, often result in hefty fines or confiscation of their products.

Which is why these special edition jerseys are so much more than just football. The project serves as a powerful platform to enable Mexican artisans to display their talent in front of an international audience. 

It’s not bad PR for Someone Somewhere, either, whose mission is “to lift millions of artisans and industrial workers out of poverty, while taking care of our planet”.  The Mexico City-based fashion brand currently works with over 200 artisans in the mountains of Puebla, each of whom is listed on their website, along with a short bio and personal contact information. 

Moreover, the company is committed to engaging in only the most ethical and sustainable practices, utilizing recycled fabrics and incorporating technology where applicable to enhance the production process. According to their 2023 sustainability report, Someone Somewhere generated more than 700,000 hours of work for artisans, upscaled more than 90,000 kgs of textile waste, and mitigated 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

A little reminder that perhaps AI isn’t so bad, after all.

Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.

Canada returns 257 archaeological artifacts to Mexico

By
MND Staff
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The pieces were voluntarily returned by Susana Zarco Carón, a Mexican citizen who has lived in Canada since 1968.
The pieces were voluntarily returned by Susana Zarco Carón, a Mexican citizen who has lived in Canada since 1968. (INAH)

Mexico has repatriated 257 archaeological artifacts that were turned over by a Mexican citizen residing in Montreal, Canada, according to a statement by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

These pieces were voluntarily returned by Susana Zarco Carón, who has lived in Canada since 1968. A restitution ceremony was held at the Consulate General in Montreal on Monday, where Consul General Montreal Víctor Treviño Escudero thanked Mrs. Zarco for helping reintegrate the heritage pieces with Mexico.

After thoroughly analyzing the pieces, the INAH confirmed the Mexican origin of the artifacts. According to the INAH’s statement, 256 pieces are movable archaeological monuments from various Mesoamerican civilizations belonging to the Classic period (200-900 AD) and the Postclassic period (1200-1521 AD). The one remaining piece is of “historical nature.”

It is unknown how Mrs. Zarco acquired these pieces.

The artifacts will add to the more than 13,500 items recovered by Mexico as part of the #MiPatrimonioNoSeVende initiative (My Heritage is Not for Sale). This new initiative is part of the current administration’s mission to reclaim, safeguard and promote cultural heritage that has been unlawfully taken from Mexico. The majority of these reclaimed artifacts have been discovered in the United States, followed by Spain and Italy. 

“This campaign helps to reduce collecting through looting while encouraging the appreciation of our heritage,” the INAH has said. 

So far this year, Mexico has retrieved 30 artifacts from Los Angeles, 22 from Philadelphia and 35 from Seattle. The latest recovery included artifacts originally from the Cintalapa region in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico.

Besides Canada and the United States, Mexico has recovered cultural heritage from The Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Italy, among other countries. 

Mexico and Canada have maintained diplomatic relations since 1944. This year, the two countries are celebrating the 80th anniversary of such a milestone with a range of events, including a photographic exhibition inaugurated by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly during her visit to Mexico City in late June.  

Mexico News Daily

San Miguel de Allende is Travel + Leisure’s best city in the world

By
MND Staff
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10
San Miguel de Allende panorama
A panoramic view of San Miguel de Allende, Travel + Leisure's best city in the world for 2024. (Shutterstock)

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, has been voted this year’s best city in the world by Travel + Leisure’s readers. 

Travel + Leisure asks readers every year to weigh in on their top travel experiences around the globe, including their favorite hotels, resorts, cities, spas, airlines and more. More than 186,000 readers completed the survey this year, casting over 700,000 votes for over 8,700 places and experiences.

San Miguel de Allende is Travel + Leisure's 2024 best city in the world
One Travel + Leisure reader described San Miguel as “unbeatable in every category.” (Shane Lei/Unsplash)

Cities were specifically rated on criteria that included sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and overall value. Respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average or poor for each category.

San Miguel got stellar results, with one reader describing it as “unbeatable in every category.” Another voter noted that “the food was totally amazing, the city was clean [and] the people were very friendly and helpful.” 

