The government of the Mexican state of Jalisco has released an open letter to technology, companies, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the United States, inviting them to be a part of “Mexico’s Silicon Valley.”
“To our colleagues in U.S. tech companies who are adjusting to the policies changes affecting your 85,000 foreign workers: the Mexican state of Jalisco hears you, understands your concerns, and stands ready to work with you,” states the letter.
Located the west of Mexico City, Jalisco and its governor, Aristóteles Sandoval, are responding to the recent immigration policy changes instigated by U.S. President Donald Trump, seeing it as an opportunity to further develop Mexico’s growing technology industry.
Sandoval said he’d welcome any tech or skilled immigrant workers forced to flee the United States, during an interview with Foreign Policy.
Now, Sandoval is looking to attract talent with federal and state subsidies, education grants, and favorable migration policies, and companies are already beginning to take note.
This week, Sandoval will head to California to meet with leaders from 13 major tech companies and 30 to 40 startups, according to a report by Foreign Policy. These companies are all “anxious about the whole situation” in the U.S., the report states.
Sandoval has mentioned a “strong Californian presence” in Jalisco’s business hubs, but it eager to boost it even further. With over 50 industrial and tech parks, Jalisco already hosts about 40% of Mexico’s high-end tech industry.
Querétaro, Hidalgo, Puebla, and Mexico City are also increasing their efforts to attract foreign businesses, offering what they say is a friendlier business environment than what can currently be found in the U.S. The initiatives are all centered on the uncertainty surrounding the potential scrapping of NAFTA, as Mexico prepares to deal with the fallout.
“We believe talent has no borders,” Sandoval concluded.
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