LLeón, GTO. – The 2024 Transportation Logistics Forum held in León, Guanajuato provided key perspectives for strengthening the logistics infrastructure in Mexico . During the event, transportation and logistics leaders highlighted the need to renew the infrastructure and professionalize the sector to take advantage of the opportunities of nearshoring .
In this regard, they commented that the relocation of companies promises to position Bajío as a pillar of the global supply chain.
This forum, organized by the Guanajuato Logistics and Mobility Cluster (CLYMGTO) , with the support of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) and the National Chamber of Passenger and Tourism Transportation (Canapat), brought together various business chambers, transportation sector organizations, and local and national authorities.
During the inauguration, Enrique González, president of CLYMGTO, highlighted the urgency of establishing an air hub in Guanajuato . He pointed out that the absence of this infrastructure has generated greater saturation on the region’s roads, since much of the cargo is diverted to the airports of Querétaro and Guadalajara.
He also highlighted that Guanajuato remains the fifth largest economy in Mexico and presents this need that prevents the strengthening of competitiveness in logistics and mobility at a national level.
For his part, Ismael Plascencia, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) Bajío, inaugurated the forum by recognizing the efforts of the entrepreneurs who drive economic growth in Bajío, and reiterated the commitment to improve mobility.
“We are committed to improving the conditions of movement not only of people, but also of goods and merchandise. We have implemented various works that seek to ensure an efficient and safe mobility system in the region,” said Plascencia.
He also acknowledged the importance of having a robust infrastructure to face the logistical challenges that come with increased investment in the region.
One of the central themes was multimodal logistics and how cooperation between the public and private sectors is crucial for Mexico to improve its global competitiveness.
In this regard, Miguel Ángel Martínez Millán, president of Canacar, highlighted the importance of motor transport in the Mexican economy.
“Our industry moves 565 million tons annually and contributes 3.8% of the national GDP, generating more than six million direct and indirect jobs,” said Martínez Millán.
However, he acknowledged that there are still areas of opportunity that the sector must work on to keep up with new trends, especially in relation to international trade.
Another of the most discussed aspects was the role of Bajío in promoting nearshoring . According to data presented at the forum, states such as Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Aguascalientes are in a strategic geographic position to attract investments in the automotive, agri-food and manufacturing industries.
In this regard, Enrique González indicated that 22% of foreign investment derived from nearshoring is expected to reach this region .
“For more than 30 years, companies in the automotive and manufacturing industries have established their operations in the center of the country. Today we need to continue working on the professionalization of the sector, relying on tools such as artificial intelligence, telemetry and big data to meet the needs of our sector,” added González,
He explained that companies must adapt to these technologies to maintain their competitiveness.
In addition, the presentations also highlighted the promotion of clean technologies in transport to reduce environmental impact.
“We must integrate mobility strategies that minimize environmental impact, implementing clean technology in public transport and promoting non-motorized options,” said Ismael Plascencia.
Cruz Isaac Muñoz, Director General of Road and Facility Safety, also highlighted the security challenges in maritime, air, automotive and rail mobility.
The 2024 Transport Logistics Forum laid the groundwork for a future of greater collaboration and development in the Bajío. Sector specialists agreed that professionalization, investment in infrastructure and sustainability are key to taking advantage of nearshoring and consolidating Mexico’s competitiveness on the global stage.
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