Up from the No. 5 spot last year, San Miguel de Allende has consistently ranked as one of the top cities to visit in international travel and tourism industry rankings. Previously, it was named world’s best small city by Condé Nast, a trending destination for 2024 by American Express and best destination in Mexico by TripAdvisor. Last year, Condé Nast also included San Miguel de Allende in its list of the 32 best places to spend Christmas. 

“Known for its stunning architecture — most notably, the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel — food, and art scene, the city is a cultural hub that marries old and new,” Travel + Leisure wrote.  

Upon receiving the recognition, the Guanajuato Tourism Ministry released a statement congratulating all residents of San Miguel and its tourism sector.

After San Miguel de Allende, the top five best cities in the world for 2024 are Udaipur, India (No. 2), Kyoto, Japan (No. 3), Hoi An, Vietnam (No. 4) and Chiang Mai, Thailand (No. 5).

Readers also chose San Miguel de Allende as the best city in Mexico, followed by Oaxaca, last year’s winner for best city in the world. Mexico City came in at No. 3, followed by Mérida at No. 4 and Guadalajara at No. 5.

One reader described Oaxaca as an “incredible place with incredible people,” while another called the city “beautiful and historic.” Mérida, Yucatán’s capital, was praised as an LGBTQ+ friendly destination, also famous for its cenotes and Maya culture. Mexico City was recognized for its mix of history, nightlife, dining and arts, while Guadalajara was hailed for its culture, atmosphere and “exceptional cuisine.” 

According to Travel + Leisure, Mexico is hard to beat for readers when it comes to popular vacation spots. “The country is famous for its warm hospitality, rich and varied culture, and crave-worthy cuisine — backed by a complex history and beautiful natural landscapes, from ancient ruins to pristine beaches.”  

Mexico News Daily

Sheinbaum confirms plans for passenger railway expansion in Mexico

By
MND Staff
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0
Sheinbaum aims to double the 1,500 kilometers of passenger train infrastructure established under the current government.
Sheinbaum aims to double the 1,500 kilometers of passenger train infrastructure established under the current government. (Martín Zetina/Cuartoscuro)

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has unveiled her administration’s plan to continue developing passenger train services in Mexico, expanding the country’s railway network by 3,000 to 3,500 kilometers. Much of this expansion will occur in the north.

“We have made the decision to continue building trains,” Sheinbaum said at a press conference on Monday. “Now we are going to head north.”

Claudia Sheinbaum, AMLO and Mara Lezama sit in a car of the Maya Train.
Sheinbaum said the new construction will follow the model used for the Maya Train — a blend of military engineering and private company oversight. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)

Her announcement followed a weekend in which Sheinbaum, who will assume office Oct. 1, took two rides on the Maya Train with outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Sheinbaum said she is committed to continuing the AMLO-initiated infrastructure advancements and focus on reviving passenger trains, which includes the yet-to-be-completed Maya Train that traverses the Yucatán Peninsula.

The objective of her plan, which aims to double the 1,500 kilometers of passenger train infrastructure established under the current government, “would be to put [the train] out to tender in 2024, in order to be able to build it in 2025, with the available resources,” she said.

One of the routes would connect Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, via the cities of San Luis Potosí and Monterrey, Nuevo León. Nuevo Laredo is just seven kilometers south of Laredo, Texas, across the United States border.

Sheinbaum said the train projects will follow the model used for the Maya Train — a blend of military engineering and private company oversight. More than 18,000 kilometers of railway tracks that were privatized by former President Ernesto Zedillo in the 1990s will be evaluated for some of the new routes, Sheinbaum added.

