Sheinbaum goes for aerospace industry growth

MEXICO - The government of President Claudia Sheinbaum seeks to bet on the aerospace industry and, as part of its goals set for 2030 in this area, are to approve the Outer Space Law in 2025; a mission to space in 2027 (the first 100% Latin mission); and to have a new “geostationary” satellite in 2028.

While presenting Plan Mexico, which contemplates a portfolio of domestic and foreign investments for US$277 billion, the President announced that another of the goals in this sector is to place Mexico in the top 10 countries in terms of aerospace production value.

“Of course the proposals are viable and of course they have challenges, right? One of the most important challenges is the budgetary issue, the investment issue to be able to balance that,” said Luis Lizcano, executive president of the Mexican Federation of the Aerospace Industry (FEMIA) in an interview.

“Everything is feasible, everything that is proposed there is a way to move forward as long as there is a will of all the parties involved and that the challenges are faced with joint work. It is a very ambitious plan that, (if implemented) would put our sector in a very interesting situation,” added the expert.

Part of the goals, according to the document, is to lead what will be the first 100% Latin American mission into space; to make Mexico one of the three countries with the capacity to fully assemble an engine for the French aeronautical company, Safrán, as well as to put a 100% Mexican satellite into orbit.

The Mexico Plan also contemplates increasing the local and regional content of exports in the industry by 10%, as well as designing and building components for a “national constellation of observation satellites”.

Specifically, the plan foresees a development program for suppliers of steel, micro-layers, polymers, screws, bearings, plastic injections, cable harnesses and steering functions, among other materials.

The Aerospace industry to be promoted in Mexico will encompass the design, research, development and manufacture of air vehicles, as well as their supply chain and the corresponding maintenance, repair and rehabilitation services.

According to data from the Mexican Federation of the Aerospace Industry, this is one of the most dynamic industrial sectors in the country, with 14% sustained growth in recent years, which annually generates 60,000 direct jobs in 19 states, in more than 350 established industries.

Mexico currently ranks twelfth globally in the industry and is the seventh largest exporter to the United States.