Nearshoring: Ethics, Execution, and the Future of Industry

As president of Index Nuevo León, I had the opportunity to participate and learn during the 50th Anniversary of Index Nacional, an event that could not have come at a more critical moment. With the USMCA treaty under review and a tariff war showing no sign of easing, the conversations taking place within the Mexican manufacturing ecosystem are more relevant than ever. The 50th National Convention, held from Oct. 15–18 in Mexico City, brought together leaders from manufacturing, foreign affairs, trade compliance, logistics, technology, and media. What could have been a simple commemorative gathering instead became a strategic snapshot of where Mexico stands — and where it must go — as global supply chains continue their dramatic shift toward regionalization.

The inaugural ceremony set a decisive geopolitical tone. National officials and international ambassadors emphasized the structural opportunity emerging from nearshoring and reindustrialization efforts across North America. Mexico, as several panelists noted, is uniquely positioned to strengthen its role in global value chains—provided the country can deliver regulatory certainty, scalable infrastructure, and institutional continuity. As global competition accelerates, particularly from Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, hesitation carries real opportunity cost.

A Question That Shifted the Room

One of the most thought-provoking moments came not from policymakers, but from journalist Carmen Aristegui, who delivered a keynote on geopolitical adjustments. During the Q&A, I posed a question that resonated across the audience:

“In times where political and economic power frequently overlap, how difficult is it to practice ethical and independent journalism in a country where questioning power carries personal and corporate costs?”

The silence that followed was telling. Aristegui’s response was direct: Ethical journalism in Mexico is difficult. It requires personal conviction, resilience under pressure, and unwavering integrity. Ethics, she reminded us, is not a collective statement, it is individually practiced and personally defended.

The lesson is relevant far beyond the newsroom. In a volatile environment, true leadership means safeguarding ethics precisely when the stakes are highest. For executives, ethics is not optional, it is a non-negotiable standard that anchors credibility in front of regulators, talent, and international partners.

Legislative Perspectives and Industrial Direction

This focus on integrity resurfaced in the Legislators Panel, where senators debated border policy, economic reform, and the upcoming review of the USMCA agreement. While their perspectives varied, they converged on a central conclusion: foreign investment relies on predictable rules, not improvisation. The nearshoring wave will not wait for regulatory uncertainty to settle, and competitors across the region are actively positioning themselves to capture any momentum Mexico fails to secure.

Technology, Talent, and the Productivity Imperative

Technology-driven competitiveness echoed across multiple sessions. Discussions on artificial intelligence, automation, and additive manufacturing emphasized the urgency of accelerating digital transformation. Automation has shifted from early adoption to operational baseline, reshaping productivity expectations and workforce profiles. Companies that resist this transition will face widening capability gaps that cannot be mitigated through traditional efficiency measures.

The Female Perspective as Strategic Logic

A compelling narrative emerged from the panel, “Female Vision for Excellence in Manufacturing,” where industry leaders demonstrated how gender diversity strengthens organizational culture, improves risk management, and enhances resilience. Diversity, in this context, is not symbolic, it is a competitiveness strategy. Companies that cultivate inclusive leadership models broaden their decision-making lens and reduce talent turnover at a time when skilled labor remains a binding constraint.

Compliance as Strategic Credibility

Trade and customs compliance surfaced repeatedly throughout the convention, particularly within the IMMEX context. As oversight intensifies and auditors sharpen their focus, documentation, traceability, and transparency evolve into strategic assets. Compliance is transitioning from a protective shield to a source of market leverage. Organizations that demonstrate integrity can secure approvals faster, manage risk more effectively, and operate with greater agility across borders.

The Policy Behind the Buzzwords

Across panels, workshops, and informal discussions, several imperatives consistently emerged. Mexico must accelerate logistics infrastructure in ports, border crossings, and customs capacity to sustain industrial growth. Talent development must elevate technical skill sets and compensation structures to support higher-value manufacturing. Regulatory stability must be reinforced to attract long-term, patient investment rather than speculative movement. Most importantly, sustained progress requires co-execution between public and private actors. Dialogue alone is insufficient without shared accountability.

The Unspoken Reality

Nearshoring is not a guaranteed victory for Mexico. It is a stress test of institutional capability. If regulatory uncertainty escalates, production could shift to other regions, investment may hesitate, and the upcoming T-MEC review could impose stricter provisions. However, if Mexico executes with discipline, collaboration, and foresight, it can become the most competitive manufacturing region in the Western Hemisphere. The difference between opportunity and outcome depends less on rhetoric and more on execution.

Why Ethics Matters Now More Than Ever

Every theme discussed — logistics, talent, automation, trade compliance — ultimately rests on ethical behavior. When ethics erodes, trust collapses, institutions weaken, decision-making becomes reactionary, and reputational risk rises. Ethics is more cost-effective than litigation, regulatory penalties, or talent attrition. It is not a philosophical accessory.  Ethics is absolutely the only acceptable way to operate. When embedded into governance, it becomes a strategic capability that sustains trust, secures regulatory alignment, and preserves a company’s social license to operate.

What C-Level Leaders Must Internalize

In boardrooms, it can be tempting to optimize exclusively for short-term results. Yet, the companies that will define Mexico’s industrial transformation will adopt transparent operations, treat talent as value creators, embrace responsible automation, and recognize their social license to operate. Investors are increasingly evaluating governance, culture, and conduct as core components of enterprise value.

Fifty Years Later: A New Social Contract

Index Nacional’s 50th anniversary was not simply a milestone, it underscored that the challenge is ongoing. The mandate moving forward is to lead responsibly, invest patiently, and govern ethically. Mexico does not need only more factories; it needs stronger judgment, clearer accountability, and deeper institutional maturity. Those who recognize that ethics is not a promotional narrative but the foundation of competitiveness will shape the next phase of Mexican manufacturing.

Nearshoring’s (regionalization, in my words) legacy will not be determined by infrastructure alone. It will be determined by character.