Federal Strategy Aims to Accelerate US$325 Billion in FDI

Mexico aims to become one of the world’s most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment over the next decade, backed by a federal strategy designed to accelerate capital inflows that could total as much as US$325 billion, with direct effects on exports, industrial growth and job creation.

The Ministry of Economy is closely tracking investment projects nationwide through a portfolio that includes 1,889 capital investment proposals. Of those, 616 have already been resolved, 243 remain under active review and 122 are pending permits or regulatory adjustments before moving forward.

“We are monitoring all investment intentions in the country. We have registered 1,889 proposals, representing US$325 billion in investment, and we follow them continuously so they can be completed,” said Vidal Llerenas, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ministry Of Economy.

The federal strategy to remove bottlenecks to investment includes direct support for companies facing specific obstacles, such as missing environmental impact permits, the need for complementary public infrastructure investment or administrative requirements. According to Llerenas, the government is advancing the digitalization of administrative procedures to reduce response times and lower costs for industrial and infrastructure projects.

“The goal is to facilitate the landing of all potential investment in Mexico and help ensure it materializes. That is why we are already working on a strategy to reduce the number of procedures through digitalization,” he said during the 2026 Economic Outlook Seminar organized by the Mexican Autonomous Institute of Technology.

The investment push comes amid a complex international environment marked by tariff adjustments in global markets. Despite these challenges, Mexico continues to post record levels of foreign direct investment and maintain strong credibility among multinational companies.

That confidence has translated into growth across several sectors, including advanced manufacturing. In 2025, manufacturing attracted more than US$12.3 billion in foreign direct investment, accounting for about 36% of total inflows during the 2Q25, according to official data.

Federal officials say foreign investment plays a central role in strengthening Mexico’s export capacity, generating higher-quality jobs and consolidating industrial value chains. The Ministry of Economy said the execution of investment projects helps boost national exports and expand the formal economy, reinforcing ties with global production networks and key international markets.

Llerenas added that Mexico’s economic agenda prioritizes maintaining strong trade relations with the United States and Canada, while also diversifying markets and products by increasing technological content and high-value manufacturing.

“Foreign investment continues to reach record levels in Mexico, a country that maintains strong credibility in the eyes of multinational corporations,” he said.

Mexico Ranks 11th Place in Global FDI: UNCTAD 

MBN reported that Mexico climbed one position to rank 11th worldwide in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in 2024, up from 12th the previous year, according to the World Investment Report 2025 released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The improvement came amid a broadly weak global investment environment, as international capital flows recorded a real decline of 11%, reflecting heightened investor caution.

UNCTAD reported that Mexico attracted US$37 billion in FDI in 2024, allowing it to advance within the list of the world’s Top 20 investment destinations. The country’s rise contrasted with several other developing economies that, while remaining in the Top 20, saw declines in investment inflows, creating space for Mexico’s relative advance in the ranking.

The report identified manufacturing and logistics as the main drivers of investment into Mexico, against a backdrop of global supply chain reconfiguration and nearshoring trends.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, where overall FDI fell 12%, Mexico partially broke with the regional trend. It was among the countries supporting investment growth in Central America, which posted a 4% increase in inflows, according to UNCTAD. This performance helped offset a contraction in investment through M&As, which was affected by the absence of large-scale transactions, and reinforced Mexico’s profile as a destination for long-term productive investment.

Investments 2025: New Capital Flows

Mexico recently reached a new record in FDI, approaching US$41 billion in 4Q25 as exports continue to expand. Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard confirmed that this represents a 15% increase over 2024, surpassing expectations at a time when many had anticipated limited growth, reported MBN. 

Ebrard noted that the strongest momentum is coming from new investments, which rose from US$2 billion to about US$6.5 billion in 4Q25, indicating an inflow of fresh capital rather than reinvestments. He added that Mexican exports continue to grow despite external pressures, including new tariffs in some markets.

Among recent announcements, Grupo Modelo announced more than US$3.6 billion in planned investments between 2025 and 2027 to modernize breweries, improve water efficiency, strengthen its national supply chain, and advance sustainability through returnable packaging, recycling programs, and upgrades to more than 300,000 retail stores. 

Additionally, Fibra Uno (FUNO), the largest real estate investment trust in Mexico and Latin America, announced at FUNO Day 2025 in New York that it will invest MX$10 billion (US$538.4 million) annually over the next five years. The MX$50 billion (US$2.6 billion) program aims to strengthen its industrial, retail, and office portfolios amid strong domestic consumption, rising 3PL demand, and continued e-commerce growth.