Consolidating the infrastructure to take advantage of the relocation of companies ( nearshoring ), security strategies in the different modes of transport, continuing with passenger train projects, as well as consolidating its role as head of the sector, are some of the challenges that it faces. will face Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina , the next head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) in the government of Claudia Sheinbaum, virtual president-elect of Mexico.
Several associations and chambers celebrated the arrival of Esteva Medina. For the Transportation Commission of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers , she is a professional with extensive experience, who has been in charge of large transportation infrastructure projects.
Elim Luviano Heredia, who heads this commission, explained that among the challenges is continuing with passenger trains “and consolidating an infrastructure network that meets the demand for nearshoring . This includes safe stops, driving and rest time infrastructure.”
Carlos Barreda Westphal, commercial representative of Stella-Jones in Mexico, said that this designation is a good sign for the railway sector both due to his academic training and his professional career at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and in the Government. of Mexico City in the areas of construction, mobility and transportation.
He explained that among his challenges are defining what level of participation the SICT will have in the completion and operation of the Mayan and Interoceanic Train, coordinating with the Secretariats of Economy, Energy and Environment the generation of incentives for private initiative to accompany the government in the development and sustainability of the southeast region regarding the construction of Development Poles and Intermodal Interconnection Nodes. And lead to the completion and start-up of the Mexico – Toluca and Buenavista – AIFA trains, including for the latter a project for the continuation of the track to the city of Pachuca.
“Regarding the seven passenger routes, we are still waiting to know the results of the studies on their financial viability and sustainability. For now everything indicates that only the Buenavista – Monterrey and AIFA – Pachuca routes could have a real justification and expected demand. However, there is still no estimate of the investments or the percentage of government and private initiative participation that the laying of new roads would require. Well, the alternative of combined cargo-passenger transportation would compromise the operational efficiency of the most important railway corridor in the country,” he indicated.
He mentioned that another aspect of great relevance for the incoming administration will be the implementation of a security strategy that discourages thefts , accidents and boarding of trains by migrants, whose numbers have seen substantial increases during the last five years.
For Juan Antonio José, independent aviation analyst, the main challenge of the next secretary is not to continue losing the power to regulate and lead the sector, since “the secretaries of the Navy and Sedena already weigh more in transportation than the SICT.”
In this sense, he said that it is necessary to work on compliance and modernization of the legal framework, for the sustainable efficiency and sustainable operation of all modes of transportation.
Furthermore, given the opportunities of nearshoring , the next head of the SICT must lead the renewal and expansion of the infrastructure; provide each agency with resources and personnel to carry out its functions.
Likewise, he commented that the actions on the airport infrastructure of the Valley of Mexico will have to be defined for the next 20 years, “because if the trend is not to close the AICM and keep the half-empty AIFA alive, we are going to have a white elephant and a bad and dangerous airport.”
Fabricio Cojuc, independent international aviation consultant and specialist in Mexican aviation, highlighted the importance of working together with industry and authorities to build a transexennial roadmap that establishes the strategic role of the sector and its great technological, regulatory and administrative challenges.
“Be a great team and create a great agenda that allows us to outline all the steps that have to be followed so that Mexico continues to occupy this very important place in terms of aviation in Latin America, where we are competing every year and another year. first place with Brazil,” he explained.
He said that the degradation to Category 2 in air safety, the limits on operations at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and the frictions with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) are issues related to the bilateral, which If the industry was well aligned, it would work in a more harmonious way. In this sense , the regulatory relationship with the United States must also be improved.
Likewise, he indicated that another challenge is to promote investment and growth in aviation, where there are currently only three large airlines, “ there is this big gap in regional aviation in the country where we have a series of markets and cities that “They cannot be properly served with what exists today, because their business model and their aircraft are not suitable or are too large, or they are concentrated around airports where there is no interest in connecting secondary markets.”
He also mentioned that work must be done to comply with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States, “ to be a relevant player in the industry at an international level.” “, have a more proactive participation in industry forums, really promote that Mexico is this great aviation country.”
For its part, the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA) said through its social networks that it is ready to collaborate in the improvement and expansion of the country’s logistics and foreign trade infrastructure.
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