CANCÚN, Q. ROO – Logistics and freight transportation are at a crucial juncture for Mexico’s economic development. In an environment marked by technological transformation, North American trade integration, and the need to strengthen supply chains, Alex Theissen, president of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) , asserted that the country has the opportunity to consolidate itself as one of the world’s most competitive logistics platforms , provided that collaboration among the various industry stakeholders and a long-term vision prevail.
During the inauguration of the 2026 National Freight Transportation Forum , the executive defined the event as the main space for building agreements around the sector and summarized the relevance of the activity with a phrase that set the tone of his message: “When logistics and transportation work, Mexico works. When transportation and logistics advance, Mexico advances.”
Based on that premise, Theissen noted that logistics goes far beyond the physical movement of goods. He pointed out that behind highways, railways, ports, distribution centers, and transport units lies a system that sustains daily life, guarantees the supply of essential products, keeps industry operating, and strengthens the country’s competitiveness in international markets.
“Logistics and freight transport represent much more than roads, railways, ports, distribution centers, or moving vehicles. They represent the trust of a mother who finds the medicine her child needs to get better. The food that arrives daily at millions of homes. The raw materials that keep our industries producing. The trade that sustains jobs. And the competitiveness that allows Mexico to participate very successfully in markets around the world,” he said.
The president of the ANTP Board of Directors also placed the people who make up the logistics chain at the center of the debate , stating that behind each delivery there is the coordinated effort of operators, technicians, engineers, specialists, administrative staff, businessmen and authorities who allow the national economy to keep moving.
“They are the true protagonists of this industry and we work for them,” he said, acknowledging the commitment of those who face long days, travel long distances and guarantee the continuous flow of goods in the country.
In that regard, he argued that discussing freight transport involves addressing issues that go far beyond economic performance . In his view, the activity is also closely linked to social welfare, productivity, security, infrastructure, innovation, and technological development.
“Talking about freight transport is talking about economic development, but also about social welfare and quality of life (…) it’s talking about infrastructure, innovation and technology, but above all it’s talking about people. Because behind every load there are always families waiting for opportunities,” he said.
Given the current state of the industry, Theissen identified artificial intelligence, digitalization, electromobility, and the growing economic integration of North America as some of the factors redefining global logistics. He believes these changes represent a historic opportunity for Mexico, but also entail a shared responsibility to enhance the country’s competitiveness.
“Today we are living through an extraordinary moment. Artificial intelligence, technological transformation, digitalization, electromobility, North American trade integration, and the need to strengthen our supply chains place Mexico before a historic opportunity, but also before an enormous responsibility,” he warned.
In that context, the business leader stated that the goal should be to build a safer , more efficient, sustainable, humane and resilient logistics system, while redefining the concept of resilience as a capacity to evolve and emerge stronger in the face of challenges.
“Resilience doesn’t just mean enduring difficult times. Resilience means learning, adapting, innovating, and emerging stronger,” he stated.
He also emphasized that the country’s history demonstrates the capacity of different sectors to overcome complex situations when there is coordination. Therefore, he called for prioritizing dialogue over confrontation and agreements over differences.
“Great challenges are never solved alone. They are solved through dialogue , listening, building trust, and working together,” he emphasized.
In his message he also argued that logistical competitiveness does not depend exclusively on one actor or one particular industry, but on the combined performance of infrastructure, customs, ports, border crossings, highways, operators and public and private investments.
“Mexico’s competitiveness doesn’t belong to just one sector; it belongs to all of us. We need every highway to be safer, every port to be more efficient, every border crossing to be faster, every operator to be better trained, every investment in infrastructure to be more effective , and every technological innovation to be more effective. Every responsible decision strengthens national competitiveness and improves the quality of life for millions of Mexicans,” he stated.
Along these lines, Alex Theissen reiterated ANTP’s willingness to maintain a permanent agenda of collaboration with the Government of Mexico , state governments, the Legislative Branch, academia, civil society organizations and the private sector, considering that building the country’s logistics future requires the participation of all sectors.
“The future is not imposed, the future is built and it is built by all of us,” he said.
Finally, the president of the ANTP expressed his confidence that the 2026 National Freight Transportation Forum will generate proposals that strengthen the sector and help consolidate Mexico as an international logistics leader. In this regard, he maintained that the true legacy of the event will not only be the exchange of ideas, but also the shared conviction that the country has the talent, experience, and will to face the challenges of global trade.
“Let’s keep moving goods, let’s keep moving the economy , but above all let’s keep moving Mexico towards a future of prosperity, confidence and hope,” he concluded.
Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Enrique Duarte Rionda / @GrupoT21
