Companies involved in international trade increasingly require access to financing to sustain their operations and expand into new markets. In response to this need, financial platforms focused on this segment plan to broaden their reach and serve a greater number of companies by 2026, according to Paulina Aguilar, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of Mundi .

“We have already financed more than three trillion dollars and the challenge is to continue helping more companies grow and globalize their operations,” Aguilar emphasized.

He explained that the company works with companies linked to foreign trade, which it seeks to support in integrating into value chains, both in Mexico and in other countries.

In this process, the use of technology has made it possible to streamline service and offer greater flexibility in financial services.

“We are a technology platform; we do everything through technology, and this makes it easier for us to serve our customers and also to have greater flexibility with them,” he commented.

Among the most commonly used solutions are invoice discounting, supplier factoring, purchase order advances, and revolving credit lines, tools that allow companies to have liquidity to sustain their operations and meet their commitments in the supply chain , according to Aguilar.

Looking ahead, the challenge will be to expand access to this type of financing and make it easier for more companies to strengthen their operations and integrate into international markets.

In this segment, financing has become relevant among Mexican companies seeking to scale their international operations.

Currently, Mundi collaborates with more than 500 companies in the country and operates in more than 60 countries, reflecting the growing role of these tools in facilitating companies’ participation in global trade.

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El cargo They seek to accelerate the integration of Mexican companies into global value chains apareció primero en T21.

During the panel Cybersecurity in critical infrastructures: Modern strategies to protect OT/ICS environments , specialists highlighted the importance of implementing specific strategies for the protection of Operational Technology (OT) environments .

At the event, held as part of the 2nd Scitum Telmex Executive Forum 2026 , they pointed out that, unlike Information Technology (IT) systems, a production incident not only compromises information, but can also cause operational stoppages, sanctions and direct risks to the safety of people, in addition to the need to protect production lines without affecting profitability .

Availability remains a priority in industrial systems. Víctor Anda, director for Latin America at TXOne Networks , explained that protection in this sector focuses on operation.

“It’s not about adapting something that already exists and modifying it for OT. It’s something that has to be born with OT in mind. We can’t isolate a production machine; we have to protect it without compromising its operation,” he stressed.

For his part, Alessandro Galvao do Vale, IoT/OT Security CoE Leader at Scitum, explained that the impact of an attack on critical infrastructure can reach macroeconomic levels , with cases where production stoppages have affected the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of entire countries. He also indicated that, to integrate security into the value chain , it is vital to translate technical vulnerabilities into business terms.

“When I talk about risks, it’s the common image for everyone: security, finance, operations and general management,” he stated.

David Nieto, Trellix ‘s regional leader , said the gap between available technology and its adoption stems from a fear of disrupting long-standing processes. The proposal is to begin by providing visibility through an architecture and asset map without direct intervention .

Juan Carlos Báez Martínez, head of the Scientific Directorate of the National Guard , proposed institutionalizing capacity-building programs that scale from the individual to the sector level . The goal is to build resilience in the face of a tolerated peace in cyberspace.

“In the midst of a tolerated peace that exists in the cyber environment, it is not about being reactive, but about having sufficient systematic resilience,” he emphasized.

Experts highlighted several solutions for protecting production lines without impacting profitability, such as micro-segmentation and virtual patching technologies , which offer an advanced layer of protection for critical assets, preventing restarts that could halt plant operations for days. In addition, adaptive artificial intelligence (AI) is used, which can counter autonomous attacks and detect vulnerabilities in legacy systems that remain essential for production continuity.

On the other hand, digital twins have become key tools for simulating attacks and testing controls in virtual environments before implementing them on the actual production line, reducing risks and improving incident preparedness. Finally, controlled reactions allow for countering sabotage attempts while maintaining production, simultaneously conducting forensic analysis to strengthen future defenses.

Inaction represents the greatest threat, the experts agreed, and investing in cybersecurity not only reduces exposure but also becomes a competitive advantage . “If I invest, I am less exposed than my competitors who don’t,” summarized Alessandro Galvao do Vale.

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El cargo Cybersecurity as a strategy to protect production lines apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology of the Northeast (Comce Noreste) presented a diagnosis of the structural risks facing Mexican foreign trade due to the deficit of logistics infrastructure and the shortage of specialized talent in customs matters.

Javier Cendejas Meneses, president of the organization, pointed out that foreign trade continues to be a central engine of the national economy, with exports of 664 billion 837 million dollars (mdd) in 2025 , a growth of 7.6% compared to 2024.

