Yucatan Seeks Investment in Aerospace Industry With MRO Project and New Logistics Hubs

Mérida, Mexico — Yucatan Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena met with business representatives to discuss strategic projects in the aerospace industry aimed at attracting investment, strengthening economic development, and creating well-paid jobs in the state.

The governor explained that the state’s conditions of peace, security, and growth position Yucatan as an attractive destination for national and international investors interested in developing strategic projects in an environment with collaboration opportunities.

In this context, Díaz Mena held a meeting with representatives from the Kaizen and -B groups, who are interested in investing in the state to promote Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) projects in the aerospace sector, along with developments in hotel and hospital infrastructure that would expand employment opportunities for Yucatan residents.

In the presence of the head of the Secretariat of Economy and Labor (SETY), Ermilo Barrera Novelo, the governor explained that the Maya Renaissance initiative integrates infrastructure and logistics projects to strengthen the state’s competitiveness.

He detailed that one of the main pillars is the modernization and expansion of the Port of Progreso: it currently has 34 hectares of platform area, with plans to add two additional platforms of 80 hectares total (40 each), with new terminals and logistics functions. The plan also includes deepening the port to accommodate larger cruise ships and vessels with greater draft.

He noted that in this area, the state government plans to invest 1.5 billion pesos, while the federal government will invest 10.9 billion pesos.

Furthermore, he indicated that another strategic component is the Maya cargo train, on the segment from the multimodal terminal in Umán to Puerto Progreso, where the state government has invested approximately 1 billion pesos in right-of-way, while the federal government is allocating 25 billion pesos.

He added that the state is also promoting the development of Industrial Welfare Hubs — one between Mérida and Progreso, and another in Umán — through land acquisition and complementary works to facilitate business arrivals.

He also mentioned progress on the Mayakán gas pipeline, which supplies natural gas to the Yucatan Peninsula to strengthen low-cost electricity generation in Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo, and potentially other states.

The governor noted that with these conditions, the Chichén Itzá Airport represents an opportunity for projects like the one being analyzed with the business sector, as it is infrastructure with potential for relaunch to attract investments and trigger specialized employment.

Additionally, he explained that the state has complementary strengths to attract investment: historically, Yucatan has established itself as a regional reference in health services, with daily influx of people from neighboring states who come for medical care.

He recalled that construction is currently underway on the new Agustín O’Horán Hospital, with over 600 beds, which will join the Regional High Specialty Hospital and existing infrastructure, along with private services that contribute to medical tourism.

He also highlighted Yucatan’s potential for real estate developments, driven by security conditions and a broad tourism offering that includes archaeological zones, beaches, cenotes, gastronomy, and culture — elements that strengthen the attraction of projects linked to services, housing, and hospitality.

For his part, founding partner of Grupo -B, Moisés Araf, explained that the company, in alliance with Grupo Kaizen — led by Carlos Orias — seeks to strengthen investment in the country with a relevant focus on the southeast, particularly in MRO projects for the aerospace sector.

He added that they have developed rental housing projects for adults, hotels, and even hospitals in various parts of the country, in conjunction with national and international brands.

In turn, partner of Grupo -B and Grupo Kaizen, Carlos Soria, indicated that both firms have already developed a 200-hectare aeronautical park in Chihuahua, an experience that drove their interest in this type of project. However, he noted that due to the conditions Yucatan offers, the state is emerging as a priority option to develop an MRO at the Chichén Itzá Airport.

In the same vein, aeronautics specialist and advisor on projects like the Felipe Ángeles International Airport, Fabrizio Pérez, explained that Yucatan has favorable conditions due to its geographic location, cost competitiveness, and customs access, which would allow aircraft to receive repair and maintenance services at Chichén Itzá if the project materializes.

He noted that this proposal responds to demand in the aeronautical market, related to the limited number of MRO facilities worldwide and the growth in aircraft production.

The meeting also included the general coordinator of Strategic Projects, Dafne López Martínez; the undersecretary of Investment, Commerce, and Industry of SETY, Roger Góngora García; as well as the representative of the federal Secretariat of Economy, Francisco Núñez Escudero.