2025 SelectUSA Mexico Conference: A Strategic Prelude to Attract Investment to the U.S.

SelectUSA has provided Mexican businesspeople and investors with a preview of the various advantages and opportunities for investing in the United States, which they will encounter at the “2025 SelectUSA Mexico Conference,” scheduled for February in Mexico City.

During the “Informational Webinar: Opportunities and Preparation for the 2025 SelectUSA Mexico Conference,” economic organizations and strategic partners from the U.S. states of Arizona, Kansas, North Dakota, and Pro Mexico Industry presented the facilitation, benefits, and competitive advantages offered by various regions for industries.

This served as a prelude to the “2025 SelectUSA Mexico Conference,” which will take place on February 25-26 in Mexico City. The event aims to bring together 25 U.S. state economic development organizations with Mexican businesspeople interested in investing to establish operations in the neighboring country.

Jasjit Singh, Executive Director of SelectUSA, explained that this will be the second edition of the conference held in Mexico, which serves as the first step in introducing businesspeople to what is considered the “red carpet” event, the “SelectUSA Investment Summit.” This summit is held in the U.S. and, at its latest edition, gathered over 5,000 attendees from at least 96 different markets.

“Mexico was among the top 10 largest delegations at the 2024 Summit. This demonstrates the strength of the relationship and the investor interest in investing in the United States,” he said.

Singh also mentioned that Mexico’s historical investment in the U.S. totals nearly $58 billion, particularly in critical industries like technology and manufacturing, which collectively supported around 28,000 jobs by the end of 2023.

Clarissa Bonillas, SelectUSA’s International Investment Specialist, added that in 2023, foreign direct investment in the U.S. totaled $271 billion, reaching a total of $5.3 trillion. Mexico ranks 15th among the top countries investing in the U.S., with key industries including food and beverage, auto parts, plastics, services, communications, metals, and manufacturing.

“Half of Mexico’s investments are directed towards the United States,” she explained.

In this regard, she noted that SelectUSA collaborates with economic development organizations to promote investment with successful outcomes for companies through 2,400 available incentive programs, ranging from tax credits to grants, loans, and more, at the state level. Local programs also exist to facilitate and promote investment.

Pro Mexico Industry: A Platform Specialized in Attracting Investment

Sara Avila, General Manager of Pro Mexico Industry, a digital platform specialized in attracting investment by disseminating strategic information, discussed the importance of partners for companies embarking on their investment journey.

She explained that through Pro Mexico Industry and Pro Texas Industry websites, crucial information is shared to assist decision-making, alongside testimonials from companies that have found success.

Avila highlighted the advantages for Mexican companies expanding into the U.S., including access to new markets and sectors, increased credibility and trust for international clients, positioning as a binational company, enhanced competitiveness, greater reliability, and consumer response (as a local product), as well as a more competitive EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes).

Unlike companies that export Mexican products to the U.S., which face various regulations resulting in operational costs, companies that establish operations in the U.S. benefit from several support programs, as well as other advantages that positively affect competition, operational control, and sales.

This underscores the importance of experts to provide guidance, from identifying strategic zones by sector to advising on tax and legal incentives, supporting administrative processes, industry-specific requirements, and more. These contributions help reduce risks and optimize costs for companies.

Pima, Arizona, and Its Advantages

Heath S. Vescovi-Chiordi, Economic Development Director of Pima County, Arizona, shared that their support to investors includes assistance with site selection through visits, access to capital, and designated land for economic development (200 acres available for company expansion or attraction). Additionally, they provide information on economic incentives and assist in finding the workforce, as they have agreements with different educational institutions, among other services.

Small businesses and startups are also offered support through strategic investment planning, marketing advice, and other services.

“Pima is a border county, and we know that our relationship with Mexico is invaluable given the ties between both countries, and Pima benefits greatly from that relationship,” he said.

Kansas: A State Open to Investment

Chang Lu, Business Recruitment & International Trade Project Manager at Kansas Commerce, outlined the various competitive advantages Kansas offers to companies in sectors such as manufacturing, processed foods, animal health, renewable energy, logistics, and distribution, though the state remains open to investment from all sectors.

Among Kansas' strategic advantages, Lu listed: accessible location, prosperous communities, low cost of living (among the top 10 in the U.S.), world-class talent, committed allies, excellent business environment, no state inventory, franchise, or local profit taxes, and exemptions on sales taxes and property taxes on machinery and equipment.

North Dakota: Business-Friendly and Thriving

Shawn Kessel, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Commerce Commissioner of North Dakota, highlighted the state’s strengths in attracting new investments, which has earned North Dakota leadership positions in various rankings.

“When we talk about being business-friendly, we take great pride in it. Being business-friendly means different things, such as a low cost of living. As we say: 'Innovation over regulation: We prefer to work with you than regulate you,'" he remarked.

He noted that North Dakota is the third state with the youngest population in the U.S., and this workforce is not only large but also highly content. The state is also considered one of the best places to find a job.

Some of the state’s world-class industries include energy (renewable energy, biodiesel, crude oil, lignite coal), and, with federal U.S. support, it is developing a hub for hydrogen production. This positively impacts resource costs for industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. North Dakota is also home to the third-largest Microsoft campus in the U.S. and various data centers.

Finally, Santiago Davila, Commercial Officer at SelectUSA, shared that they recently held a meeting with chambers and organizations from both the U.S. and Mexico to provide an introduction to the program and the conference set to take place in Mexico in February 2025.