Graco Ramírez, Governor of the State of Morelos, discusses his state’s role as a key participant in driving national growth, thanks to its myriad infrastructure projects and its diversified economic activities, ranging from agro-industry and manufacturing to technology and research.
Morelos is undergoing a lot of construction. What projects are under way and what’s in the pipeline for the near future?
There was a project for the construction of a railroad that was cancelled in 2005. We’ve reopened it and are already in talks with Ferromex (now privatised). From here we can export to five locations in the US and reach the Pacific through the port of Manzanilla. This project should create about 6,000 jobs.
Another one we’re about to begin is the widening of the motorway through the town of Tepoztlan, which will give us greater mobility within the state. We’re also going to build a highway from Toluca to Tres Marias, in Morelos State. Yet another project, in the bidding stage, is a new highway from Atlixco in Puebla State to Tequesquitengo, Morelos, which will continue directly to Zihuatanejo and Acapulco on the Pacific side.
We calculate investment in infrastructure will reach about 30 billion pesos (£1.5 billion), thereby putting Morelos on a path of very strong competitiveness.
Morelos is the second-smallest state in Mexico, yet it’s quite the agricultural powerhouse. What are your main products?
We’re the number one producer of plants and flowers and the second largest producer of cacti. Also, we’re producing a natural dye called Grana Cochinilla (cochineal) for the cosmetics and textiles industries. It has a huge value in the market.
In addition, we’re the second biggest grower of avocadoes, after Michoacan, and we will begin to export to Europe. We’ve got the highest proportion of sugarcane and we’re working in conjunction with two sugar factories to head a regional strategy to grow the agro-industry and produce organic fertilizer and ethanol.
We were the first state to create a Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. Graco Ramirez, |
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