Consultants urge the creation of a infrastructure agency

Propiedad de Grupo Reforma

EMERGING ECONOMIES LIKE MEXICO SHOULD INVEST BETWEEN 5 PERCENT AND 7 PERCENT OF THEIR GDP IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO ATTAIN A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE LEVEL.

In response to the challenges posed by nearshoring or the relocation of supply chains to Mexico, Mr. Oscar Solís Yépez, president of the National Chamber of Consulting Companies (CNEC), urged the creation of a National Infrastructure Agency.

“At CNEC, together with other related organizations, we are promoting

the creation of a National Infrastructure Agency, which would be established by a Mexican Infrastructure Council. This council would be the governing body composed of government entities, chambers, and professional associations that would set the rules to define and outline the guidelines for conducting the necessary studies to achieve proper infrastructure planning,” commented Mr. Solís Yépez.

He explained that the National Infrastructure Agency would have autonomy and would be responsible for the entire project process, from initiation to completion and implementation. Additionally, it would include a management body in charge of planning all emerging projects.

“It is undeniable that Mexico has a significant lag in infrastructure, which is one of the key aspects that nearshoring demands today. Therefore, it is crucial to rigorously plan the country’s infrastructure needs in areas such as transportation, energy, industrial and logistics parks, and the water issue, which has become so critical in our country. Unfortunately, there are not sufficient resources allocated to meet the country’s infrastructure needs. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund suggest that emerging economies should be investing between 5 percent and 7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to attain a globally competitive level for the country, which would obviously lead to organic growth and well-being for the entire population,” the president emphasized.

"At CNEC, together with other related organizations, we are promoting the creation of a National Infrastructure Agency, which would be established by a Mexican Infrastructure Council". Oscar Solís Yépez, president of the CNEC

In regards to private investment in infrastructure projects, he mentioned that in recent years, the participation of business owners has been restricted, and the country also needs a tax reform to promote investment.

Mr. Solís Yépez added that to reach an infrastructure investment level equivalent to 5 percent of the GDP, an average of USD50 billion annually would be required by 2032, which

also implies the need for workforce preparation.

He also highlighted the importance of consulting firms in the planning, execution, and operation of infrastructure projects, from conducting preliminary assessments

to creating strategies and setting objectives.

“Eventually, the initiatives will evolve into preliminary and full-fledged projects, and over time, with adequate funding, they will be realized through our participation. This will ensure the compliance with quality, safety, supervision, and management of all resources, and, of course, the validation so that these projects can serve the purposes for which they were created,” he said.