| VIEW FROM THE TOP
MSMEs PRIORITY FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT EDUARDO RAMÍREZ President of CMIC
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Q: What is CMIC’s perspective of the construction industry
Government agencies are joining forces to develop this
in the years to come?
planning structure that will help improve the quality of the
A: CMIC represents over 12,000 construction companies of
transport infrastructure and connectivity of the country.
all sizes across Mexico in 44 delegations. Approximately 95
Companies need certainty that they will be able to grow in the
percent of the companies affiliated with CMIC are MSMEs.
future. These companies must be able to prepare themselves,
One of the main goals of the chamber is to provide these
obtain loans and innovate according to what will happen in the
companies with the tools necessary to develop and grow.
future. All construction companies that participate in public
Micro and small-sized businesses have more difficulty growing
works provide 0.2 percent of their profits for training, which
and expanding their reach than medium and large companies.
has permitted the creation of CMIC’s training institutes.
We offer constant training to these businesses. Most of these are also extremely interested in public works, but the sector
The chamber wants to invest as much as possible in
has shown more growth through private investment.
creating specialized training and teaching institutes for the industry. There needs to be more communication between
Years ago, approximately 5 percent of GDP was destined
the different agencies, meaning the water, housing, energy,
to infrastructure development. Today, the government is
telecommunications and road infrastructure need to work
only investing 2.8 percent of the GDP, which totals MX$625
more closely together. Today, there is no planning that
billion for the construction of public infrastructure. Private
aligns the goal of making the country more competitive
works have increased in the last few years and it is predicted
through infrastructure development.
that MX$2 billion will be invested by the end of 2018. Q: What impact will MSMEs have in bridging the country’s Q: What has been the main factor holding back the
infrastructure gap?
country’s construction sector?
A: We want to work closely with local governments to
A: It is very difficult for a country to develop sustainably
continue promoting the development of MSMEs in the
without implementing the proper planning. The country
construction sector. If these companies have more work,
desperately needs a long-term planning strategy.
they can spark a value chain that will not only increase
Government priorities mean an administration generally
the value of the industry but the economic power of that
creates projects for its own political term only, leaving
area. The construction industry creates more than 6 million
the country with unfinished projects. Infrastructure
direct and 2.8 million indirect jobs in Mexico. It is a strategic
gives a country credibility in terms of productivity and
sector for the country’s growth but planning continues to
competitiveness. CMIC believes that the country needs a
be a hindrance.
National Infrastructure Council composed of academics, public and private sector players. Within this council, there
Long-term planning will allow our MSMEs to truly develop
should be a planning institute with a certain amount of
to their full potential. For many years, some municipalities
autonomy in planning, not execution, of infrastructure
acquired huge debts and now the funds they have are
projects. Most of the planning required for an infrastructure
allocated to paying off those debts. There is now a financial
project should pass through this institute.
law that dictates the requisites a government must fulfill before obtaining credit. This will help organize the country’s finances. PPPs are also a ray of hope and will help bridge
Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC)
the country’s infrastructure financing gap. Mexico has
represents the interests of construction companies, offering
complex problems it needs to solve, such as corruption and
services to promote a highly competitive industry at the
insecurity, but there are many business owners and citizens
forefront of innovation
who are ready to put their best foot forward.
