Mexico. The Economy Commission of the Senate of Mexico and the Mexican Association of Data Centers (MEXDC) brought together government, industry and academia in the "International Forum: economy and the relevance of data centers in Mexico in favor of Shared Prosperity", a space for dialogue focused on Technological Investment in Mexico and Energy Transition, challenges that MEXDC has identified as pillars for the technological and economic development of the country.
The meeting was inaugurated by Senators Imelda Castro Castro, Vice President of the Senate Board of Directors, and Emmanuel Reyes Carmona, President of the Economy Commission, with the aim of analyzing the use of technology to reduce the inequality gap and create opportunities for all.
Castro Castro said that technological development is a strategic tool that can promote and consolidate economic growth of more than three percent for the country, but effective public policies, significant investments in education and research and close collaboration between the government, private initiative and the academic sector are required.
"Mexico, along with its neighbors and trading partners, the United States and Canada, require close collaboration to continue being global leaders, and our country is already doing its part," he said.
For his part, Reyes Carmona said that the regulation of databases and data management, cybersecurity, telecommunications, power generation and tax incentives are issues that must be reviewed to attract more investments and help the country's economic development.
In this democratic stage of Mexico, he said, it is important to have the participation of everyone to face challenges such as the revision of the USMCA; as well as to achieve shared prosperity, which is to ensure that all sectors of society move forward to fulfill their aspirations and well-being.
Amet Novillo, president of the Mexican Association of Data Centers, MEXDC, said that Data Centers are the backbone of technological infrastructure, because in addition to attracting investments and creating jobs, they help the creation of smart cities, electromobility, to take advantage of nearshoring and in the consolidation of a digital government.
Heidy Karla Rocha Ruiz, director of Infrastructure and Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency, said that data centers and technological infrastructure are never visible until they present a failure, but without them it would not be possible to move towards digital transformation, an issue promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
During the Forum, the panel "Technological Investment in Mexico (Industrial Policy and Economic Development)" was held, with the participation of Amet Novillo, president of MEXDC and CEO of Equinix; Alejandro Cantú, vice president of the MEXDC and COO of Layer9; Héctor Arturo Oropeza García, president of the Institute of Industrial Development and Digital Transformation A.C. (INADI) and Researcher at the Institute of Legal Research of the UNAM and Fernando Díaz Barrero, general director of Productive Development of the Ministry of Economy. This dialogue was moderated by Senator Yeidckol Polevnsky, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Foreign Relations Committee.
Novillo assured that, as a Data Center industry, the challenge of the development and growth of digital infrastructure is focused on the transition of the federal government in Mexico, which has shown greater attention to the technology industry, as well as joining efforts so that investments stay in the country. "We must establish bridges of communication and collaboration to consolidate a panorama of certainty for investments that seek to reach the country."
In a second panel of the meeting entitled "Energy Transition (challenges and opportunities)", Senator Laura Itzel Castillo Juárez, president of the Energy Commission; Carlos Forero, member of MEXDC and COO LATAM ODATA (Colombia); Adriana Rivera, executive director of the Mexican Association of Data Centers; José Luis Solleiro Rebolledo of the Institute for Industrial Development and Digital Transformation A.C. (INADI), and Karla Nayeli Ramírez Martínez, technical director in the Office of Commissioner Walter Ángel; Energy Regulatory Commission; and was moderated by Senator Eugenio Segura Vázquez, secretary of the Economy Commission.
Senator Laura Itzel Castillo Juárez, president of the Energy Commission, said that interconnectivity is essential in the modern era, which is why there is an Energy Plan that was proposed by the federal government; Therefore, there is a real commitment to the energy transition and the need that exists to be able to have the adequate resources for this transmission.
"Currently, what is generated with clean energy in our country is more than 30 percent and what is aimed for 2030 is to reach 35 percent. There is a commitment to the work that has to be done for the energy transition and the estimated investment within this plan by the Federal Electricity Commission is $23,400 million dollars. In conclusion, there is a commitment to continue with clean energy in Mexico at the same time as energy sovereignty as a fundamental part of our development," concluded Castillo Juárez.
For his part, MEXDC spokesperson Carlos Forero said: "It is a pleasure for me as a foreigner, to witness first-hand how the federal government cares about and promotes the development of our industry. I had the opportunity to participate in the creation in the company for which I work, for the operation in Mexico, only five years ago and in this period I have been a complete witness to the development and consolidation of our industry. Today we can tell the world that we have a Data Center industry capable of competing with any other country. Of course, we have great challenges around energy and labor, but we have already executed and we already have a positioning, what we are facing today is that this demand for global Data Centers is growing very fast and demanding different solutions from us."
Adriana Rivera, executive director of MEXDC, stressed that the energy transition is a challenge that must be addressed in a comprehensive and collaborative manner. It cannot be the exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of Energy or the Environment; All areas of government, citizens and companies must actively participate. "The urgency of this transition lies in the need to replace fossil fuels with environmentally friendly alternatives. However, we face a significant technological challenge: renewables do not yet offer stable power comparable to that of fossil fuels. It is crucial to invest in technology that allows generating the same calorific value and stability, combining energy sources to minimize environmental impact," he said.
"In the data center industry, we are fully aware of the importance of the energy transition and discuss it frequently within our Association. We strongly believe in this transition and there are already global efforts where Data Centers use sustainable energy and even generate their own energy. With the support of the federation, we are on the right track to achieve it," Rivera said.
The members of the Mexican Association of Data Centers thanked the Economy Commission of the Senate of the Republic and special guests for the openness to dialogue and the invitation to make synergies in favor of Mexico positioning itself as a hub of technological innovation at a global level, assuring that to achieve this it is important to promote Education and Training in STEM areas. create incentives for investment in R+D, modernize and develop more technological infrastructure, support entrepreneurship and promote Public-Private collaboration, in addition to developing favorable public policies.
