Developing the Central-Western Region of Mexico

Central-Western Region of Mexico, takes its first step.

The general development of a country as extensive as Mexico does not occur equally. Therefore, it is important to consider the regions as the basis of interest to work on the analyzes and programs that lead to inclusive integral development. Working with states or states is an alternative that can bring good results, such as the case of development in Guanajuato based on long-term planning that began with the prospective study called Guanajuato Siglo XXI and from which the State plans and programs that allowed it to improve its competitiveness and economic growth. However, having neighbors who share strengths and challenges, as well as enriching with complementary resources and competencies has not been exploited to expand potential and achieve greater development and prosperity.

The relevance of the Bajio area for the country has always been pointed out, from independence to the development and integration of clusters such as automotive, appliances, food, leather-shoes among others; setting trends and strengthening its attractiveness as a region receiving foreign investment and generating local wealth. Querétaro, Guanajuato and Aguascalientes share much of this regional potential, which is strengthened with the integration of San Luis Potosí and Jalisco, which are aligned to the previous ones, but incorporate characteristics, resources and special capabilities that strengthen what has been called the Central-Western Zone of Mexico.

As noted, the axis of the Bajio corridor (aeronautics, automotive, food, optics, biotechnology and genomics), which adds the corridor to the North (white line, logistics) and the exit to the Pacific, which includes the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara, with its development and contribution in the knowledge-based economy through IT’s and the Creative Industry, as well as the strengthening of the health cluster.

The recognition of the above and the work of linking has resulted in the official formation of the Central-Western Region of Mexico, in which it is intended, through collaboration and integrated work, to empower the region to be the most competitive in Mexico and one of the most relevant worldwide. In November 2018, the integration of the Centro-Bajio region with the states of Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Querétaro and San Luis Potosí is announced; Later, in February 2019, interest is established for the entrance of the state of Jalisco, forming the region that is now recognized as Center-Bajio-Western or simply Center-Western, and whose agreement was signed on May 8 by the governors of the five states that make it up.

An important contribution to the analysis and programs for the development of zones or regions can be found by observing both the history, current reality and characteristics of regions such as Silicon Valley and the Boston Corridor (Route 128) that serve as an example of technological development and access to a strong knowledge-based economy; Quebec as a province where innovation and human development are promoted; the German regions of Baden-Württenberg and Bavaria as an example of business, industrial development and development of working skills; the French zone of Rhone-Alpes with its manifestations of social innovation, fair trade and innovation in SMEs; the Spanish regional region of the Basque Country building mechanisms and public policies that favor the planning and articulation of development programs; as well as New Zealand, a nation the size of many regions that it recognizes as an example of generation and integration of inclusive, effective and wide-ranging public policies, institutions and development plans.

Returning to the Central-West Region it is observed that the association generates strengths in different areas such as:

1. Integration and / or strengthening of strategic clusters (aeronautical, automotive, food (agricultural, dairy, egg, pork, beef and chicken), white line, leather shoes, health, among others).
2. Strengthening of the logistic structure to support the economic operation of the region by having land communication routes (roads and railways), airports, seaports in the Pacific, exits to the Gulf and to the US border; as well as the resources and equipment for a 3PL, 4PL and 4.0 logistics to meet current needs.
3. Accumulation of skills and capacities for the deployment, promotion and strengthening of higher value economic sectors such as those derived from information technologies, creative industries, design, bio and nanotechnology, development of new materials, as well as Genomics.
4. Consolidate and strengthen research and development capabilities by generating an integrated system that articulates the different nuclei of generation, transfer and application of technology and coordinates high-impact projects. (An example may be the development of Genomic Medicine and its application for the protection of the health of the population and the establishment and mastery of the specialty that provides economic benefits).

The region is not without challenges, where it is identified to break the inertia of working in isolation and only think, articulate and project development as independent states. State strategic private projects should not be left, but the region vision must be added by identifying and sharing that aspiration for high development and that it seeks to achieve; This must be complemented with the articulation of regional strategic projects, where a greater state of development and well-being for the region can be achieved.

Another important point is to identify common interests and establish an agenda in which states support each other, increasing the capacity for negotiation and influence that would not be achieved in isolation in the same magnitude.

Additionally, actions must be established to establish relationships for the generation of strategic partners for the Central-Western Region, these alliances can be in a general way or in a specific way and according to each project. As an example, alliances of a general nature can be established to promote development with “sister” regions such as Baden-Württenberg, Rhon-Alpes, among others. In the same way they can be of a particular nature, such as with the German Embassy and Government to strengthen technical, engineering and science education; as well as the dual model allowing faster assimilation of knowledge and experience to be incorporated into the different productive agents of the region.

Finally, it can be noted that the definition of the region vision is accompanied by relevant strategies to achieve the development objectives of the region. This is complemented by a portfolio of strategic projects to realize the increase in the competitiveness of the region and its companies, as well as the increase in the well-being and standard of living of its inhabitants. A project that may be of special interest is the strengthening of clusters linked to the field and food. Development of a comprehensive strategy to maximize the production and value of agricultural products, which incorporates effective processes of sowing, cultivation, transport, storage and marketing, where the value achieved is distributed fairly among its members, making that economic development be inclusive and generate greater well-being for agents and inhabitants of rural and suburban areas. Additionally, in the platform to incorporate the knowledge-based economy into the region, a strategic program can be created that favors the incorporation of traditional sectors of the economy into new areas, as an example, the textile industry can produce actors that can produce High quality orthosis for the health sector. These two projects are two examples of the types of projects that can be incorporated into the strategic portfolio of projects in the Central-Western Region.

Establishing an agreement is only the principle of what must be an orderly, constant, disciplined and very professional work of working together to start working as a region and to obtain the positive results that impact each and every one of those who live together in this region. A good principle that should be supported, now to work hard for it.