The former mayor of Mexico City emphasized that her administration’s National Infrastructure Plan will not only extend passenger train routes but also enhance freight transport connectivity as part of Mexico’s strategic push to attract and promote investments.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at a conference.
In addition to passenger train travel, Sheinbaum seeks to increase freight connectivity as part of Mexico’s strategic push to attract and promote investments. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

According to Sheinbaum’s plan, which is based on President López Obrador’s decree in November making passenger trains a priority for national development, the routes under consideration for passenger and freight services include:

  • Mexico City to Querétaro to León to Aguascalientes
  • Mexico City to San Luis Potosí to Monterrey to Nuevo Laredo
  • Mexico City to Querétaro to Guadalajara
  • Manzanillo to Colima to Guadalajara to Irapuato
  • Mexico City to Querétaro to Guadalajara to Tepic to Mazatlán to Nogales

Other possible passenger routes include:

  • Mexico City to Puebla to Veracruz
  • Aguascalientes to Chihuahua to Ciudad Juárez

Other possible freight routes include:

  • Mexico City to Veracruz to Coatzacoalcos
  • Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) to Pachuca
  • Guadalajara to Tepic to Mazatlán to Nogales
  • Aguascalientes to Chihuahua to Ciudad Juárez

Sheinbaum’s plan also seeks to consolidate and expand current train projects, including the Maya Train and the Interoceanic Train. The latter, designed to connect the Gulf of Mexico with the Pacific Ocean, still requires two significant interconnections: a link to the Dos Bocas refinery in Tabasco, and the extension of the Maya Train to Puerto Progreso, Yucatán.

In 2018, the initial cost of the Maya Train was estimated at around 150 billion pesos (US $7.4 billion at the time), but the costs have mushroomed to approximately 480 billion pesos (US $26.8 billion based on current exchange rates).

With reports from Proceso, El Financiero and Forbes

More than maple syrup: Canadian food companies are expanding in Mexico

By
Felipe Sanmiguel
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4
Mexico flag and Canada flag
Canadian foods have made inroads in Mexico via the Canadian government's Export Development Council. (Shutterstock)

It is easier for Canadians in Mexico to find their main staples and favorite products on shelves in Mexico than ever — from classics like maple syrup to ice cream, cookies, chips and a lot more.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into force 30 years ago, updated recently to the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement (CUSMA), and has helped develop strong trade ties in agribusiness among other sectors, including the automotive and aerospace industries.

Signage advertising Canadian products in Soriana
Canadian foods and flavors can be found in Soriana supermarkets across Mexico. (Courtesy)

One of the places where Canada and Mexico showcase their deep connections in the agribusiness segment is in the Mexican supermarket chain Soriana.

Soriana started as a small Mexican family-owned business in 1905 and is the perfect example of growth and transformation in Mexico. With over 800 stores, Soriana is the second-largest retail company in the country. Soriana’s stores currently offer top quality Canadian products, each with their own great story.

For example Top Glaciers, a Quebec company founded in 2016 by four of the top master glaciers in the city.

With 50 employees in their newly renovated factory, they have invested in developing innovative machinery while maintaining their primary focus: a pure artisanal recipe and traditional know-how.

Top Glaciers ice cream
Top Glaciers is one of the Canadian treats now available in Mexico. (Courtesy)

Top Glaciers currently produces more than a hundred frozen desserts, all sweetened with pure maple syrup. Top Glaciers is now one of the most recognized frozen desserts in Canada.

This year, Top Glaciers will be exporting to Mexico for the first time and their products will be in Soriana’s freezers.

Another example is Three Farmers — a small company from Saskatoon with a passion for farming and a strong belief that high quality, fresh and healthy foods should be available for everyone.

Three Farmers is a women-led business that has been closing the gap between rural and urban living.

Three Farmers chickpeas
Three Farmers is another Canadian brand coming to Soriana’s shelves. (Courtesy)

Through sustainable methods, they grow and roast chickpeas, one of the most used plant-based proteins in the world. In 2018, Three Farmers began collaborating with Soriana to offer healthy snacks to consumers in Mexico.

A third example is Daiya Foods, a pioneer company of plant-based, dairy-free products from British Columbia. Daiya’s name means mercy, kindness, and compassion in Sanskrit. For over 17 years, Daiya Foods has been a leading company in vegan cheeses, and their promise goes beyond the super-melty cheeses, offering pizza margherita, cream cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese in Soriana’s freezers as well as meatless pepperoni pizzas and other vegan products.

