Aguascalientes is committed to greater local content in exports to the United States: Teresa Jiménez

To address the current economic reality, a result of the new market rules imposed by the U.S., Aguascalientes is implementing a strategy based on replacing foreign products with locally manufactured products; linking small and medium-sized businesses to leading companies—such as those in its powerful automotive sector—and diversifying the various economic sectors, according to the governor of that state, Teresa Jiménez Esquivel.

"Aguascalientes will not stop"; we will continue to be a state where, in addition to guaranteeing security and certainty for investment, we also guarantee productivity by providing a highly qualified workforce, which implies a strong commitment to quality education in universities and higher education centers, he explained in an interview.

For the president, the goal is clear: to maintain the entity's position as one of the top states in attracting Foreign Direct Investment, which, she emphasizes, continues to flow.

He said that during his administration, 60 investment announcements have been made, totaling more than 46 billion pesos, primarily from Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United States, and Turkey, which has helped maintain the state's economic growth.

Productive chain

For the governor, the current adverse economic outlook represents an opportunity for Aguascalientes to take important steps toward economic diversification, productive linkages, and addressing issues such as job insecurity.

The need for companies exporting to the US to incorporate a greater number of local components to reduce the tariff burden has become an opportunity for the state's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become part of supply chains, for example, for automakers, which are the largest players in the state.

To this end, the state government is implementing a credit program for SMEs that has channeled more than 2 billion pesos in loans over the last year and a half.

The president mentioned that her administration launched the Supplier Development Program, which offers training, support, engagement, financing, certification, and technical development to meet the requirements needed to supply large purchasing companies, especially in the automotive sector.

New international market conditions offer entrepreneurial opportunities for university and technological institute graduates who have the knowledge to generate the components that the industry demands.

Economic diversification

According to Jiménez, during his nearly three years in office, efforts have been made to diversify the economy. For example, the agricultural sector has sought to capitalize on its status as a very important dairy region. Egg producers have increased their sales in the US, and a significant portion of agricultural production is sold in the American market.

There is a commitment to irrigation technology. Last January, the state government signed an agreement with Conagua (National Water Commission) that will allow for the development of projects to modernize Irrigation District 001 Pabellón, the first fully modernized irrigation system in the country. 450 million pesos are being invested to modernize irrigation on 1,900 hectares, benefiting 1,700 producers.

In recent years, there has been progress in subsectors such as the wine and grape industries. There are currently 25 wineries producing around 200 brands of wine and table grapes. In the textile industry, producers receive support through the Aguascalientes Financing System.

Training professionals with quality education

The governor emphasized that for Aguascalientes to remain a leader in attracting foreign investment, it must maintain its highly qualified professional offering. Therefore, quality education is a priority, and she emphasized that Aguascalientes ranks second in the country with the most universities per capita, and the Aguascalientes Institute of Technology has the highest number of engineering graduates nationwide.

New buildings are being built at this institute, where engineers specializing in semiconductors and electromobility will be trained, a commitment from both the state and federal governments. Support is also being provided to the training of new talent at the Polytechnic University. "We want it to be not just a matter of going to school, but rather a matter of attending a quality school; we want our young people to compete with the world and achieve top positions."

Instruments for development

Jiménez Esquivel emphasized that Aguascalientes remains an attractive investment destination because it has the right conditions for wealth generation. For example, it has a major logistics hub with connections through two railroad companies (Kansas and Ferromex), which enable connectivity with the ports of Manzanillo, Colima, and Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, as well as with the United States. Aguascalientes also has an international airport and cargo terminal, which is currently expanding; an inland port; and 27 industrial parks.

He emphasizes that this entity guarantees investors access to electricity, especially clean energy, and water.

"We believe in clean energy and we believe in water reuse. We've already implemented reforms to ensure all companies have access to water reuse.

He says that the State Energy Agency is working to ensure the availability of clean energy transmission lines. We're working to ensure that substations are located in the appropriate locations, in industrial areas, so that they don't run out of power.

Furthermore, his administration's strategic projects include mobility from working-class areas to the city center, industrial parks, and educational centers, which include new urban transportation systems and road maintenance; increasing better-paying employment, which is linked to academic preparation so that young people can access much better-paying jobs, for example in the fields of new technologies; an ambitious social housing program; and maintaining security conditions for the population and investment.