Furthermore, he noted that the Northeast region of the organization (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas) concentrates more than 45% of total exports, driven by high technological and manufacturing value chains ; and he emphasized that highways are the main means of exchange with the United States.

“In November 2025 alone, Mexican exports to that country reached $46 billion, of which 55% crossed through the five main border crossings, led by Laredo with $19.6 billion. Data from the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows that nearly six million cargo trucks arrive annually from Mexico by road, and according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) , two out of every three exports are transported this way,” Cendejas noted.

Despite its key role in foreign trade performance, the president of Comce Noreste stressed that Mexico ranks 66th out of 141 countries in logistics infrastructure , according to the  World Bank ‘s Logistics Performance Index , reflecting the need to strengthen road investment; and added that the lack of investment in energy limits the establishment of new companies, since 91% report difficulties in electricity supply and 40% of industrial parks face problems with natural gas supply.

The organization indicated that Mexico faces significant challenges in trade facilitation and procedures, ranking 46th out of 141 economies in terms of waiting times for trade-related administrative processes . Therefore, the implementation of new requirements, such as the Mandatory Electronic Declaration of Value starting April 1, 2026, will increase the administrative burden and the demand for specialized talent, thus slowing down processes and raising costs and the risk of sanctions for companies.

“Given the shortage of specialized professionals, 95% of exporting companies already outsource part of their foreign trade and  supply chain operations . Under the new customs regulations, companies must have at least five employees with managerial-level customs experience, whose salaries average 51,000 pesos per month. Failure to submit the Declaration of Value or inconsistencies with the Customs Law can result in penalties ranging from fines of 80% to 120% of the commercial value of the goods, to the precautionary seizure of assets and the possibility of being referred to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office,” stated Cendejas Meneses.

The agency warned that streamlining procedures, strengthening logistics infrastructure, and developing talent in customs matters will be key to consolidating foreign trade as a regional and national economic engine.

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El cargo COMCE Northeast warns of risks to foreign trade due to infrastructure and talent deficit apareció primero en T21.

Amid the global reconfiguration of markets and the rise of relocation of production lines, known as nearshoring , Mexico and Italy are facing a historic opportunity to strengthen their economic and industrial ties , as indicated by Alessandro Modiano, Italian ambassador to Mexico, and Bruno Bettelli, president of Federmacchine , who agreed that the current context opens new possibilities for collaboration between both countries.

In an interview with T21, the diplomat highlighted the strategic role Mexico plays in the context of the reconfiguration of global value chains , especially in sectors such as the automotive and energy sectors.

“The major Italian groups are here precisely because of this huge market. It’s not just a domestic market, which is already promising, but it’s a huge market, so producing and investing here is a very important growth strategy for Italian companies,” he emphasized.

Modiano highlighted that Mexico offers conditions for large Italian multinationals to export sophisticated products to the market with the greatest purchasing power in the world: the United States , and gave the automotive sector as an example, where important Italian companies have a strong presence in Mexico, such as Stellantis , which is among the 10 largest foreign companies in the country, and Pirelli , a tire manufacturer, another prominent firm in the industry.

On the other hand, the Italian ambassador highlighted the “enormous” opportunities offered by the nearshoring phenomenon , positioning Mexico as a priority destination due to its proximity to the North American market. He also noted that it offers structural conditions that make it an ideal partner for strengthening value chains , such as a skilled workforce, a young population that boosts productivity, economic stability, and a growing demand for Italian machinery driven by its ongoing industrialization process.

“Made in Italy with Mexico”

For his part, Bruno Bettelli, president of Federmacchine, which brings together 12 industrial associations, noted that while sectors such as automotive and aerospace are fundamental, Mexico’s true value lies in its productive diversityand its ability to integrate into global value chains. This strength, he emphasized, can be further enhanced with Plan Mexico, which he described as a “fantastic opportunity . “

“Mexico is a very important hub for automotive manufacturing, but it’s not the only sector Mexico can develop, as it has its own strategic plan. With Plan Mexico, I think many more sectors will have growth opportunities,” he said.

Bettelli also emphasized that Mexico represents Italy’s most important strategic partner in its expansion into Latin America . In this regard, he proposed a new approach to industrial collaboration: a fusion of the concepts “Made in Italy” and “Made in Mexico,” which gave rise to the idea of ​​”Made in Italy with Mexico ,” symbolizing the construction of industrial and commercial bridges between the two nations.

“Through these two pillars, we can build bridges to all other countries. The only way is to work together to become stronger,” he concluded.

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El cargo Mexico and Italy, with a historic opportunity to strengthen trade ties apareció primero en T21.