NL: Sustainability and Talent, Key to Business in the Face of a Moderate Economic Outlook

Nuevo León's industry is heading into 2025 with expectations of moderate economic growth, with the state's GDP estimated to grow by just 0.3%. Given this outlook, the business and government sectors are strongly committed to sustainability, the development of specialized talent—particularly in energy—and the creation of inclusive business networks as key strategies to maintain competitiveness and attract investment.

The Nuevo León Chamber of Manufacturing Industries (Caintra) has projected limited growth for the state's economy in 2025, with a 0.3% increase in total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a 0.1% increase in the manufacturing sector. This caution is largely attributed to global economic uncertainty. Despite this, the local industry is expected to generate around 19,000 new jobs. In this context, Caintra has requested greater government support for the productive sector, including more guaranteed loans, payroll tax exemptions, and further streamlining of procedures.

One of the most powerful responses from the Nuevo León industry to this environment is the determined push toward corporate sustainability. CAINTRA, through its Institute for Environmental Protection (IPA), is actively promoting the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, as well as energy efficiency and the circular economy.

More than 290 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have already participated in three editions of the ESG Workshop organized by the chamber, receiving practical tools and specialized knowledge to transition toward more sustainable operations.

Industrial companies are adopting a systemic approach that includes integrated energy management, process and equipment modernization, a transition to renewable energy, and concrete actions to reduce waste and improve water efficiency.

At the same time, the Nuevo León Energy Cluster is leading a major initiative to develop specialized talent. In May, it brought together key representatives from academia and the private sector to define a strategy that addresses current and future human capital needs in the state's energy industry.

This action is crucial, given the significant increase in energy demand in the state, driven in part by the nearshoring phenomenon and industrial and urban growth.

Nuevo León has also been the site of important events aimed at connecting companies and fostering innovation. The Monterrey 2025 Business Roundtable, announced in March and followed up in June, was organized by Sistema B México in collaboration with the State Secretariat of Equality and Inclusion and the Monterrey Institute of Technology. Its objective: to unite leading companies, startups, and strategic allies to strengthen sustainable value chains with a strong focus on equality and inclusion.

More recently, the Global Transportation & Innovation Summit (GTI Summit) 2025, held on June 4 and 5 at Cintermex, brought together more than 500 companies and 120 buyers, generating an estimated $5 billion in business revenue and boosting smart mobility in the region.

These commitments to sustainability, specialized talent, and cross-sector collaboration (government, industry, academia, and civil society) are not just responses to global trends, but proactive strategies. They seek to maintain Nuevo León's competitiveness and investment appeal in a challenging economic context, as evidenced by the recent decline in vehicle production (-2.0%) and exports (-2.9%) in Mexico during May 2025, a sector with a strong presence in the state.

Initiative/Event Organizers/Key Leaders Main Objective Impact/Relevance Strategy Energy Talent Development NL Energy Cluster, Academia, Private Sector Train human capital for current/future needs of the energy sector. Crucial for nearshoring and growing energy demand. Sustainability Promotion (ESG, etc.) CAINTRA (IPA) Integrate environmental care, efficiency, and social responsibility in the industry. Improves competitiveness, attracts investment. Monterrey 2025 Business Roundtable Sistema B, Sec. Igualdad NL, Tec de Monterrey Connect companies, strengthen sustainable and inclusive value chains. Promotes a fairer and regenerative economy. GTI Summit 2025 Government of NL and others Promote smart mobility, innovation, and business. Generated business deals worth $5 billion, positions NL as a hub.

These strategic investments could position Nuevo León to better capitalize on future opportunities, building resilience and attractiveness beyond short economic cycles, and fostering a more robust innovation ecosystem through a "triple helix" collaboration model.

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