Background on Víctor Gabriel Chedraui and His Role
Víctor Gabriel Chedraui serves as the head of Puebla’s Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico y Trabajo (Sedetra). His department is responsible for fostering economic growth and job creation in the state. Chedraui’s recent statements highlight Puebla’s current industrial land situation and its implications for attracting new businesses.
Current Land Situation and Future Plans
According to Chedraui, Puebla currently has 630 hectares of land designated for industrial use, which are considered adequate for the current six-year administration period. These hectares are spread across public and private industrial parks, territorial reserves, and the Valle de la Tecnología y Sostenibilidad (formerly known as Ciudad Modelo) in San José Chiapa.
Strategic Importance of Land Use
Chedraui emphasized that any new industrial parks must be strategically located to attract businesses. He warned against creating “white elephants” – large, unproductive industrial facilities that fail to generate revenue.
COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Industrial Development
The pandemic caused a temporary halt in investment plans, preventing the immediate occupation of these 630 hectares. Chedraui mentioned that the state government is currently regulating existing industrial lands before planning for further expansion.
Promoting Industrial Zones in Municipalities
Sedetra is actively promoting industrial zones in Ahuazotepec, San Martín Texmelucan, and Tehuacán, which currently operate at only 30% of their capacity. Chedraui expressed optimism that these areas could see increased industrial activity in the near future.
Legal Certainty and Service Improvements
Chedraui also highlighted the government’s commitment to providing legal certainty for businesses regarding land acquisition. Additionally, there are plans to enhance public services in existing industrial parks, particularly those over 30 years old, to ensure their attractiveness for potential investors.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current land situation in Puebla for new industries? Puebla has 630 hectares of land available for new industries, distributed across public and private industrial parks, territorial reserves, and the Valle de la Tecnología y Sostenibilidad.
- Why isn’t the government acquiring more land for industry? The existing 630 hectares are deemed sufficient for the current administration period, and the focus is on regulating and optimizing the use of these lands before expanding further.
- Which municipalities is the government promoting for industrial development? Sedetra is actively promoting Ahuazotepec, San Martín Texmelucan, and Tehuacán for industrial growth.
- What are the challenges in attracting new businesses? Challenges include ensuring strategic land use, providing legal certainty for investors, and improving public services in existing industrial parks.
