Nearshoring: A historic opportunity to strengthen “Made in Mexico”

The nearshoring phenomenon—the relocation of supply chains to countries close to the final market—has become one of the main global economic trends. For Mexico, this strategy represents an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen its production capacity, attract foreign investment, and promote greater economic integration based on the strengthening of the "Made in Mexico" philosophy .

Thanks to its proximity to the United States , trade agreements like the USMCA , and growing macroeconomic stability, the country is emerging as a favorite destination for companies looking to diversify their operations and reduce their dependence on Asia.

Nearshoring involves relocating manufacturing or service operations from distant markets (such as China or India) to locations close to the end consumer. In Mexico's case, this means that North American, European, and Asian companies are moving part of their processes to the country to reduce logistics costs, avoid supply disruptions, and comply with new regulations of origin.

According to industry analysts, Mexico could receive more than $30 billion in additional foreign direct investment (FDI) in the coming years thanks to this trend. This relocation benefits not only large companies but also Mexican MSMEs , which have the opportunity to integrate as local suppliers into new value chains.

Finance Secretary Edgar Amador Zamora has stated that nearshoring should be leveraged not only to attract companies, but also to consolidate a solid national production model: "What we want is for the GDP to be made in Mexico."

This vision involves strengthening domestic supply , increasing the participation of Mexican MSMEs in high-value-added sectors, and developing adequate industrial infrastructure to accommodate new investments. According to SHCP estimates, if Mexico manages to increase its national participation in global supply chains by 10% , GDP could grow by an additional 0.6 to 0.8 percentage points per year.

Several sectors are directly benefiting from nearshoring:

• Automotive and auto parts
• Electronics and semiconductors
• Pharmaceutical and medical devices
• Information technologies and digital services
• Advanced manufacturing

In states such as Nuevo León, Baja California, Querétaro, Jalisco, and Coahuila , industrial investment has reached historic highs . Many of these investments come with the need to establish certified national suppliers , opening up enormous opportunities for local MSMEs.

Claudia Sheinbaum 's administration has placed nearshoring as one of the strategic pillars of Plan Mexico , which seeks to leverage this trend to create jobs, increase domestic content, and reduce regional inequality .

Some of the actions contemplated are:

• Expansion of railway and energy infrastructure .
• Tax incentives for companies that hire local suppliers .
• Job training in technical and specialized sectors.
• Strengthening development banking to finance production chains.

In addition, regulatory frameworks are being developed to facilitate the installation of new industrial plants in certified industrial parks, based on sustainability and international connectivity criteria.

Despite its enormous potential, Mexico faces several challenges in becoming a fully competitive nearshoring destination:

• Deficiencies in logistics infrastructure in some regions.
• Bureaucracy in local permits and regulations .
• Shortage of specialized technical talent .
• Insecurity in certain industrial areas.
• Need to strengthen internal production chains .

If these challenges are not addressed comprehensively, the country could lose out on some of the opportunities available today.

Nearshoring represents a historic opportunity to redefine Mexico's economic model. If leveraged intelligently, it can strengthen the "Made in Mexico" philosophy, improve national productivity, and transform Mexican MSMEs into key players in a new industrial era. With adequate public policies, infrastructure investments, accessible financing, and a vision of sustainable development, the country has everything it needs to position itself as a regional leader in manufacturing and innovation . The challenge is no longer whether nearshoring will arrive, but whether Mexico is ready to embrace it strategically and inclusively .

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