Cozumel Pact Boosts Investment & Fiscal Equity

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex) in Cozumel has secured an agreement with federal legislators to incentivize municipal tax collection, ensuring greater public investment. The deal, dubbed the “Pact for Cozumel,” emerged during the Forum for Economic and Social Development for the Welfare of Cozumel Island.

Incentivizing Fiscal Responsibility

Vilma Padilla, president of the local Coparmex chapter, explained that the initiative, originally proposed as a legal reform in March, was rebranded to reflect its origins in Cozumel.

“The objective is not only to benefit Cozumel but to ensure all municipalities nationwide receive an additional percentage point in federal revenue-sharing, conditioned on improving local tax collection,” Padilla stated.

Federal Deputy Jericó Abramo Masso of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) clarified that the agreement was reached with lawmakers across party lines.

“The key lies in the incentive. The federal government could allocate this extra percentage exclusively to mobility, infrastructure, water, drainage, electrification, and sidewalks—not payroll or operational expenses,” Abramo Masso emphasized.

Addressing Cozumel’s Unique Challenges

Padilla highlighted the island’s logistical disadvantages, noting that maritime transport increases costs for goods. She argued the pact should offset these disparities and establish a legal framework for island-specific fiscal incentives, such as:

• An 8% Value-Added Tax (VAT), mirroring the southern border rate.
• Reduced Income Tax (ISR).
• Fuel tax (IEPS) benefits.

The agreement could reportedly channel an additional 100 million pesos annually to Cozumel. Coparmex aims to ensure municipal compliance translates into poverty reduction, infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced local competitiveness.