Querétaro targets 50 new aerospace investors
As part of a working tour of Europe by Querétaro officials, more than 50 small international companies in the aerospace sector were identified as potential investors interested in establishing operations in the state to be closer to their main customers.
The companies were surveyed regarding their willingness to relocate to North America, as well as the requirements for doing so. These included not only investment incentives but, more importantly, workforce training, infrastructure, electricity supply, and access to local suppliers.
In this context, Marco del Prete Tercero, Querétaro's Secretary of Sustainable Development, stated that the state has an active strategy to attract investment in the aerospace sector.
“We have identified about 50 companies that might come to Querétaro, and we will be providing training in specific areas,” the official stated.
He explained that the tour primarily focused on identifying potential suppliers, building on the relationships already established with companies such as Safran and Bombardier, which continue to expand their operations and invest in the state.
During the tour, Del Prete identified three areas of opportunity for the development of Querétaro's aerospace industry. The first concerns the different treatment of the space sector compared with the automotive industry in free trade agreements.
“The space sector doesn’t receive as much attention in Free Trade Agreement organizations as the automotive sector, and that opens up a lot of [opportunities] for us,” he explained.
The second area involves strengthening the tri-national perspective, which could pave the way for new collaborations and high-value-added projects in Querétaro. The third relates to technical training and workforce development.
Additionally, the Secretary of Sustainable Development announced that an investment agreement had been signed with ITP Aero to upgrade its testing facility and laboratory in Querétaro, reinforcing the company's continued confidence in the state.
Del Prete also mentioned the interest shown by Bombardier, including its Defense division, and other companies in expanding their investments in Querétaro.
Finally, the official reiterated the strength of the Querétaro aerospace cluster, which comprises nearly 80 companies and supports approximately 15,000 to 20,000 high-value-added jobs.
