Mexico set to unlock the potential of industry 4.0

GUANAJUATO, Mexico: The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS), a joint initiative by the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), held its international roadshow, GMIS Connect – Mexico, at ‘Poliforum Leon’ in Guanajuato, Mexico on 11 October 2019. The roadshow was held alongside the inauguration of Industrial Transformation Mexico (ITM), a first of its kind industrial exhibition hosted by Deutsche Messe in Central America.

Designed to facilitate strategic consensus on the transformation of manufacturing and industries, GMIS Connect – Mexico brought together experts from governments, businesses, and civil society to discuss and debate the challenges and opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). A series of panel discussions were held around critical topics including how to increase the adoption of international best practices in the implementation of 4IR technologies in local markets, industrial development aimed towards driving global prosperity, the implications of the 4IR on employment and how industry should analyse the ‘factories of the future’ in order to prepare its workforce with the right skills, and, finally, how current legislation must evolve to catch-up with digital developments.

The appetite to build a manufacturing sector for the future has enabled Mexico to become a world-class manufacturing hub, with more than 80% of high-tech exports in Latin America produced there. Mexico is also the largest exporter of medium and high-tech manufactured goods among G20 economies. However, to reach its full potential, the Mexican manufacturing sector must explore ways to include the SME sector in the digital transformation agenda, promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing throughout the industry. In this regard, trade shows such as ITM and GMIS Connect are ideally timed.

Mexico is poised to embrace the technology-driven transformation of the manufacturing sector, largely as a result of its Industry 4.0 strategy and the development of an ecosystem of automated factories. The size, scale, and skill of Mexico’s workforce mean it is uniquely placed to drive forward the evolution of its manufacturing sector, as unlike many developed countries, it is a sector that is viewed as an attractive and prosperous profession attracting workers from all academic backgrounds. Furthermore, 59% of Mexican manufacturing companies already have a digital strategy in place, while many have already adopted 4IR practices. As a result, Mexico already has 21 ‘smart’ automotive plants and 98 research centres for innovation.

Commenting on the success of GMIS Connect - Mexico, Carlos Zegarra, Partner – Management Consulting Leader, PwC Mexico said; “I am delighted to join GMIS Connect – Mexico and to be part of these enlightening, and critical discussions. The dawn of the 4IR marks a new chapter in the global economy and it is vital that we put the foundations in place to ensure it reaches its full potential. A key part of this is ensuring international, regional and local trade relationships are strong, fair and effective, allowing the entire value chain to thrive. This will only be made possible by open and frank discussion, and a global consensus on behaviour and objectives.”

The session has seen the participation of a series of industry experts from government, private sector and UN agencies including Alejandro Preinfalk, Executive Vice President Digital Industries of Siemens México, Central America, and the Caribbean; Guillermo Castellá, UNIDO Representative for Mexico and Director for Central America; Noé Villegas Alcántar, Director of Energy Management of the National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE); Claudia Ávila, Director General of the Mexican Association of Industrial Parks (AMPIP); and Martha Mejia, Technical Director of the Mexican Entity for Accreditation, amongst others.

Ramiro Magaña, UNIDO National Coordinator for Mexico also led a panel discussion around UNIDO’s concept of Inclusive Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID), referring to the need of addressing the multidimensional causes of poverty, through creating shared prosperity, advancing economic competitiveness, and safeguarding the environment. Guillermo Castellá, UNIDO Representative for Mexico and Director for Central America also took the opportunity to shed light on how Industry 4.0 must contribute to a sustainable future by altering its approach to the industry model to incorporate elements such as the circular economy, bio-based materials, and additive manufacturing.

Commenting on the event, Namir Hourani, Managing Director of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) said “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is affecting trade at every level. Only by working together as a global community can we achieve the true potential of this transformation. The GMIS Connect roadshow in Mexico highlights the energy and drive in Mexico to embrace all that the 4IR has to offer. As such, Mexico can become a pioneer of the digital revolution, bringing positive change to the industry and economic prosperity as a result.”

The topics discussed during the luncheon session will contribute to the main themes for the next edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit in 2020 which will take place from 20-21 April, alongside Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial technology tradeshow, in Germany.

As the world’s first cross-industry platform, The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit unites manufacturers, governments and NGOs, technologists, and investors in a mission to harness the 4IR’s transformation of manufacturing to enable the regeneration of the global economy. The third edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit aims to inspire discussion and agreement on a strategic pathway in order to contribute to promoting sustainable industrial development through innovation and the adoption of 4IR technologies on a global scale.

-Ends-

Reethu Thachil
Communications Manager
M Three Marcomms LLC, Press Office for:
Global Manufacturing & Industrialisation Summit
Mohammed Bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity
+971 55 35 00715/ reethu@m3media.com  

About GMIS:

The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) was established in 2015 to build bridges between manufacturers, governments and NGOs, technologists, and investors in harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s (4IR) transformation of manufacturing to enable the regeneration of the global economy. A joint initiative by the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), GMIS is a global platform that presents stakeholders with an opportunity to shape the future of the manufacturing sector and contribute towards global good by advancing some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The first two editions of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit were held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in March 2017, and Yekaterinburg, Russia in July 2019, respectively, with each edition welcoming over 3,000 high level delegates from over 40 countries.

GMIS 2020, the third edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, will be held alongside Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade fair from 20-21 April 2020 in Hannover, Germany, and will focus on glocalisation towards inclusive and sustainable global value chains.

© Press Release 2019