QUERÉTARO, QRO.- Mexico is emerging as an “island of certainty” within the new international disorder, marked by a global environment where economic uncertainty, trade tensions and accelerated technological transformation prevail, agreed the participants of the panel “ The evolution of international trade. A view from Mexico ” .

Within the framework of the XXXI Mexican Foreign Trade Congress , organized by the  Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce Nacional) , Altagracia Gómez Sierra , coordinator of the Advisory Council for Regional Economic Development and Relocation (CADERR), highlighted that, despite low economic growth and international volatility, the country has the opportunity to break with its historical inertia through a clear strategy of investment, talent development and industrial strengthening.

“Major changes call for caution, but also for opportunity. The Mexico Plan sets clear goals: to raise investment to 28% of GDP by 2030, to promote technical and dual education, to strengthen SMEs, and to increase added value in strategic sectors such as automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical, and semiconductors,” he said.

Gómez Sierra stressed that current challenges such as inflation, tariff redefinition and global competition require joint work between government, businesses and regions , pointing to Querétaro as an example of intersectoral collaboration.

“Our goals are not partisan or governmental, they are national. Unity of purpose and the capacity for adaptation are what will allow us to take advantage of the global realignment,” he emphasized .

From a global perspective, Antonio Ortiz Mena , president of the T-MEC Strategy Technical Committee of Comce, stated that the international context is undergoing three profound transformations: the new international disorder , derived from the weakening of the multilateral system; the resurgence of economic nationalism , which reconfigures the rules of trade; and the artificial intelligence revolution , which redefines productivity and comparative advantages.

In response, Mexico has remained a country that fulfills its international commitments and a reliable destination for investment.

“We are an island of serenity in a sea of ​​disorder. Mexico honors its agreements and maintains an open economy, but with direction. This pragmatic economic nationalism, based on public-private collaboration, distinguishes us from other economies,” the specialist noted.

Regarding the review of the USMCA, Gómez Sierra stated that Mexico is prepared and has a solid position, the result of years of adaptation to changes in international economic policy.

“We are not starting from scratch. Mexico has successfully navigated global adjustments and continues to comply with the rules of origin that allow tariff-free exports. What lies ahead is a technical negotiation, but with a clear direction,” he added.

He added that the treaty review represents an opportunity to increase regional added value and foster innovation instead of limiting itself to assembly.

“The key will be in the preparation and in the holistic negotiation vision that benefits the three North American countries,” he stressed.

In closing, Ortiz Mena emphasized that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should take advantage of the current context to connect with large corporations and incorporate new technologies.

“SMEs are not separate from large companies: they must integrate into their value chains and prepare for the artificial intelligence revolution, which will transform production and trade,” he warned.

The economist noted that the USMCA includes a specific chapter for SMEs, and that their regional strengthening will be crucial for the country’s competitiveness.

The panel highlighted a message of cautious optimism: Mexico has the assets, institutional stability, and creativity necessary to lead a new phase of regional integration . However, its success will depend on maintaining unity of purpose and accelerating technological adoption.

“Great changes always bring great opportunities. Mexico is ready to take advantage of them, if we move forward together,” Altagracia Gómez summarized.

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QUERÉTARO, QRO.- The  Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) kicked off the 31st Mexican Foreign Trade Congress in Querétaro , which, according to Oscar Peralta, president of Comce Querétaro, is a meeting that brings together the voices, ideas and wills that drive the country’s economic development.

During his participation, Peralta highlighted that, with this congress, Querétaro reaffirms its role as a fundamental axis of Mexican foreign trade.

“It is a meeting point where knowledge is shared, alliances are generated, and the future of our country is projected to the world,” he said.

For his part, Marco Antonio Del Prete Tercero, head of the  Secretariat of Sustainable Development of Querétaro , highlighted the importance of the state as the venue for the congress, since “we want the businesses that are done in Querétaro to benefit Mexico . “

“It is also a way to demonstrate that we can coordinate and align ourselves with the Mexico Plan and link up to strengthen our exports, thereby boosting the economic growth and foreign trade of our country,” he added.

Valentín Diez Morodo , honorary president of Comce, highlighted that Querétaro is distinguished by its productive investment, innovation, and talent.

“Today, Querétaro has become an example for the entire Mexican Republic,” he emphasized.

Furthermore, he pointed out that, since the first congress, organized in 1993 by Comce, a privileged space has been created to unite the most important sector of the national economy, which today represents 75% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) , namely foreign trade.

“After 31 years, we maintain our ambition intact: to promote the growth of Mexico’s foreign trade, which not only moves products, but also builds bridges and positions us as the tenth largest exporting economy in the world,” he emphasized.

