Industrial investment is not canceled, but it is on hold pending further decisions , acknowledged Alejandro Malagón, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , noting that several projects remain paused while the sector evaluates the economic environment.
In an interview with T21, Malagón explained that the industrial sector’s commitment is to increase its share of total investment.
“We should be contributing 20% of that total investment. And currently we’ve been around 16% or 17%. We need to increase it,” he emphasized.
Despite this, he assured that the industry is ready to execute projects immediately.
“We have the desire to invest, we have the specialists, we have the quality, we know how to operate it and we can execute it starting from a day,” he emphasized.
However, the industry leader himself acknowledged that implementation depends on concrete signals. He emphasized that investment “has stalled,” admitting that the environment and factors such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) influence decisions. In this context, the industry, although prepared, awaits clear guidelines that will allow it to move forward with greater certainty.
The USMCA is scheduled to be reviewed in July of this year, and it is shaping up to be a decisive process for North American trade integration, in an environment marked by US pressure against China’s advance in the region. Therefore, according to specialists, Mexico must capitalize on nearshoring (relocation of production lines) and improve its internal capabilities to consolidate its strategic role in the area.
Regarding labor issues , Alejandro Malagón maintained that the approved changes must be understood within the broader global context. On the 40-hour workweek, he was clear: “That’s already in place. There’s nothing we can do about it. We have to work intelligently,” he stated.
He added that companies are already making internal projections to adapt. “Of course, all companies are creating scenarios, running them to see,” he explained.
On February 11, the Senate approved the reform to Article 123 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, to gradually reduce the workweek from 48 to 40 hours. The reform aims to improve the quality of life and balance work and personal life for employees; however, its implementation will depend on specific regulations, labor oversight, and adjustments in the various productive sectors.
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