Building Yucatán’s industrial future: CIIP collaboration moves into delivery

Presenting a long-term industrial vision

The visit included a presentation to the Governor of Yucatán, senior state officials, representatives of the business community, and educational institutions. Speaking at the event, Dr López-Gómez emphasised that industrial policy must be rooted in the strengths and circumstances of each region.

“Industrial policy is not a document. It is a roadmap: a roadmap for building a stronger industrial base, better-paid jobs and greater prosperity for Yucatán.”
Dr Carlos López-Gómez, Head of Policy, Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy

The Industrial Policy of Yucatán 2025–2050 is intended to provide a long-term framework for identifying strategic projects, coordinating action across government, industry and academia, and setting priorities for the short, medium and long term.

Its proposed structure covers five strategic areas: human capital; strategic and sustainable productive infrastructure; innovation and technology; productive linkages and regional integration; and international positioning and investment attraction. Shared prosperity and the sectoral regulatory framework are treated as cross-cutting priorities.

Secretary Jorge Ermilo Barrera Novelo emphasised the policy’s focus on evidence, collaboration and tangible benefits:

“This policy has been developed through evidence-based analysis, broad stakeholder dialogue, and a systematic assessment of the factors that can drive a stronger, more competitive and more inclusive industrial economy. Its central objective is to ensure that this transformation delivers tangible benefits for the people of Yucatán: better-paid jobs, more competitive businesses, and deeper integration of local firms into regional, national and global value chains.” Jorge Ermilo Barrera Novelo, Secretary of Economy and Labour of the State of Yucatán

Building capabilities for implementation

The visit also marked the beginning of a capacity-building programme for officials involved in industrial development in Yucatán. Initial activities included sessions exploring the foundations of industrial innovation policy and lessons from Singapore’s industrialisation experience.

The wider programme is designed to expose participants to international policy experience and practical tools in areas including green industrial policy, technological transformation, gender-responsive sector planning, the use of artificial intelligence in policy design, and the strategic attraction of foreign direct investment. Specialists from CIIP and international partner organisations are expected to contribute to the programme.

Supporting a locally led policy process

CIIP is providing independent, non-binding technical support through funding from the Open Society Foundations. SETY retains responsibility for the policy’s content and the decisions underpinning it.

The collaboration brings international evidence and experience into a locally led process. CIIP’s role includes analytical support, benchmarking, capacity building and the sharing of lessons from industrial policy initiatives around the world.

Moving from policy design towards delivery

Planned next steps include continued training and the co-development of implementation approaches, international benchmarking and thematic analysis, and activities to communicate the policy to national and international audiences.

Together, these activities aim to help translate Yucatán’s long-term industrial vision into coordinated action, stronger institutional capabilities and effective, practical programmes.

This work forms part of a wider project supported by Open Society Foundations through which CIIP is collaborating with governments in Mexico and Indonesia to strengthen the design and implementation of green industrial strategies.