The aerospace industry in Mexico has shown significant dynamism in recent years. Exports, as well as employment, investment and GDP, show growth rates above the average of the rest of the manufacturing industry. Likewise, in recent years, air traffic has increased significantly, as it is an attractive means of transportation for the movement of people and goods, with advantages such as shorter travel times and a low probability of accidents.
There are currently more than 330 companies in this sector in the country, of which 80 percent are dedicated to manufacturing and 20 percent offer design and engineering services and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO), as confirmed by the official website of the Government of the entity1.
According to the document Pro Aéreo 2.0, issued by the Ministry of Economy (SE), in 2017, Mexico was considered the third place of attraction for aeronautical projects and number 1 in Latin American countries. North America (including Mexico) continues to be the region with the highest participation with 51.1 % of total.
Pro Aéreo 2.0 forecasts by 2036 an increase in the air fleet that will bring more manufacturing operations and maintenance services worldwide, positioning Mexico as a power for investment and development of large aerospace industries. It is expected that for the next 20 years the fleet will amount to 42, 530 units -double the fleet that was in 2017-, which represents 52% of the requirement of new units, 30% by replacement and 18% as part of the fleet that remains.
In Mexico, it is from 2005 that the aerospace industry begins to stand out, mainly due to the arrival of original equipment manufacturing (OEM) companies. Today, there are also industrial parks such as Polígono Empresarial San Miguel, which offer first-class infrastructure and have become the ideal manufacturing headquarters for this ever-growing industry.
San Miguel de Allende: tourist and industrial vocation
Guanajuato is one of the states with the greatest logistical and industrial value, as it is connected to the country’s main highways, railroads, seaports and international airport. It is located in the central area of the country, within what is called the “golden triangle” Mexico City-Guadalajara-Monterrey.
Currently, the aerospace industry has invested 2.6 million dollars in the state of Guanajuato, according to the state’s official website, which represents 2% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Considered one of the best cities in the world, San Miguel de Allende is also home to one of the most promising industrial parks in the country: Polígono Empresarial San Miguel, with a space of 200 hectares in its first stage, sold in its entirety and in its second stage 126 hectares more, with availability.
The Industrial Park already houses companies from diverse sectors such as Hirschman Automotive, ThyssenKrupp Components Technology, Stant, BHTC Mexico, RAFI Syscom Mexico and Langer Molds and Tools, and has the necessary characteristics to receive all types of industry.
Conditions and advantages for investors in the aerospace industry
- Geographical position
- Trade agreements
- Experience in other high-tech industrial sectors such as automotive, electrical and electronics.
- Skilled labor force
Among the advantages of San Miguel de Allende is also the access to qualified personnel from the Aeronautical University in Querétaro, which offers three engineering programs, as well as technical careers and training for aerospace industry personnel to train specialists, which means that industries located in San Miguel de Allende can count on the necessary manpower to operate in the industry.
In addition, another of the benefits of the Business Park is its proximity to the city of Querétaro, since new industries will be able to benefit from the proximity of a highly developed city, but with enough independence to innovate and establish themselves in one of the areas with the highest quality of life that Mexico has to offer.
San Miguel de Allende promises to be a city with growth in the aerospace industry through the installation of factories, the incorporation of companies into the supply chain and the hiring of Mexican labor.
State Training Institute (IECA)
The IECA San Miguel de Allende campus invested approximately 19 million pesos to build and equip the Technological Nucleus with plastic injection molding machines, CNC machining center, lathes, milling machines, pneumatic equipment and industrial welding. With its start-up, training programs have been initiated for the formation of qualified technicians. This was reported on the official government website of the entity.
The advantage of operating this training center is that it can provide qualified service to the industries of the Business Park, with the training of personnel and state-of-the-art equipment compatible with the industry.
Sources:
1 Portal of the government of the state of Guanajuato.
