Mexico takes important steps in reforming its QI system

On 4 January Tatiana Clouthier replaced Graciela Márquez Colín as Minister of Economy. The Mexican President López Obrador stated that under Ms. Clouthier’s leadership, the Ministry of Economy (Secretaría de Economía - SE) will further support national economic activities, build good relations with the private and labour sector and continue promoting foreign trade. Former minister Dr. Márquez Colín joined the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), an autonomous body.

Ms. Clouthier set out fundamental guidelines for dealing with the economic crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. She emphasised four main strategic lines:

1. internal market, employment and enterprise;
2. investment facilitation;
3. international trade;
4. regionalisation and relevant economic sectors.

Three out of the four strategic lines imply QI issues. Within the first strategic line, SE seeks to elaborate a policy on industry and technology to promote Industrie 4.0. The ministry emphasises the need to increase the competitiveness and digitalisation of the industry in areas, such as e-commerce, digital economy and innovation models. It also highlighted the special interest in, among others, the automotive industries and chemical, electrical-electromechanical and medical devices.

As for the third strategic line, the aim is to promote foreign trade and negotiate, implement, and administer trade agreements. Therefore, exports to new and existing markets need to be increased and the turnaround times that will facilitate imports should to be reduced.

On 28 January, Ms. Clouthier assumed the Presidency of the National Commission of Quality Infrastructure (CNIC, for its acronym in Spanish) within its first plenary session. The CNIC is a collegiate body whose responsibility is to direct and coordinate activities in the fields of technical regulation, standardisation, conformity assessment and metrology.

In the plenary session, Ms. Clouthier underlined the significance of a strong standardisation system as the basis for a more modern, efficient and competitive economy. Dr. Ernesto Acevedo Fernández, Vice Minister for Industry, Commerce and Competitiveness, pointed out the importance of QI as a cornerstone in the promotion of economic development and industrial modernisation. The obligations of standardisation authorities and the analysis of the National Quality Infrastructure Programme 2021, which will be published by 28 February, were also addressed.