The president of the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC), Francisco Solares, considered that the lack of planning has slowed down the development of infrastructure by private initiative (the two packages announced by the Federal Government last year to boost Mexico’s economy), with low progress and preventing the sector from heading towards the desired recovery, after a fall that deepened with the Covid-19 pandemic.
This situation led to some 2,500 small and medium construction companies having ceased to operate within their organization, with the economic consequences that this represents, so he is confident that when the third package of projects is presented, postponed several times, it will have greater feasibility of being executed.
At a press conference, he said that of the more than 60 projects announced in the first two project packages (related to communications and transportation, energy, water, tourism or the environment), which imply an estimated investment of 525,000 million pesos, it has achieved a 30 percent advance.
“I think they were announced without having the packages 100% developed, for example, the executive projects or their financial feasibility. Those who were already started in some way and in the process of construction or completion stage of executive projects are walking. In the last meeting with authorities of the Ministry of Finance we said that we have had difficulty finding information on how they are doing. We estimate that the progress was 30% of what was expected and they told us that, in reality, the progress that was had was a little less ”, he commented.
One of the projects with the highest amount announced was the Mexico-Querétaro train, which will be concessioned, requires an investment of 51.3 billion pesos and is in charge of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT).
The list also includes the expansion of the suburban train from Lechería to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), with an amount of 12.565 million pesos, which has recently begun construction.
Other agencies related to private projects are Pemex, CFE, Banobras and local governments.
The third package
Regarding the third package of projects, where a greater presence of the energy sector is expected, the president of the CMIC pointed out that the possibility that it has been postponed to have all the required information is high and may be concluded in the short term, not necessarily during the current federal administration as expected.
“I want to suppose that they are doing everything so that when it is announced practically behind, the tractors come working and it is totally ready to start. I think that’s why it has been delayed a bit, “he added.
Regarding the monitoring made by the chamber of the progress of public investment in infrastructure, Solare said that, based on public information, at the end of 2021 an exercise of between 30 and 35% of the total of the dependencies is achieved, where the SICT has invested a large part of its resources.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx