It is necessary to create conditions to attract nearshoring: Index Querétaro

Queretaro, Qro. Faced with the transfer of operations to the country, which favors nearshoring, it is necessary to create the conditions to attract these projects that are seeking to relocate, stated the president of the Querétaro Export Industry Association, AC (Index), Enrique Quezada Ojeda.

Although this phenomenon represents a unique opportunity for the growth of the export manufacturingit is necessary to forge scenarios in regulatory matters, public policy, supply of materials, among others, the leader listed.

“Nearshoring (…) is not something that is going to happen automatically, the material, political and regulatory conditions must be created to attract the attention of investors because despite our privileged geographical location, the competition is ruthless,” he stated.

Given the supply relocation process, it is necessary to develop strategies between authorities, academia and civil organizations, said Enrique Quezada, after taking the oath as president of Index Querétaro for the period 2023-2024.

“This implies a conscious and focused collaborative effort with the authorities, academia, civil society organizations and with extensive participation from our membership, which is why we have developed an action plan that seeks to harmonize our efforts to contribute to the industry,” he said.

The next few years, he said, will be challenging for the manufacturing and export industry throughout the country, but particularly in Queretaro; however, he highlighted the growth potential that the nearshoring.

“Together with the complexity of new labor, tax, foreign trade regulations and environmental and sustainability challenges, we have before us a unique opportunity for growth and solidification of the role of export manufacturing,” he added.

According to the state leadership of Index, This trend in industrial investment will have an impact on the development of suppliers, on human capital, among other factors to which are added the new foreign trade, labor and tax regulations.

Attract 99% of relocations 13 states

During 2022, Queretaro captured 1% of the relocation of foreign production centers in Mexico, stated the national coordinator of Index Committees, Humberto Martínez Cantú. Therefore, that year it was one of the 13 states that grouped 99% of the transfers of operations.

Nuevo León attracted 50% of the relocations of foreign plants, Coahuila 11%, Yucatán 8%, Chihuahua and Mexico City with 7%, respectively.

The industrialist highlighted the opportunities of the Mexican market in the face of nearshoring, due to the geographical location and, therefore, the proximity to the United States.

“We have many opportunities in Mexico with the nearshoring, especially since we are so close to the United States. Last year we lacked components to continue assembling, we had delivery times of 11 months, if these companies were here in Mexico we would not have those delivery time problems that we have now due to transportation, ”he explained.

Martínez Cantú spoke of the personnel deficit in the northern region of the country, only in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, the sector has a demand for 6,000 profiles and in Chihuahua for 20,000 people.

Given the requirements of human capital, the Index University was developed, which has the purpose of being a center for the development of state-of-the-art skills and high-impact knowledge, for which he urged that this model be replicated in three states.

Export industry contributes 20% of formal employment

In Querétaro, 5% of the companies adhered to the Program for the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry (IMMEX) reside, added the Secretary of Sustainable Development (Sedesu), Marco Antonio del Prete Tercero.

In the state, he added, more than 115,000 people work in the export industry, representing almost 20% of formal jobs.

Regarding the value of exports, from January to September 2022 it amounted to 12,531.2 million dollars, an annual growth of 17%; He specified that if this trend is maintained, the total closing of 2022 could amount to 16,000 million dollars. The United States and Canada continue as the main export destinations.

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