He acknowledged that today Mexico faces significant challenges that require adapting to the new world trade order with resilience and innovation ; in addition to strengthening supply chains.

Furthermore, he urged attendees to continue integrating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into production chains, as they are the engine of professional prosperity for exporting companies.

“This forms part of the foundation upon which the integration of Mexico’s manufacturing industry with global production chains is being consolidated. For this reason, this year our congress is dedicating a very special space to the Made in Mexico business forum , to recognize its contribution and promote new opportunities for international development,” he emphasized.

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In the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)  in Querétaro was 970 million dollars (mdd) , which placed the state among the top five places in attracting foreign capital nationwide, according to the Ministry of Economy .

In this regard, Susana Duque, general director of the  Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment, and Technology (COMCE) , highlighted the industrial, innovative, and logistical focus of this state , which will host the  31st Mexican Foreign Trade Congress .  “Querétaro represents the heart of Mexico’s new export economy ,” she emphasized.

“This year’s hosting is no coincidence: With an industrial ecosystem based on innovation, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and specialized talent, the state has established itself as a strategic hub for productive integration in North America and a key point for global value chains,” Duque emphasized.

During the announcement of said event, which will take place from October 29 to 31, 2025, Marco Antonio Del Prete, head of the Secretariat of Sustainable Development of Querétaro , recalled that in 2024 the state had an FDI of 1,055 million dollars and exports for 18,226 million dollars , which reflects the economic and industrial dynamism of the entity.

“Holding a congress like this one, of international scope, in Querétaro demonstrates the important role the state plays in the global business environment,” the official emphasized.

Óscar Peralta, president of Comce Querétaro, added that in the first half of 2025, the state exported more than $8.6 billion, mainly in auto parts, aerospace components, and household appliances .

According to figures from the Querétaro State Population Council (Coespo) , the state recorded a total of $4.656 billion in exports in the second quarter of 2025 ; Additionally, the state contributed 3.17% to national exports, ranking eleventh in this category nationwide.

By sector, transportation equipment manufacturing accounted for $2.263 billion in exports in Q2 2025 , followed by accessories, electrical appliances, and power generation equipment, which accounted for $677 million, and machinery and equipment, which accounted for $445 million. Additionally, manufacturing accounted for 98.9% of the state’s total exports, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .

These figures consolidate Querétaro’s position as a state with economic strength and a marked openness to investment.

The 31st Mexican Foreign Trade Congress  will bring together business leaders, government authorities, and academic representatives to address topics such as customs digitalization; process automation; traceability and sustainability in supply chains; the relocation of production lines, known as nearshoring ; the revision of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), scheduled for 2026; and the use of artificial intelligence in international trade. The United States and Canada will be the guests of honor.

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From October 29 to 31, Querétaro will become a key meeting point for experts, business leaders, and authorities involved in international trade, hosting the 31st Mexico 2025 Foreign Trade Congress , organized by the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment, and Technology (COMCE).

At a press conference, Susana Duque , director general of Comce, emphasized that the congress has established itself as a strategic space where Mexico engages with the world.

“This event is much more than an annual gathering; it’s a high-level platform for generating proposals, building alliances, and making progress in addressing global challenges,” Duque said.

The 2024 edition, held in Aguascalientes, featured 750 attendees, 50 stands, eight technical visits, and more than 300 B2B meetings, with representatives from 16 countries and 21 states.

By 2025, under the theme “Towards a New Era of International Trade ,” the event seeks to scale its impact with a more robust agenda and a broader regional focus.

The conference will bring together more than a thousand participants and feature national and international leaders who will address the main challenges and opportunities of global trade, leading up to the revision of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .

The event will also feature special guests from the United States and Canada , in recognition of their key roles within the USMCA.

In 2024, bilateral trade between Mexico and its northern neighbor reached $839 billion , consolidating Mexico as its main trading partner.

The agenda also addresses crucial issues such as the 2026 review of the USMCA, the challenges of relocation, the integration of value chains, the strengthening of domestic content, and attracting investment in strategic sectors.

Over the three days of activities, keynote addresses, thematic panels on artificial intelligence, sustainability, logistics and commercial innovation , and specialized workshops will be held.

A B2B meeting will also be organized under the slogan “Made in Mexico with quality” , along with technical visits to industrial plants of companies such as Amazon , Nestlé and Mabe , and spaces designed for networking among key players in the export ecosystem.