Soriana currently collaborates with over 60 Canadian agrifood companies that never imagined they would end up exporting their products internationally, thanks to its mature relationship with Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada’s export credit agency, and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.

Sabores de Canadá display at a Soriana supermarket
A “Sabores de Canadá” display at a Soriana supermarket. (Courtesy)

Through the EDC’s Business Connection Program, we have been working with Soriana to help those Canadian exporters bring Canadian goods to Mexican grocery stores. Since 2017, the two Canadian agencies have introduced almost 400 companies to Soriana through EDC’s exclusive Business Connection program for helping meet the demand from international companies looking for Canadian innovation and expertise. The goal in this program is to enable more trade for Canada as a whole and seize the opportunities for Canadian businesses to export, trade and immerse in the Mexican market.

This year the EDC is celebrating its 80th anniversary, and as a Crown corporation fully owned by the Government of Canada, we truly believe in our mission in Mexico. We have been present for over 20 years, with offices in Mexico City and Monterrey. In a search for long-term partnerships, along with EDC, Soriana is committed to offer the consumers in Mexico the best Canadian products on their shelves.

Whether you are a Canadian in Mexico looking for comforts from home, or just want to try a bit of what makes Canada special, we encourage you to be part of these Canada-Mexico trade connections.

This article is part of Mexico News Daily’s “Canada in Focus” series. Read the other articles from the series here. 

Felipe Sanmiguel is the Business Development Director and Country-head for Mexico for Export Development Canada.

Sinaloa Cartel security chief arrested in northern Mexico

By
MND Staff
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Men in handcuffs in a horizontal line in front of a military passenger jet standing among Mexican soldiers
In Tamazula, Durango, Monday, Mexico's military arrested a man identified only as Luis "N," who authorities said is the security chief for the Gente del Guano (GDG) faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. He was arrested with three other men believed to be GDG operatives.

An alleged drug cartel member identified as the security chief for the brother of convicted Sinaloa Cartel drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera was arrested in northern Mexico on Monday after a shootout that reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least four people.

Luis “N” — the alleged head of security for Aureliano “El Guano” Guzmán Loera — was detained during an operation carried out by the army and the National Guard in the region where the states of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua meet.

AI image extrapolation of what Aureliano Guzman Loera would look like today
The original target of the military operation that captured the alleged Sinaloa Cartel security chief known as “R8” was R8’s boss, Aureliano “El Guano” Guzmán, seen here in this AI-assisted extrapolation of how he would look today. US authorities say El Guano, allegedly the head of the Gente del Guano Sinaloa Cartel faction, operates drug operations throughout Mexico’s “Golden Triangle.”

The operation was reportedly aimed at capturing Guzmán, who authorities say leads a Sinaloa Cartel faction called Gente del Guano (GDG), or Guano’s People. The older brother of “El Chapo,” Aurealiano is wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States, where authorities are offering a reward of up to US $5 million for information leading to his arrest.

Federal sources told the Milenio newspaper that Luis “N,” allegedly known as “El R8,” was arrested in the municipality of Tamazula, Durango. Three other alleged criminals were also detained, according to reports. Their identities are unknown, but it is believed they are affiliated with GDG.

The arrests reportedly occurred after a confrontation between security forces and armed civilians near the border between Tamazula and the Sinaloa municipality of Badiraguato, Guzmán Loera family’s hometown. At least four alleged criminals were killed in the clash, and five others were wounded, according to reports.

Authorities haven’t confirmed those deaths or commented publicly on the four arrests in northern Mexico.

Luis “N,” whom the news media outlet Mileno identified as Luis Enrique Rivera Rocha, and the other detained suspects were transferred by helicopter to an Air Force base in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and subsequently flown by Air Force plane to Mexico City, where they were placed in the custody of the Federal Attorney General’s Office.

According to Milenio, authorities accuse Rivera — as Aureliano Guzman’s alleged security chief — of being the main instigator of violence in the drug-producing region of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua known as the Golden Triangle. He is linked to various homicides, and the attempted murder of members of the Los Chapitos, a Sinaloa Cartel faction led by sons of “El Chapo” Guzmán.

