The seven magnificents is an acquaintance western American based The Seven Samurai, by filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. In any case, these films are based on the story of humble heroes who defend justice for a population.
Can Mexico have its Magnificent 11? A small group that awakens a spark that pushes Mexico into an era of prosperity, let's say.
A team of that size made up of technicians exists and at least two names are known: Carola Gomez Montejoindustrial engineering student and Edgar Salinas Florescomputer systems engineering student.
They and nine other Mexicans were sent at the beginning of the year to Mesa Community College, in Arizona, to learn for a semester how to do something that Mexico does not yet produce, following the Automated Industrial Technology program under the sponsorship of the United States government.
The context in which they got there is much more relevant than the mere ambition of a group of students.
A report published on Friday by the US government through the USTR – its most powerful commercial arm – reveals that their stay is part of the High-Level Economic Dialogue between the United States and Mexico 2024. They form a core connection of the “nearshoring”, that term that refers to the return of production centers to North America.
The neighbors place the context of these students within “Pillar One” of trade relations between both countries, called “Rebuild Together.”
“The governments of the United States and Mexico have collaborated closely on initiatives to strengthen the region's supply chains and reduce the risk of their interruption in the face of possible threats in the current international context,” explains the USTR.
Within this strategy, the most important activity is to develop a North American chip industry, which includes Mexico. The purpose of the education that the 11 Mexicans will receive there? Just learning how to make semiconductors.
With that goal in mind, the United States government launched 5 general lines of action, which include training:
One. Integrate regional semiconductor supply chains. Two. Expand existing activities by improving the investment climate to attract assembly, testing and packaging activities. Three. Diversify investment towards activities that are not yet present in the region. Four. Foster dialogue at the state and local level to promote investments in the semiconductor industry. AND Five. Support workforce development efforts in the region's semiconductor industry.
This first group of 11 national individuals will complete their training next month, within the program called “Community College Initiative.”
The government of the neighboring country, through the USTR, monitors other activities contained within this intention to create a semiconductor industry in Mexico and North America.
Among them, its report highlights that, supported by the US government, in February, the CANIETI, chaired by Enrique Yamunisummoned the first of four quarterly semiconductor forums which was attended by more than 160 participants in Guadalajara. Other forums are coming in Baja California, Chihuahua and Mexico City.
The USTR also details that the OECD is working with Mexico on a study of the country's semiconductor ecosystem funded by the International Technology, Security and Innovation Fund (ITSI) of the United States Science and Technology Act.
It focuses on supply chain assembly, testing and packaging (ATP) activities, which could attract the first investments in this area.
They participate in the High Level Economic Dialogue Marisa LagoUndersecretary of International Trade, and the Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment, Jose W. Fernandez. For Mexico, the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, Alejandro Encinasand SRE's North American director, Robert Velasco.
There is more information on the way, I promise to let you know.