Querétaro, a nerve center for foreign trade

The choice of Querétaro as the venue is no coincidence; it is a symbol of dynamism, innovation, and industrial vision, according to Susana Duque.

“Its productive focus, especially in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, plastics, metalworking, food, and agribusiness, positions it as a key player in this new era of Mexican foreign trade,” he added.

He revealed that Querétaro captured more than $1,055 million in foreign direct investment in 2024 , mainly from the United States, Germany, and Canada.

In addition, more than 644 private investment projects have been registered between 2023 and 2024 , with investment expectations of more than $197 billion .

For his part, Marco Antonio del Prete , Secretary of Sustainable Development of Querétaro , highlighted that the state’s choice as host is due to its strong manufacturing and export vocation.

Last year, the state exported more than $17 billion, primarily to the United States, although efforts have intensified to diversify markets toward Europe, Asia, and South America.

The official highlighted the growing importance of Querétaro Intercontinental Airport as a national logistics hub, which last year handled more than 77,000 tons of air cargo , operated by industry giants such as DHL , FedEx , and UPS .

Del Prete also emphasized that Querétaro is one of the states with the largest number of companies affiliated with the Manufacturing, Maquiladora, and Export Service Industry (IMMEX) program , and that sectors such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and food drive a dynamic value chain oriented toward the global market.

For his part, Sergio Contreras , executive president of the national Comce, highlighted Querétaro’s role within Mexico’s foreign trade ecosystem, which in 2024 reached a total volume of 1.22 trillion dollars , consolidating the country as the tenth largest exporting economy in the world.

He emphasized that more than 84% of this trade is related to advanced manufacturing, which positions Mexico as an industrialized economy, not dependent on raw materials.

“Mexico exports quality, not because it has 3,000 kilometers of border with the United States, but because it meets the highest standards,” he emphasized.

Contreras also called for a focus on foreign direct reinvestment, a component that represented 75% of the $37 billion received in 2024.

He also emphasized that the congress seeks to be a space to foster dialogue between government, private sector, and international organizations , recognizing that the success of foreign trade depends on multisectoral coordination.

For his part, the governor of Querétaro, Mauricio Kuri González , celebrated the fact that the congress is being held in his state, which he described as an example of orderly development, legal certainty, and a commitment to human capital.

Kuri noted that Querétaro has successfully combined a robust logistics infrastructure with a public policy focused on formal employment, training, and attracting responsible investment.

He recalled that the state hosted the largest single investment announcement in 2023, with more than $5.5 billion from Amazon, and that more than 120 people arrive in the state every day in search of a better quality of life.

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Therefore, public policies and private investments in these sectors are essential to ensure that Mexico remains a first-class manufacturing and export center.

Furthermore, the constant improvement of logistics infrastructure will allow the country not only to maintain its leadership in traditional sectors , but also to explore new opportunities derived from nearshoring and market diversification, according to the specialists.

At the panel on Innovative Strategies in Infrastructure, Logistics and Customs at the 30th Foreign Trade Congress  of the  Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) , the panelists agreed that customs, highways, railroads, international bridges and well-equipped industrial parks are the pillars on which the country’s competitiveness in global trade is built.

Miguel Cos Nesbitt, president of the  Confederation of Customs Agents Associations of the Mexican Republic (CAAAREM) , highlighted the importance of the Mexican customs system in the equation that leads to success in Mexican international trade.

He pointed out that the country’s 50 customs offices represent 40.7% of domestic trade and generate 30% of national revenue , so their role is fundamental to Mexico’s economic development.

“The Mexican customs system has been key to positioning us as the world’s ninth largest exporter, allowing high-quality products to quickly reach our main trading partners, such as the United States and Canada,” said Cos Nesbitt.

On the other hand, the Mexican railway sector is another key aspect of the logistics infrastructure, which is why Oscar del Cueto, president of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) , highlighted the impact of multi-million dollar investments in the Mexican railway system.

According to del Cueto, more than five billion dollars (mdd) have been allocated to the modernization of tracks and the expansion of railway capacity in the country.

“Railways are an economical, ecological and increasingly competitive means of transport for Mexico. We not only transport large volumes of goods, but also refrigerated products, which increases our competitiveness in the global market,” he said.

He said that the railway is crucial not only for heavy and non-perishable products , but also for diversifying trade, with 36% of cargo in Mexico moved by train, which represents a significant change in the country’s logistics.

Likewise, the development of well-located industrial parks with state-of-the-art infrastructure has also been one of the priorities for the growth of Mexico’s foreign trade, said Jorge Avalos Carpinteyro, president of the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP) .

