Mexico Unveils US$298 Billion Investment Plan

The Mexican government has presented a new US$298 billion investment portfolio, encompassing 1,937 registered projects across all 32 states. The initiative is designed to generate employment, stimulate economic growth, and foster the development of new industries. Key sectors include manufacturing, energy, water, and gas, with Baja California, Nuevo Leon, and Sonora standing out as the most active investment hubs.

Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard outlined three main objectives of the initiative: identifying high-impact investment opportunities for job creation and economic expansion, determining the requirements needed to make these projects viable, and coordinating across government agencies to remove barriers and facilitate execution. Ebrard emphasized that the total registered investment already represents about 16% of Mexico’s GDP, and confirmed that no projects have been canceled. However, 446 projects face specific challenges, particularly around water, environmental compliance, energy, and infrastructure, which are currently being addressed to ensure all projects move forward on equal footing.

Among the most notable private investments is Grupo Modelo’s announcement of more than US$3.6 billion in funding between 2025 and 2027. This investment aims to modernize the company’s breweries and production facilities, improve water efficiency, and reinforce the national supply chain, where 70% of inputs are already sourced locally. In addition to production upgrades, Grupo Modelo is advancing sustainability by investing in returnable packaging and recycling, and upgrading over 300,000 retail stores through credit programs, energy-efficient refrigeration, and infrastructure improvements. According to Raúl Escalante, the company’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs, the investment aligns closely with the federal government’s Plan Mexico, which seeks to promote economic development with a strong focus on social justice and sustainability.

Despite this wave of investment and policy-driven growth, international institutions remain cautious. This week, both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised down their economic growth forecasts for Mexico, citing global uncertainties. In response, President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized these institutions’ forecasting models, arguing that they overlook the impact of national policy initiatives like Plan México. She stressed that such models often automatically associate a US slowdown with a Mexican recession, without accounting for local factors, such as Grupo Modelo’s dollar investment and increased public spending on infrastructure and housing.

“Our economy is strong,” Sheinbaum stated, “and our entire cabinet is working to turn Plan México into a reality, expanding employment and, above all, improving well-being.” She emphasized that Mexico’s approach to economic policy goes beyond GDP figures to focus on sustainable and inclusive development.

She added that a key pillar for the government is the sustained increase in the minimum wage, which she described as a key tool for reducing poverty. “For 36 years, the minimum wage was intentionally suppressed, leading to higher poverty and declining living standards. At one point, our wages were lower than those in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and even Haiti. That is no longer the case,” she said. Sheinbaum projected that by 2030, the minimum wage will be sufficient to cover the cost of two basic baskets of goods, supporting the broader goal of “shared prosperity.”