Security, infrastructure, improved customs processes, and specialized training are some of the main challenges Mexico faces in logistics with the arrival of new investments and industrial growth.
During Container Week, organized by the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) , Ignacio Aguado, Director General of Innovation, Services and Domestic Trade at the Ministry of Economy (SE) , stated that the country maintains trade advantages, but has lost 15 positions since 2018 in the Logistics Performance Index , reflecting the need to address the shortcomings that accompany economic growth.
Added to these factors is the logistics cost, which is between 12% and 15%, while in other countries it is 8% , a situation that forces us to improve the efficiency of supply chains.
“We need to be more efficient and more effective. One of the pillars for being more effective and efficient in the logistics sector is infrastructure, technological implementation, streamlining bureaucracy, and security. We need certified talent. Companies with certified, trained employees can reduce errors by 35%, be 28% more effective in terms of time, achieve greater speed, and reduce costs by 30%. But the training isn’t the same as what we provided five or six years ago; it needs to have a focus on technology and artificial intelligence. This is to open our eyes to the urgency of the situation,” he stated.
In his remarks, he noted that the above is important because investment continues to arrive in different regions of the country, particularly in Nuevo León, Coahuila, Veracruz, Tlaxcala and Puebla, where transportation and distribution needs have increased.
According to estimates, the impact of artificial intelligence on global employment will bring a possible disappearance of more than 170 million jobs and the creation of between 80 and 90 million new positions that will demand different skills, he explained.
Given this scenario, he considered that skills will become more relevant in hiring and professional development processes. Among these, he mentioned decision-making, leadership, assertive communication, teamwork, discipline, punctuality, analytical skills, and frustration tolerance.
In this context, companies will need to identify employees who can adapt to new technological environments, while developing training programs to prepare their workers for industry changes.
Ruta Logística MX seeks to strengthen professionalization
As part of this strategy, Ignacio Aguado highlighted the progress of Ruta Logística MX , an initiative promoted by the SE to promote training and professionalization of the sector.
The project has sparked interest among industry participants, he asserted, while emphasizing that efforts are underway to strengthen certification mechanisms through collaboration with specialized organizations.
He also noted that the consultation tables for the Mexico Plan brought together 30 economic sectors, and the one corresponding to logistics registered one of the highest participations.
Through these initiatives, the Ministry of Economy seeks to directly understand the needs of businesses and build joint strategies to address competitiveness challenges.
He pointed out that, beyond political messages, trade indicators and productive integration show Mexico’s relevance to the US economy.
“The challenge is what we are doing right now and what we are going to do in the coming weeks, months or years to meet the needs of our country’s logistics industry, which is going to continue growing by 7 percent,” he noted.
He emphasized that the federal government seeks to support new investment projects through instruments such as the Mexico Plan and the Economic Development Hubs for Well-being.
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