Photo by Robin Sommer on Unsplash

In Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua there is a particular subculture only found in areas with a high concentration of manufacturing industries. The mega region of Paso del Norte is known as the 4th largest manufacturing hub in North America as it houses a large concentration of both national and international industrial companies. 

The jewel of the desert. 

According to data from Banxico, the manufacturing industry is the main generator of foreign direct investment in Mexico generating more than 400 billion dollars in 2019 and taking the lead over the second place, automotive industry exports, by almost 252 billion USD. In the state of Chihuahua, total revenues from the supply of goods and services in the manufacturing, maquiladora, and export services industry generated approximately 12.5 million USD in 2018. Of 505 manufacturing establishments registered in the state of Chihuahua in the 2018, 329 belong to the municipality of Juárez and 72.53% of the total personnel participating in this economic sector in the state of Chihuahua also work in Juárez. (Municipal Research and Planning Institute of Ciudad Juárez, 2019) 
   

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The manufacturing or maquiladora industry is the reason the local infrastructure is constantly developed and it is the base driving and maintaining the binational economy in the border Ciudad Juárez - El Paso. All this and more takes us to conclude the manufacturing industry throughout the borderland is an economic jewel in the manufacturing field with a bright future ahead.

El Paso-Juárez, sister cities. 

El Paso, Texas. and Ciudad Juárez have been hand in hand even before its official foundation in 1659 since 60 years before Juan de Oñate named the area as the crossing point "Paso Del Norte". Afterwards the inhabitants were forced to split the community in two when it was decided the United States border would be delimited with the Rio Grande (also known as Rio Bravo). This inseparable and unrepeatable community has been existing for over 400 years as a multicultural meeting point with great opportunity and commercial activity. 

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Having El Paso, Tx. nearby is one of the most important unique advantages of doing or having business in the area. The proximity of the two cities and the binational culture part of the border community: facilitate business growth, exports and imports, and constantly create important economic opportunities. The Juarez-El Paso community for years has been the pillar sustaining and driving the economy of the northern part of the country, benefiting the entire mega region that includes Chihuahua, Texas, and New Mexico. 

In the future, Industry 4.0 

According to data from INEGI and BorderNow, in 2019 the manufacturing industry was responsible for 16% of Mexican GDP. However, the competitive advantages of the manufacturing industry in the Mexican economy are not eternal. First introduced in 2011, industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution which focuses on transforming industry processes through a constant increase and adaptation of digital tools in order to coordinate economically productive units. Manufacturing companies in Mexico have been struggling with initiating this transformation, which is projected to generate important social changes in the coming years. Two of the most important principles of Industry 4.0 are; the flexibility to adapt quickly and to be able to adjust to the diverse and changing specifications of the market, and the automated and digitized production with the use of artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and other digital tools that help increase efficiency and production. 

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The manufacturing industry in Mexico has struggled to adapt to the new technology trends of the era. However there are programs and courses that help companies boost their competitiveness through innovation and renewal processes and practices. These programs are called “business accelerators” and in Ciudad Juárez there is a Microsoft-sponsored program called “The Bridge Accelerator” dedicated to modernizing SMEs through the training and help of experts. 

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We have to celebrate the manufacturing industry, especially if you are from the Paso del Norte area, because it is thanks to this industry that there has been economic growth and development throughout the region. However, the world continues to innovate and in order not to lose the renowned position Juarez has in the manufacturing field, we must invest in digital tools and start the transformation as soon as possible. 

 

Main source of economic data; Socioeconomic Radiography of the Municipality of Juárez 2018, This is how 2019 began. By the municipal research and planning institute of Cd. Juárez. .