Mexico-Querétaro train would trigger investments in the Bajío region

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Within the area, Querétaro could be one of the most benefited entities, due to the direct connection it would have with the country’s capital.

Querétaro, Qro. If the construction of the Mexico-Querétaro High-Speed ​​Train (HST) is completed, this mobility scheme could represent an element that increases the competitiveness of the Bajío region.

In turn, it would represent a bulwark that encourages the attraction of foreign investment, by having an advantage of transportation to the country’s capital, explained the economist and academic from the Autonomous University of Querétaro (UAQ) Humberto Banda Ortiz.

Keeping the train in the federal government’s portfolio of projects, through a concession that would be granted to the Private Initiative, represents a commitment to the development of works in the region, which, he said, had not been considered within the large projects of the Federation, in contrast to the southeast of the country.

“Until now, the Bajío had been practically forgotten by the economic plans launched by the federal government (…) with this, the Bajío economy is reactivated and impacts on two issues, basically in continuing to be a pole of attraction for investments because it is in the center of the country and from there, raw materials can be detonated to other regions and for workers (…) It is an engine of growth for the region, it could also be favorable for Querétaro, but it would displace investments a bit ” added.

Querétaro could be one of the most benefited entities, due to the direct connection it would have with the capital of the country, with shorter journeys compared to the highway; in addition to emerging as a preferred entity for attracting investment projects, which in turn would result in the generation of jobs.

However, the specialist pointed out that it is still necessary to create conditions of certainty for investors to participate in the execution of the project.

“It would be expected that with this announcement, foreign investment in the state will be triggered again, that employment will be triggered and increased. The worrying thing is to see when the projects are going to start, to see that there is economic certainty for investors and that these projects are completed, “he said.

In contrast, it would also bring challenges such as an increase in migration flows to the Bajío, and particularly to Querétaro, resulting in a greater demand for public services and infrastructure.

“Other problems that are generated are the issue of infrastructure, water, which Querétaro is already beginning to have problems in that sense. But from an economic point of view, more employment, foreign investment and greater economic growth would be expected ”, he said.

Importance

The work would also represent an incentive to boost the economic reactivation of the region, after the productive and economic impact left by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Banda Ortiz added that it will still be necessary to know the details of the project, to identify if, in addition to the mobilization of passengers, a slope is generated for the transportation of cargo.

The TAV project was taken up by the Federation and entrepreneurs, as one of the 39 infrastructure projects that in sum represent investments of 297.344 million pesos.

The proposal foresees an investment of 51.3 billion pesos in the railway subsector, anticipating that the work will begin in June next year. It is planned to be carried out under a private participation concession scheme.

The promoter of the work will be the Ministry of Communications and Transportation.

ICA will finish the Mayan train section without increasing costs: AMLO

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador trusted that the ICA company will complete the construction of the section of the Mayan Train in due time and form, without costing more money and without budget extensions.

From the municipality of Tinum, Yucatán, and as part of the supervision works of Section 4, which runs from Izamal to Cancun, the president was satisfied that the Mexican construction company participates in this section, because, he said, it is a company with a lot of tradition in civil engineering, which for a long time was an example at national and international level and is now in a new stage.

The president announced that every three months he will review the progress of the work, which is expected to be completed in 2023.

Source: eleconomista.com.mx

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