The aerospace industry in Mexico has positioned itself in recent years as a strategic cluster for the country's economic development, currently operating in the country 267 companies that employ 34,000 workers in the manufacturing productive sector, located in 18 states.
In an interview with Mexican Business Web, Carlos J. Bello, general director of the Mexican Federation of Aerospace Industry(FEMIA) said that in 2012 the industry accumulated approximately $1.3 billion dollars(mdd) in new investments, an amount that is expected to be obtained again this year, in addition to 17 new projects that are already in the pipeline.
"This is a new, established and specialized cluster. An industry of very high technology, innovation, competitiveness, design, engineering, research and development of the highest level," said Bello.
According to the executive, the aerospace industry grew almost 20% since 2006, while last year exports reached $5.4 billion dollars, which meant a growth of 24% over 2011. Likewise, a 13% increase is expected this year.
Bello said that the progress of this industry in Mexico is due to the low cost that the country has in terms of labor force, which has an excellent reputation and is as good or better than that of the United States and Canada, countries where the cost is 28% and 34% higher.
The country's aerospace activities are: manufacturing with 79%, MRO (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul), with 11%, and design and engineering, with 10%. The main states, in terms of dynamism, are Baja California, with more than 59 firms; Sonora, more than 42; Chihuahua, more than 36; Querétaro, which has investments of 36 companies in manufacturing alone, and Nuevo León, which has the most important machining, with more than 26 firms.
Many people tell us that we still do not produce an airplane, and it is true; however, we are number one in the production of harnesses and instrumentation and we are extraordinary in fuselages, for example. Today the country ranks 14th as an aerospace supplier in the world.
The source revealed that during the next three or four years series-produced airplanes will be launched in the country, since companies such as CESSNA, MD Helicopters, Eurocopter and Bombardier have development programs for this purpose.
According to estimates of the Aerospace Industry Strategic Program of the Ministry of Economy(SE), by 2021 the industry is expected to have exports for $12,267 million dollars, with an annual growth of 14%. In this regard, Bello explained that FEMIA has a projection of $12,000 billion dollars by 2020.
"We have a great challenge with our industry and for the world: to position ourselves as the tenth supplier of the aerospace industry in 2020. We are proud of this because we are giving our students places and new opportunities to study in high-tech careers," concluded Bello.
Source: http: //www.mexicanbusinessweb.mx/sectores-productivos-de-mexico/sectorproductivoindustrial/industria-aeroespacial-cluster-estrategico-para-mexico/ (Eduardo Hernández/Mexican Business Web)