Morena Proposal Seeks to Boost MSMEs Nationwide

Deputy Patricia Armendáriz of the Morena party has introduced the National Entrepreneurship Project Mexico 2026, an initiative aimed at turning entrepreneurship into a formal state policy. The proposal seeks to address structural growth barriers facing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which account for roughly 99% of businesses in Mexico but frequently struggle with limited professional training, access to capital and market integration.

The project builds on a series of working groups launched in late 2025 that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, local governments and academic institutions. Armendáriz said the initiative is designed to establish a comprehensive support framework centered on financial education, strategic business connectivity and structured financing, moving away from past administrative models such as the now-defunct National Institute of the Entrepreneur (Inadem).

Financial Education and Certification

At the core of the proposal is mandatory financial literacy. Armendáriz stressed that qualitative support is more important than immediate liquidity. “It is not about supporting entrepreneurship monetarily; it is about supporting entrepreneurship in a qualitative way,” she said.

To implement this approach, the project plans to use the Saberes platform of the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) to deliver a specialized micro-course in financial education. Completion of the course would grant certification, which would serve as the prerequisite for entrepreneurs to access state-backed resources. Drawing on her experience as an investor on Shark Tank México, Armendáriz noted that many ventures fail because founders lack a clear understanding of financial indicators or treat capital as a grant rather than an investment.

State Hubs and Strategic Connectivity

Once certified, entrepreneurs would gain access to State Hubs, centers operated by business chambers and specialized personnel to foster strategic connections. The hubs are intended to link startups with established companies that can host pilot projects, enable market testing and accelerate business development.

The connectivity model includes:

• Incubation: Leveraging programs such as Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro to integrate startups into existing corporate environments.

• Academic integration: Providing access to university laboratories and research infrastructure for technological development.

• Access to capital: Organizing trade fairs and networking events to connect entrepreneurs with “smart capital” and professional investment networks.
   

The Ministry of Economy would coordinate the ecosystem, using its sectoral expertise to guide regional and industry-specific growth strategies.

Financing and Long-Term Viability

The project proposes a financing model that excludes non-repayable subsidies. Armendáriz said there will be no “sunk funds.” Instead, financing would be provided through repayable credit issued by Banco del Bienestar, contingent on certification and the validation of a business plan by an authorized State Hub.

For SMEs seeking to scale operations, including investments in digitalization or productive equipment, the initiative envisions more structured financing instruments. The objective is to directly tie funding to productivity gains, competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

Legislative and Programmatic Outlook

The proposal has been presented to Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard and is currently under review. The final structure—whether as a formal law or a ministry-led program—has yet to be determined. Armendáriz described the initiative as a medium-term strategy, estimating that the development of the certification system and hub network would take approximately two years.

According to Armendáriz, improving MSME productivity is critical to Mexico’s economic health, as these firms remain the country’s primary source of employment and a key driver of GDP growth.