17 Jan 2019
At our Mexico City roundtable, we discussed the future landscape of Mexican infrastructure, through the lens of greater public-private collaboration.
Our panelists discussed the following:
The viability of the Maya Train, the new project soon to be built in Mexico’s Yucatán peninsular. They highlighted how the high running cost of passenger trains could be subsidised by sharing the line with freight trains, which could provide up to 70% of the revenue. To this end, the panellists discussed how this project, as with any other should have four key pillars: economic, social, cultural and environmental.
The importance of private-public collaboration in achieving common goals. A proactive private sector is indispensable for a government, as is a responsive and visionary government for the private sector. In reference to the uncertain situation with the airport infrastructure of Mexico City and the Maya train, the two speakers from the government emphasised the importance of current administration’s policy to see infrastructure as an integrated issues, with the need to develop plans strategically with consideration for all other modes of transport. They highlighted the need to take a long term view, not just 10 years but 30,50 and 100 years into the future.
How other countries have focused on infrastructure development from China to Singapore. The Chinese City of Shenzen was discussed, with participants mentioning how it barely existed 19 years ago and today has the GDP equivalent to that of Hong Kong, principally because of the strategic use of its ports. This philosophy that ports are more than just logistics hubs, that they can become sophisticated business-focused ecosystems, is an example that Mexico should consider following.
