VIEW FROM THE TOP
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH GERARDO GUTIÉRREZ 26
Head of the Federal Authority for the Development of Special Economic Zones (ZEE)
Q: What advancements have been made on the
Q: What are the steps that companies must follow to
implementation of the ZEE?
participate in the Mexican ZEEs?
A: Since the approval of the ZEE Law in May 2016, technical
A: Companies can participate through different investment
studies have been made by the ZEE Authority and approved
opportunities. Before the ZEEs start operating, companies
by an Inter-Ministerial Commission for the first five ZEEs:
can participate as ZEE developers or operators, or as
Puerto Chiapas in Chiapas; Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz;
partners of a ZEE developer or operator. Once the ZEE
Lazaro Cardenas - La Union in Michoacan and Guerrero;
starts operating, companies can invest inside the ZEE, as
Salina Cruz in Oaxaca; and Progreso in Yucatan.
anchor companies or suppliers, developing new business lines across the value chain. There will also be investment
The project has three different stages that were also
opportunities outside the ZEE, in the Areas of Influence,
approved by the Inter-Ministerial Commission. The first
which are nearby localities that will benefit from the
stage, which includes the declaration of the first three
ZEE economic spillovers, where companies can develop
ZEE: Lazaro Cardenas-La Union, Puerto Chiapas and
infrastructure and provide support services such as housing
Coatzacoalcos, was announced at the end of September
and education.
2017. Zones in this first stage have different objectives. For instance, Lazaro Cardenas is the entry point for the
ZEEs will be established in polygons that will permit
Asia-Pacific region and serves as an entry point for the
two types of sections, depending on land ownership. On
automotive and aerospace clusters in the center of the
one hand, federal land owned by the government will be
country; it is one of the most important ports in Mexico
licensed to a ZEE developer or operator, which will be
and it has impressive potential. In Coatzacoalcos, the
granted a permit through a public tender. We are looking
chemical and petrochemical sectors will help the city
for ZEE developers or operators with world experience that
become one of the most successful clusters in the
can associate with local companies and develop supply
country. It has the advantage of being a few hours away
chains. However, we also want these developers/operators
from the center of Mexico and is also part of the southern
to have a comprehensive regional vision to develop friendly
corridor of the country that connects with Salina Cruz.
environments suitable for both working and living, and not
Last, we envision Puerto Chiapas as a strategic entry
only for the development of industrial parks. On the other
point for Central America where a world class commercial
hand, ZEE sections will be developed on private land, where
cluster can be developed.
licensing will be granted to develop sector-specific clusters.
For the second stage of the project, we will include Salina
For the moment, we are working with the Ministry of
Cruz, in Oaxaca, and Progreso, in Yucatan. Salina Cruz is a
Finance and Public to craft the guidelines for granting
commercial and oil-related port that operates as a regional
permits for ZEE developers and authorizations for investors
logistics center and, alongside Coatzacoalcos, it is the most
inside the ZEE, which will be published before 2017 ends.
competitive intermodal economic node in the southeast of the country. Progreso will host a ZEE specialized in IT
Q: Is there any plan in place to ensure that new businesses
and R&D sectors, taking advantage of the stock of high-
generate added value and go beyond mere manufacturing
skilled human capital and a business environment focused
schemes?
on innovation and technology development.
A: Mexican ZEE will be developed in the poorest regions of the country where a series of structural barriers hinder
Later, Tabasco and Campeche will host ZEE that will benefit
growth and economic development. For instance, deficient
from the installed capacity and knowledge of the energy
infrastructure, low-skilled human capital and high levels of
sector to establish world-class clusters.
informality in the labor market are barriers that limit the
