Investment in Mexico City Breaks Records, Redefines Economic Model by 2026

During the third quarter of Mexico City’s current administration, a significant increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction was registered, solidifying the capital as one of Latin America’s leading hubs for innovation, talent, and economic confidence. According to Manola Zabalza Aldama, Head of the Ministry of Economic Development (SEDECO), the balance for this management period stands at over $23 billion in foreign direct investment, representing 55% of the national total and a growth exceeding 36% compared to 2024. These figures break historical records, positioning the capital as a sanctuary of stability, innovation, and international projection. Amidst geopolitical tensions, the reconfiguration of supply chains, and the economic decoupling between China and the United States, Mexico City has identified a strategic window of opportunity.

“Today, the question is not whether there will be changes, but who is ready to seize them,” stated the SEDECO head. Sectors such as health, advanced manufacturing, global services, and technology have become key pillars for attracting capital seeking new reliable destinations.

Strategic Sectors and Investment Priorities in Mexico City by 2026

The capital attraction agenda for the coming years focuses on sectors with high economic and technological impact:

Technology and Digital Services
Advanced Manufacturing
Health Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotechnology
Legal and Financial Services
High-Value Tourism
Electromobility, with public-private schemes

Events such as the represent an additional catalyst to accelerate investments and position the capital as a global showcase. Furthermore, quantifiable objectives include doubling the use of digital payment tools in SMEs; reaching over 70,000 digitalized SMEs by the end of the six-year term; and increasing access to formal credit through digital accounting.

Ongoing Investments and Vision for Mexico City by 2030

To date, the capital’s administration reports 302 active investment projects. Among the most recent highlights is Astellas Pharma’s announcement, with an investment exceeding $60 million, as well as national expansions by companies like Casa de Toño, generating large-scale formal employment.

Beyond the figures, the objective is to demystify technology and transform it into an everyday, accessible, and productive tool for SMEs. Making technological inclusion a real public policy, reducing inequalities, and transforming cell phones into management tools, not just entertainment devices, is the legacy SEDECO aims to build by 2030.

Mexico City’s Economic Diversity

Mexico City’s economic diversity is one of its greatest assets. SEDECO’s strategy includes developing specific economic specializations by region:

South: Agrotourism hub and sustainable production
East: Logistics and industry, with Iztapalapa as a central axis
North: Technology and innovation, particularly in Vallejo
Center: Financial and corporate services

The commitment is to create new economic centers that bring employment closer to homes and strengthen the local economy.

Support for Micro-enterprises in Mexico City

Moreover, according to INEGI data, Mexico City has 460,760 economic units, 92% of which are micro-enterprises. This figure is significant, as it represents the true economic engine of the capital.

Given this landscape, the Mexico City government launched a comprehensive strategy led by the Social Development Fund (Fondeso), offering financial instruments designed to scale local businesses.

Main support programs for entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises:

‘Créditos a la palabra’ (word-of-honor loans) of up to 25,000 pesos for new ventures
Financing of up to 300,000 pesos with preferential rates
Mentorship programs to scale from micro to small enterprise
Promotion of formalization and access to the financial system

This model, originally created during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration in the capital, has transformed into an urban development mini-bank.

Democratizing Technology: Productivity as Public Policy

One of SEDECO’s strategic pillars is based on the premise that without technology, there is no productivity, and without productivity, there is no sustainable growth. Therefore, Mexico City is committed to closing the productive digital divide, not just the access divide, clarified Zabalza Aldama.

The goal is for tools such as digital payments, electronic accounting, inventory control, and management platforms to be as common in the east as in the west of the city. Key actions include:

Free, monthly mass classes with leading technology companies
Promotion of fintechs oriented towards productive credit for SMEs
Training in the use of digital tools for sales and administration

The objective is to increase the productivity of 98% of the city’s businesses. A change of this magnitude would have a structural impact on employment, income, and competitiveness.

Mexico City as a Hub for Solutions and Innovation

The global economy is transitioning from a labor-based model to a knowledge-centric one. Following this logic, the capital aims to position itself as a ‘brain economy,’ where talent is the primary asset.

Mexico City concentrates some of the country’s most relevant educational institutions and research centers, such as UNAM, IPN, and UAM, in addition to high-level business schools and private centers. Added to this is the presence of global corporations such as Google, Amazon, and Apple, as well as thousands of national companies that make the capital a magnet for talent.

The goal is to export high value-added services to the rest of the country and the American continent.