The topics of public policy, digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and political speed bumps resonated during the first day of the 38th CANIETI annual conference, which kicked off on September 13th, 2017, at the Presidente Intercontinental Hotel in Polanco Mexico City.

During the opening panel, Mario de la Cruz, President of the Chamber (pictured), announced that new public policy for the electronics manufacturing export industry will soon be announced, and that the IT sector was in need of a similar decree due to its importance for Mexico’s development.

He also called for the country’s potential presidential candidates to include telecoms in their agenda, stating that “it’s time to call on future candidates to include and agenda for information technology in their proposals”.

Ministry of Economy: “Fourth Industrial Revolution Demands new Business Models”

Rogelio Garza, Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce at the Ministry of Economy, said that “new business models, the regulatory framework, and, above all, human capital, are needed to face the challenges of developing new technologies as we aim to consolidate the high-technology production industry for the fourth industrial revolution.”

During a panel session focused on new public policies and challenges of the high-tech industry, Garza and other panelists expressed the need for the high-tech industry to promote an alliance between the sector and academia.

According to Gabriel Macías, Vice President of Operations for Flex Mexico, the development of high technology in Mexico is no longer associated with the hiring of cheap labor, since more companies are taking risks in the development of high technology and not only in their manufacture.

Panelists also suggested the integration of value chains and the development of local suppliers as fundamental public policy strategies for integrating SMEs into the development of new technologies.

US Telecoms Giant Communicates Dedication to Mexico in 2018

AT&T Mexico CEO Kelly King made it clear that the telecoms behemoth would continue pumping resources into Mexico in 2018, following up on 2015 announcement to invest US$3 billion in the country.

“In Mexico, we trust in the processes and in the government to date,” King told reporters. “The Mexican government has shown great consistency, and as long as that consistency continues we will have long-term certainty in the future.”

King anticipates that the company will continue to deploy its LTE network in Mexico, but ruled out, for the moment, the possibility of opening it to virtual operators.

CEC Calls for Telecoms “Even Ground” in NAFTA Negotiations

The president of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), Juan Pablo Castañón pointed out a need to create “even ground” in telecoms portability during the third round of NAFTA renegotiation.

His hopes is that this will generate synergies between small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

“What we are looking for is the same access for competitiveness in SMEs and for the consumer in general,” he said.

Look out for a roundup of the developments in day two of the CANIETI annual conference next week.