Mexico launching more than 800 infra tenders

The Mexican government is launching tenders for 873 infrastructure projects in an attempt to reactivate the struggling construction sector and boost the economy.

The ministries of finance (SHCP) and transport and communications (SCT) estimated investment in the projects at 8.77bn pesos (US$460mn).

Overall, the government plans to invest 485bn pesos over the next few years in public construction, SHCP said in a statement. 

Financing for the latest projects was included in the 2020 federal budget, approved on October 18, and they will likely appear in the soon-to-be-released national infrastructure program (PNI) of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), SCT’s deputy director of information Vicente García told BNamericas. 

THE TENDERS

The first 570 tenders, with an estimated budget of 6.2bn pesos, were launched on Friday (Oct 25). They involve roadworks and highway and bridge maintenance as well as the reconstruction of bridges.

The other 302, with a budget of 2.5bn pesos, will also focus on road maintenance and are scheduled to be launched on Tuesday.

Details of the tenders can be seen on CompraNet, the government's procurement website.

Contracts will not be awarded until next year and their announcement was meant to “get companies ready,” García said. 

“[The projects involve] already planned works that are in the process of completion, so that roads are in the best condition,” the official said. 

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Mexico's construction sector recently registered some of its lowest numbers in years. 

Earlier this month, finance minister Arturo Herrera said the government was committed to infrastructure to counter the global economic downturn. 

AMLO's PNI, which is being drafted with the help of the private sector, is expected to include a series of new public-private partnership projects designed to spur the economy. 

Business mogul Carlos Slim, who is backing the proposals, said he would invest some 100bn pesos himself in tenders launched by the government, and the Mayan train is one of them.

Photo Credit: AFP