Vital Infrastructure Works in Mexico's Southeast Advance

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador toured Mexico’s southeast and showcased the advances of some infrastructural projects in Veracruz and Chiapas, such as the Tapachula airport, the  Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) and the Mayan Train. 

The president unveiled and verified the Tapachula airport's remodeling. This work aims to improve the airport’s operational efficiency and allow it to provide a seamless experience for travelers. He also oversaw dewatering work in Chiapas Port, a step towards enhancing port capabilities and facilitating smoother maritime activities.

During the tour, he also announced an agro-industrial development pole spanning over 300 hectares, which aims to stimulate job creation by capitalizing on the region's resources and strategic location.

Javier May, General Director, National Fund for Tourism Development, reports significant progress in the construction of the Mayan Train, with 185km of track completed out of a total of 226km in Section 1, which covers from Palenque, Chiapas, to Escarcega, Campeche. This section stands at 81.85% progress and has generated over 13,000 jobs across multiple municipalities in Chiapas, Tabasco and Campeche. 

The tour ended in Veracruz, where López Obrador reviewed the progress of the CIIT. His inspection covered the progress of 10 development poles and the railway connection to Palenque. He also witnessed the unveiling of the first locomotive of the CIIT, a historic project that has been in the making for over a century. The project was launched initially during the time of former President Porfirio Diaz. Historical records indicate that 60 trains crossed the corridor daily, mainly to carry and bring merchandise from the Pacific to the east coast of the US. The corridor lost relevance once the Panama Canal began operations.

The official decree establishing the CIIT was published on June 14, 2019. The corridor seeks to create a logistics platform by integrating port administration services across the ports in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, and Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, which will be connected through railroads. Projected investments for the CIIT range between US$10 million and US$500 million, as reported by MBN.