San Luis Potosi Strengthens Ties With Canada

The government of San Luis Potosi is strengthening economic ties with Canada as part of a broader strategy to attract foreign direct investment, leverage USMCA and promote productive development and job creation, state officials said. As part of this effort, state authorities met with Canada’s Ambassador to Mexico, Cameron MacKay, to deepen bilateral economic cooperation and explore investment projects aligned with the regional trade framework.

Representing Governor Ricardo Gallardo, Economic Development Minister Jesús González outlined the state’s vision for positioning San Luis Potosi as a competitive and reliable destination for foreign capital. Officials highlighted the USMCA as a central mechanism for strengthening supply chains, providing regulatory certainty and facilitating cross-border trade between Mexico and Canada.

Discussions focused on attracting Canadian investment by maximizing the advantages offered by the agreement, particularly in strategic sectors such as manufacturing, technology and energy. Authorities emphasized the state’s industrial capacity, strategic geographic location and growing role within North American value chains.

One of the main outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to organize a trade mission involving Canadian companies interested in exploring the state’s productive potential. The mission is expected to allow investors to identify business opportunities, establish direct links with local companies and engage with state officials.

Plans were also advanced for a future visit by Ambassador MacKay to San Luis Potosi, aimed at identifying bilateral investment projects and strengthening dialogue with the local business community. State officials said the visit would help foster an environment conducive to new business opportunities and employment generation.

The state government said cooperation with Canada forms part of a broader economic development strategy focused not only on attracting foreign capital but also on building long-term partnerships. Authorities expressed interest in expanding collaboration in workforce training, technology transfer and industrial innovation to promote sustainable and competitive growth.

Officials added that these efforts align with the state’s objective of consolidating San Luis Potosi as an attractive hub for national and international investment while maximizing the benefits of the USMCA.

Automotive Investment Reinforces Industrial Momentum

While strengthening diplomatic and trade ties remains a priority, recent private-sector investments highlight how San Luis Potosi is translating its international outreach into tangible industrial growth, particularly in the automotive sector. Among the most significant examples of this momentum is a new automotive manufacturing project that strengthens the state’s position within North America’s automotive ecosystem.

MBN reported that South Korean automotive supplier SL MEX has inaugurated a new manufacturing plant in Villa de Reyes, San Luis Potosi, backed by an investment of MX$750 million ( US$44 million) and expected to generate more than 500 direct jobs, state officials said. The facility, known as SL MEX SLP, is located in the Logistik II Industrial Park and spans 14,000 square meters. It specializes in the production of automotive lighting modules, a key component in the global automotive supply chain.

González attended the opening ceremony and reiterated the state government’s commitment to attracting productive investment and strengthening the automotive industry. According to company plans disclosed last year, the plant is designed to operate up to 12 production lines, with installed capacity to manufacture as many as 1 million lighting modules annually.

SL MEX SLP is expected to supply global automakers including BMW, General Motors, Kia and Hyundai, reinforcing the state’s integration into international automotive supply networks.

State officials said the company projects annual sales of US$144 million by 2030. If achieved, the expansion would further position San Luis Potosi as a strategic hub for automotive lighting components, strengthening its export profile and role within global supply chains.

González said the state’s industrial outlook remains solid, citing consolidated industrial zones with available land reserves and access to key inputs such as energy and water. He added that efforts to expand renewable energy generation have become an increasingly important factor for companies seeking to establish operations in the region.

The opening of SL MEX SLP underscores San Luis Potosi’s appeal to foreign direct investment and reaffirms its status as one of Mexico’s leading industrial destinations, with the automotive sector remaining a key driver of economic growth.