Mexico Launches First Well-Being Economic Development Hub

Mexico launched its first Well-Being Economic Development Hub (PODEBIS), a project expected to attract US$540 million in investment and generate 5,000 jobs in Tlaxcala. The hub will be built on a 53ha site on the eastern edge of Huamantla and aims to connect agriculture, industry and tourism to national markets while fostering education and retaining local talent. Officials said it will directly benefit more than 264,000 residents in underserved municipalities.

The project, expected to be completed by February 2026, has already secured 80% of its targeted investment through letters of intent, according to Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, who signed the agreement formalizing the hub. He called the site “the number one hub in the country,” noting that Tlaxcala is leading the rollout of 15 such hubs planned nationwide under President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration.

Located near Atltzayanca, Terrenate, Xaloztoc, Tocatlan, Ixtenco, Cuapiaxtla and El Carmen Tequexquitla, the development is designed to drive regional growth by promoting agroindustry with added value, industrial and logistics support services, and cultural tourism linked to Tlaxcala’s heritage. Its access to Federal Highway 136 provides connections to the Mexico State, Hidalgo, Puebla and Veracruz, as well as the automotive cluster of San Jose Chiapa and Nopalucan.

The hub will also be surrounded by at least 10 higher education institutions, including Universidad Tecnológica de Tlaxcala and the Huamantla unit of Universidad Autónoma Tlaxcala. Officials said this proximity will allow students to receive training aligned with emerging industries, helping to reduce migration by opening local employment opportunities.

The project received environmental clearance from the Ministry of the Environment, which approved measures on water management and ecological protection. Infrastructure plans include roadways, power supply, potable water, sewage and digital connectivity.

Governor Lorena Cuéllar said the initiative will significantly boost formal job creation and directly reduce extreme poverty in the state. “The infrastructure, connectivity and proximity to educational centers will allow young people in Tlaxcala to gain technical and professional training aligned with new industries, strengthening local talent and creating new opportunities for social and economic development,” she said.