Talent, Energy Infrastructure Key to Mexico’s 2026 Growth: EGADE

Mexico’s economic prospects for 2026 were the focus of a high-level forum at EGADE Business School in Monterrey, where officials, business executives, and academics said the country is entering a decisive period that will require coordinated action on infrastructure, talent development, and regional integration. The event “Economic and Political Outlook for Mexico 2026” brought together public and private sector representatives to assess the structural factors that will shape next year’s outlook.

Betsabé Rocha, Minister of Economy of Nuevo Leon, said the state’s economic expansion reflects a long-term strategy. She said the state is focusing on local supplier development, cluster formation, and innovation, elements that have positioned the state as a key driver of national growth. Rocha urged companies and institutions to accelerate their efforts to connect and integrate SMEs into regional supply chains at a moment of global uncertainty. She highlighted the 2026 World Cup as an opportunity to showcase Nuevo Leon’s industrial capacity. “We have a great opportunity but also a great responsibility: to reconnect, develop suppliers, and strengthen collaboration across companies and sectors,” she says.

The discussion centered on how Mexico can strengthen its position as nearshoring continues to shift investment toward North America. Panelists agreed that the country’s ability to capitalize on this trend depends on public-private coordination, long-term industrial policy, and improved infrastructure. The conversation took place at EGADE Business School, which also recently received confirmation of its status as Latin America’s top-ranked graduate business school in the QS 2026 rankings. The recognition served as context for the school’s role in generating business talent and contributing to policy dialogue.

Clelia Hernández, Director General, Nuevo Leon 4.0, said global spending on Industry 4.0 systems and automation is accelerating and that the state holds advantages due to its industrial base and academic institutions. Still, she noted that the state faces significant gaps in specialized digital skills, especially in AI, data analytics, and machine learning. Hernández said cybersecurity pressures are increasing and pointed to the 2026 spectrum auction and ongoing semiconductor plans as strategic entry points for Mexico. She emphasized that these opportunities will require improvements in telecommunications infrastructure and stronger collaboration between companies, government, and universities to train talent and reduce gender disparities in STEM fields.

Electricity supply and transmission capacity were also central themes. Horacio Arredondo, Dean, EGADE Business School, said Mexico’s power infrastructure could restrict its ability to support advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. He said that if Mexico intends to work closely with the United States in areas such as AI, it must expand investment in electric transmission.

However, Mexico’s expected growth of between 1% and 1.5% in 2026 is not sufficient for the country’s long-term needs, said Roger González, CEO, Protexa. He said North America’s combined energy resources position the region for global relevance if Mexico, the United States, and Canada adopt a coordinated strategy. González also warned about the increasing presence of Chinese companies looking to use Mexico as a route into the US market, noting that local manufacturing could face pressure unless Mexico strengthens its industrial strategy and competitiveness.

Earlier in the event, Miguel Ángel Santos, Dean, School of Government and Public Transformation, said that Mexico’s 2025 slowdown, caused mainly by reduced investment amid trade uncertainty, is expected to ease next year. Santos projected a year with two contrasting phases: a first half influenced by the renegotiation of the USMCA and a second half marked by a rebound in investment and consumption if the agreement concludes favorably. He estimated inflation at around 3.6% to 3.8% and said fiscal adjustments would likely be gradual. Santos emphasized that Mexico has structural potential to grow above its historical average of 1.5% but noted that doing so will require closer collaboration across sectors.