•DECLINE Government investment in infrastructure in Mexico declined by 19% in real terms during the first seven months of 2019 when compared to the same period of 2018 causing alarm among Mexico’s construction sector given that more cuts are expected in 2020.
•FURTHER CUTS According to official data covering until July, national Government expenditures this year on maintenance of highways, water systems, hospitals, schools and other public works was of around USD 3.9 billion; it is expected that a 6% cut will come next year.
•CAUTION “Infrastructure is falling down. There is a need for more resources rather than to just cut them off…. It is very important to understand that job creation is now the priority”, says Eduardo Ramírez Leal, president of Mexico’s construction industry chamber (CMIC).
•TREND Considered key factor to boost economic competitiveness, a recent report by a Mexican Senate think-tank estimated that public investment in infrastructure has fallen down from 6% of GDP in 2009 to just 2.8% of GDP in 2018.