He said that investments in energy infrastructure, telecommunications, renewable energy and electric mobility within industrial parks are crucial for the competitiveness of the Mexican market.

Additionally, international bridge infrastructure has also been key to modernizing cross-border trade, which is why Luis Bazán, general manager of the Pharr International Bridge , highlighted the importance of improvements to the bridges connecting Mexico and the United States.

“Investments in our bridge infrastructure allow for more agile transit of goods and reduce waiting times, which is essential to maintaining competitiveness in cross-border trade,” said Bazán.

The Pharr-Reynosa Bridge , one of the main crossing points between both countries, has undergone improvements that allow for a greater flow of goods, both manufactured and perishable.

These infrastructure investments, combined with improvements at nearby ports such as the Port of Brownsville, as well as infrastructure improvements on the Mexican side , strengthen Mexico’s connectivity with its trading partners in North America.

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AGUASCALIENTES, AGS. – Mexico has established itself as a key country in international trade, which has grown over the last 30 years, in which Aguascalientes continues to consolidate itself as a benchmark in economic development, exports and advanced manufacturing. 

At the 30th Mexican Foreign Trade Congress of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade (COMCE) , Sergio Contreras , executive president of the organization, highlighted the transformation that Mexico has experienced in recent decades in the commercial field. He pointed out that since the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, Mexico has managed to position itself as the twelfth largest economy in the world and the ninth largest exporter.

He added that in 2023, Mexican foreign trade reached 593 billion dollars (mdd), representing 74% of the national GDP, with 80% of exports coming from manufacturing.

Contreras Pérez also highlighted the importance of quality in Mexican products and the key role of technological innovation , mentioning the use of artificial intelligence and robotics in logistics processes.

In this context, María Teresa Jiménez , governor of Aguascalientes, highlighted her state’s leadership in sectors such as clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

“We are a strategic state for international trade and investment. The two largest railway networks on the continent pass through here, and we have connections to the main ports on the Atlantic and Pacific,” he explained.

Esaú Garza de Vega , Secretary of Economic Development, Science and Technology of Aguascalientes, indicated that the economic dynamism of the region is not only based on attracting investments, but also on strengthening exports through productive projects.

For his part, Francisco Cervantes, president of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) , highlighted the role of sectors such as the automotive and microprocessor technology sectors , where Mexico is positioned among the world leaders.

He also called for continuing to take advantage of the potential of the country’s young workforce , highlighting the low rate of formal unemployment and the need to continue training human talent for export.

“Our economy is known for its openness and dedication to foreign trade,” he said.

Along these lines, Sergio Contreras also called for strengthening the economic unity of North America , highlighting that Mexico has been, in the last two years, the main commercial partner of the United States.

Furthermore, in a context of economic growth, Contreras recognized the relevance of Mexican talent in STEM areas (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) , with Mexico being the seventh country with the most graduates in these disciplines, which positions the country to continue leading in innovation and international trade.

Valentín Diez Morodo: Pillar of Mexican foreign trade

During the event, Comce awarded recognition to Valentín Diez Morodo, honorary president, highlighting his fundamental role in the development and consolidation of Mexico’s foreign trade .

Sergio Contreras highlighted that, over three decades, Diez Morodo has been a key figure in promoting foreign investment and opening new markets for the country , consolidating Mexico as a relevant player on the global stage.

“Mexico has the potential to rise to leadership positions in the future. It is not just a question of economic growth, it is a question of legacy, and what better example than the legacy, vision and leadership of Don Valentín Diez Morodo. His dedication and commitment have been fundamental in building Comce and the country,” said Contreras.

For his part, Francisco Cervantes also highlighted the legacy of the honorary president, recalling that in the early years, before the free trade agreements, Diez Morodo was one of the pioneers in opening paths for Mexican companies abroad , especially in the beer sector, leading Mexico to become a world leader.

“Valentín, besides being a great businessman, is a friend whom I greatly admire. His work has been crucial in positioning Mexico in global trade,” said Cervantes.

Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez , Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, also dedicated a few words to Valentín, mentioning that his career is an example for the new generations of Mexican businessmen.

“Our country needs more figures like him, who with vision and work have built an impressive legacy,” added Gutiérrez.

In this regard, Don Valentín Diez Morodo thanked the recognition from Governor María Teresa Jiménez, thanking the union that made the country’s growth possible.

“Receiving this important recognition is not only a source of great personal satisfaction, but is also an opportunity to reflect, recognize and thank all those people, organizations and public officials who, throughout these three decades, have contributed with their effort, vision and commitment to make Comce and Mexico the country of opportunities that it is today,” he said.

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