Amidst the uncertainty generated by the review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (USMCA), Jalisco is betting on diversifying the sources of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and strengthening its ties with Asia and the European Union to maintain the momentum of new capital inflows.
Upon returning from a promotional tour of Taiwan and the Netherlands, the head of the Secretariat of Economic Development (SEDECO), Cindy Blanco, told El Economista that the state maintains a pipeline of 35 investment projects at various stages of negotiation, spanning diverse productive sectors.
The official explained that, while the USMCA review creates anticipation among foreign investors eager to understand the terms of the trade agreement, this factor has not halted discussions aimed at finalizing new projects within the state.
“Once the USMCA issue is resolved, it will allow us to eliminate that distraction and focus on the issues that are truly vital to investors: energy, water, talent, and logistics,” stated Blanco Ochoa.
The state’s strategy involves conducting quarterly tours focused on attracting investment and promoting exports. After visiting Japan and South Korea last March, the official recently visited Taiwan and the Netherlands—markets she considers priorities for attracting new projects.
Blanco Ochoa highlighted that a significant opportunity exists for Jalisco in industries related to semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centers, and technological infrastructure—sectors where the state already hosts established global companies and possesses a specialized talent base.
She noted that companies such as Flex, Foxconn, Jabil, and Sanmina continue to expand their operations within the state, thereby confirming Jalisco’s standing as one of the country’s leading technological and manufacturing hubs.
In this context, the projected FDI inflow for 2026 is estimated to range between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion. During the first quarter of the year, Jalisco ranked among the top five states in Mexico for the highest volume of Foreign Direct Investment received. Nevertheless, the head of Sedeco stated that the promotional strategy aims to reduce reliance on the electronics sector, which is considered one of the most vulnerable to potential changes in North American trade regulations.
“We are seeking to diversify our investment attraction efforts so as not to remain focused solely on the electronics sector,” the official remarked, adding that one of the most advanced opportunities identified during her visit to the Netherlands lies within the agro-industrial sector.
The official indicated that the state government is currently engaged in active discussions with potential investors; it has submitted incentive packages and anticipates visits from executives of international companies over the coming months to advance the realization of these projects.
As part of its diversification strategy, Jalisco has designated Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan as priority markets for attracting investment. Furthermore, the state seeks to capitalize on opportunities arising from the modernization of the trade agreement between Mexico and the European Union in order to boost both capital inflows and exports.
“We are placing significant emphasis on the Asian region—primarily Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Regarding China, I believe we need to carefully assess which sectors are suitable and which are not, as certain sectors could be sensitive at this particular juncture; however, some companies have reached out regarding clean energy and other sectors that are not considered critical,” she noted.
Source: eleconomista
