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18 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2025 T he Global Electronics Association (formerly known as IPC) has been instrumental in foster- ing a partnership with Guanajuato, a state north of Mexico City with 12 industrial clusters and close to 150 companies involved in electronics. This past spring, Alejandro Hernández, the undersecretary for investment promotion in Gua- najuato, attended IPC APEX EXPO 2025 at the invitation of Lorena Villanueva, director of the Global Electronics Association—Mexico,where he met with several companies to discuss the oppor- tunities available in Mexico. He is inviting electron- ics-related companies seeking long-term invest- ment in a centrally located area with access to highways, railways, and ports. Guanajuato has the sixth-largest GDP in Mexico and is the country's fastest-growing manufacturing state. It blends its agricultural heritage with a mod- F E AT U R E I N T E RV I E W by M i c h e l l e Te, I - C O N N ECT 0 07 Seeing a Future in ern industrial identity. The state is home to manu- facturing plants for five of the world's top automak- ers, three tire plants, a recent $12 million investment from a PCBA provider, and an $18 million expansion by a global automotive electronics supplier. In this interview, Alejandro emphasizes that his state is open for business, highlighting the role of local training centers, strategic partnerships, and government incentives. Despite recent volatility in tariffs and trade agreements with the United States, he remains optimistic that working with Mexico offers a stronger export supply chain, a broader tal- ent pool, and new opportunities for growth. Alejandro, what motivated Guanajuato to become a leader in the electronics industry? Alejandro Hernández: We've faced challenges in the past and have been told we weren't suited Mexico