Wanted poster of US Justice Department showing an old black and white photo of Aureliano Guzman and vital details and information about him
Aureliano Guzmán, the older brother of jailed Sinaloa Cartel head Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, is also wanted by U.S. authorities. (US Department of Justice)

Aureliano Guzmán’s GDG is reportedly involved in a dispute with Los Chapitos and another Sinaloa Cartel faction led by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

According to the U.S. Department of State, Aureliano Guzmán’s criminal group “can be classified as a poly-drug organization responsible for growing, cultivating, producing, manufacturing, and transporting poppy, marijuana, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel.”

In a 2021 statement announcing the reward of up to $5 million for information leading to El Guano’s arrest, the State Department said that Aureliano Guzmán’s drug trafficking organization is based out of the town of La Tuna, in Badiraguato municipality, but “operates drug grow operations and drug production facilities throughout various locations within what is referred to as Mexico’s ‘Golden Triangle’.”

It noted that a federal grand jury in the District of Arizona returned a superseding indictment against Aureliano Guzmán in November 2019, “charging him with four counts related to an international conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, in violation of federal law.”

The State Department also said that a federal grand jury in the District of Arizona returned a separate superseding indictment against Guzmán in February 2020, “charging him with an additional two counts related to the international distribution of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.”   

His brother, El Chapo, was found guilty in a U.S. court on drug trafficking charges in early 2019. In July 2019, El Chapo was sentenced to life in prison and subsequently transferred to the Florence Supermax penitentiary in the state of Colorado.

With reports from Milenio, Proceso, Radio Fórmula and Infobae

3 migrants reported killed and 14 injured in trailer accident on Sonora highway

By
MND Staff
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A trailer accident in Sonora involving migrants left 14 injured.
A trailer accident in Sonora involving migrants left 14 injured. (Screenshot)

Three migrants were reportedly killed and another 14 confirmed to be injured when a tractor-trailer overturned in an accident along Federal Highway 15 in Sonora on Monday.

The accident occurred at kilometer 82 of the highway, just south of the municipality of Navojoa, after the trailer crossed the southern border with the state of Sinaloa. Multiple publications reported the deaths of the three migrants, but Sonora authorities had not issued a statement confirming any casualties as of 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The news site López-Dóriga.com reported that the truck hit “a structure” on the side of the highway, causing the driver to lose control. The tractor-trailer spun off the highway and overturned near the village of Estación Luis, Sonora.

A report by the news site Infobae said that there were at least 130 migrants in the truck’s semi-trailer, which reportedly was carrying the migrants to the United States border. The accident occurred about 670 kilometers south of the U.S. city of Nogales, Arizona.

Videos posted to social media showed that the first people on the scene — travelers on the highway — struggled to open the back of the trailer that had come to rest on its right side alongside the road. One video published by Infobae showed victims being helped through holes in the top of the overturned trailer before authorities arrived.

Initial reports said that the migrants were from Guatemala, though authorities have not confirmed that information. The news website López-Dóriga.com reported that many of the alleged undocumented migrants fled the scene immediately following the accident to avoid being detained by authorities.

Neither the whereabouts of the trailer’s driver nor his condition were known as of Tuesday. Enfoque Noticias reported that the driver had fled the accident scene.

Agents from Sonora’s Civil Protection unit in Navojoa responded to the accident and were joined by officials from Sinaloa as passers-by had quickly notified authorities from both states after encountering the accident.

Paramedics from Navojoa and emergency personnel from Ahome, Sinaloa, attended to the injured. Several of the injured had been trapped inside the damaged trailer. Sonora Civil Protection confirmed that two of the 14 injured migrants were transported to Ahome for treatment while the other 12 were taken to hospitals in Navojoa.

Federal Highway 15 in Sonora is a route favored by those transporting undocumented immigrants to the United States, according to the National Migration Institute (INM). Recent INM operations near the Sonora border towns of Nogales and San Luis Río Colorado have resulted in the detention of hundreds of migrants trying to cross illegally into the United States. 

With reports from El Heraldo de México, El Universal, Infobae and Lopez-Doriga.com

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