Nearshoring in Mexico State Enters a Second Phase with Greater Value-Added
The Mexico State’s nearshoring sector is entering a second phase with greater value-added, focusing on sovereignty in supply chains, technology adoption, and sectoral diversification.
Raymundo Tenorio Aguilar, General Director of Industry at the Secretariat of Economic Development (Sedeco), stated to El Economista, “We have already made the leap from pre-industrialization. Today, the most advanced manufacturing plants are in Mexico State, similar to those found in Stuttgart, Germany, or Detroit, USA. The next leap is towards Industry 4.0.”
Tenorio Aguilar explained, “A car is composed of 4,000 parts, at least one-third are imports. The plan is to attract these missing suppliers to create more integrated and resilient productive ecosystems.”
Focus on Medical Devices Sector
The strategy will also focus on the medical devices sector, aligning with the need to attract both manufacturers and industries that supply them, such as plastic injection and specialized materials.
By the first quarter of 2026, “we will present our investment brand for Mexico State at a national level,” said Laura Gonzalez, Sedeco’s head. This effort aims to reposition the state among investors based on an analysis of future strategic sectors.
In parallel, “the pharmaceutical industry’s clustering and creative industries will be announced, fostering an association network that integrates suppliers, universities, and research centers,” Gonzalez added.
New Industrial Phase and Adaptation to Global Trends
These movements are part of an innovation and adaptation phase to new global trends, seeking to intensify the state’s industrialization with new areas such as motorcycle manufacturing, aerospace and aeronautics, data centers, among others.
The launch will formally detail the roadmap for clusters and new industries that the state government will promote as part of its transition to a more diversified and technology-driven economy.
Tariff Plan for Strategic Industries
On Monday, the Secretariat of Economy presented a tariff package to address the trade imbalance with Asian countries that lack free trade agreements, targeting 17 strategic industrial sectors such as textiles, clothing, footwear, auto parts, plastics, steel, aluminum, among others.
The measure aims to protect up to 350,000 jobs in Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Mexico State, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nuevo León, Puebla, and Querétaro.
“Tariffs do not generate income; they protect, via price, national consumption, creating a ‘discouragement’ of not being able to buy a cheaper good from the national market. However, it is temporary, as the goal is to substitute imports,” explained Tenorio Aguilar.
Medium-Term Strategy for Import Substitution
When asked about the timeline for achieving import substitution through clusters, Tenorio Aguilar clarified that it is a medium-term strategy with a five-year development horizon.
“The fundamental direction for Mexico State’s industry from now on is to promote import substitution, even in specialized raw materials, attracting those with the knowledge and technology to produce them locally,” he said.
Beyond traditional sectors, Tenorio Aguilar proposed integrating ‘creative industries,’ such as software for industrial development supporting robotization and quality control, in line with Plan Mexico.
Additionally, the Secretariat of Economy convened a meeting with Development Economics heads from across the country, said Gonzalez before attending, “to discuss this tariff issue, talk about the projects we are planning nationwide, Plan Mexico’s efforts, and Economic Development Poles for Well-being.”
By the third quarter of the current year, the sectors in Mexico State that attracted the most Foreign Direct Investment were construction of communication ways, other manufacturing industries, automobile and truck manufacturing, vehicle parts manufacturing, and pharmaceutical product manufacturing.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main focus of Mexico State’s industrial transition? The primary focus is to promote import substitution, including specialized raw materials, by attracting those with the necessary knowledge and technology for local production.
- What sectors are part of the tariff plan presented by the Secretariat of Economy? The tariff plan targets 17 strategic industrial sectors, including textiles, clothing, footwear, auto parts, plastics, steel, and aluminum.
- What is the goal of focusing on the medical devices sector? The strategy aims to attract both manufacturers and industries that supply medical devices, such as plastic injection and specialized materials.
- What new industries is Mexico State planning to develop? New areas of development include motorcycle manufacturing, aerospace and aeronautics, data centers, among others.
- What is the timeline for achieving import substitution through clusters? It is a medium-term strategy with a five-year development horizon.
