By Marco Antonio Del Prete Tercero
Secretary of Sustainable Development of the State of Querétaro
Editorial Note | LYPmagazine
The world’s most competitive economies are no longer built solely within a country’s borders. Today, investment attraction, technological innovation, and industrial development depend on the ability of regions to participate in the spaces where the trends that will shape the course of the global economy are being defined.
In this edition of LYPmagazine, we present the vision of Marco Antonio Del Prete Tercero, Secretary of Sustainable Development of the State of Querétaro, who shares a reflection on the state’s participation in Hannover Messe 2026, considered the world’s most important industrial trade fair. From the perspective of the official leading the state’s economic internationalization strategy, the author analyzes how innovation, trust, and strategic alliances strengthen Querétaro’s competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic global landscape.
About the Author
Marco Antonio Del Prete Tercero is the Secretary of Sustainable Development of the State of Querétaro. In this role, he leads the state strategy for investment attraction, industrial strengthening, economic development, and the international positioning of Querétaro as one of Mexico’s leading manufacturing, technology, and aerospace hubs.
Querétaro at Hannover Messe 2026: Where the Industrial Future Is Also Being Written from Mexico
Being Present Where the Future Is Being Built
We live in an increasingly competitive global environment. Regions capable of innovating, adapting, and building strong international relationships are the ones that manage to remain relevant in an economy where opportunities are no longer generated solely within the borders of a state or a country.
Today, economic development takes place in spaces of global collaboration where governments, companies, universities, and research centers converge to define new trends in manufacturing, technology, energy, and mobility.
One of those spaces is, without a doubt, Hannover Messe. Considered the world’s most important industrial trade fair, it brings together business leaders, governments, research centers, and technology companies from more than 150 countries each year in Germany to discuss the future of industry. Participating in this event represents much more than attending an international exhibition; it means being part of the conversations where the decisions that will shape the direction of the global economy in the coming years begin to take form.
For this reason, Querétaro’s presence at Hannover Messe 2026 had a strategic purpose. It not only made it possible to showcase the state’s industrial and technological capabilities, but also to strengthen relationships with German companies that today see Querétaro as a reliable destination to grow, innovate, and invest.
Germany: A Strategic Partner for Querétaro
Germany represents much more than one of the world’s strongest economies. It is an international benchmark in advanced manufacturing, automation, electromobility, and Industry 4.0—sectors that are currently driving the global industrial transformation.
It has also consolidated itself as a strategic partner for Querétaro. According to the data presented during the working tour, Germany ranked fourth among the state’s main trading partners during the period from 2006 to 2025.
That economic bond is reflected every day in our state. German companies have found in Querétaro the conditions that favor long-term growth: specialized talent, logistics infrastructure, security, legal certainty, connectivity, and a clear vision for sustainable development.
Thanks to this, some of Germany’s most important companies maintain strategic operations in our territory and continue to expand their production capabilities.
Investments That Strengthen Trust
One of the most relevant outcomes of Querétaro’s participation in Hannover Messe was the consolidation of new investment projects that strengthen the state’s industrial ecosystem.
A highlight was the announcement made by Siemens, which confirmed an additional investment of 66 million euros and the creation of 300 new specialized jobs.
Beyond the scale of the investment, this announcement sends a message of trust. It confirms that Querétaro is not only capable of attracting international capital, but also of creating the conditions necessary for companies to develop long-term projects.
Siemens’ presence also strengthens the state’s technological infrastructure and contributes to consolidating Querétaro as a hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation in North America.
At a time when global industry is rapidly evolving toward automation, artificial intelligence, and the digitalization of processes, having leading companies in technological innovation represents a highly relevant competitive advantage.
These announcements were joined by new projects promoted by German companies such as Hansa Flex, which will invest more than five million euros and create more than one hundred jobs; TRW, part of ZF Group, with an investment of more than 110 million pesos for the development of automotive steering systems; as well as Vibracoustic, which will expand its operations in Querétaro through a second plant and the creation of more than 250 new jobs.
Beyond the figures, these investments reflect the evolution that Querétaro’s economy has experienced. Today, we are no longer speaking only about traditional manufacturing; we are speaking about automotive technology, automation, electromobility, smart systems, and highly specialized processes that demand qualified talent and increasingly sophisticated supply chains.
Industrial Transformation Is Already Underway
The evolution of Querétaro’s automotive industry is one of the clearest examples of this transformation. Our state has moved from the production of components toward the development of complete systems and advanced technological solutions for next-generation vehicles.
This evolution allows Querétaro to maintain its competitiveness amid the profound transformations currently taking place in the automotive industry, particularly in areas such as electrification, smart mobility, and the integration of digital technologies into manufacturing processes.
More than responding to global trends, the challenge is to anticipate them. For that reason, strengthening an industrial ecosystem based on innovation, knowledge, and specialization will remain one of the main factors in consolidating the state’s economic growth over the coming years.
Consolidating Trust Also Means Attracting Investment
A region’s competitiveness does not depend solely on its ability to attract new companies.
It is also strengthened by supporting those that have already decided to invest and grow from within it.
In this sense, one of the most relevant aspects of Querétaro’s participation in Hannover Messe was the strengthening of relationships with companies that have been part of the state’s industrial ecosystem for years.
The meetings held with companies such as Martinrea, Liebherr, Hirschvogel, and Brose made it possible to consolidate expansion projects and reaffirm the trust these companies continue to place in Querétaro as a strategic destination for their operations.
Each of these meetings represents much more than an institutional encounter.
They are spaces where long-term relationships are built and where conditions are created for new investments to continue reaching the state.
Particularly relevant was the consolidation of projects linked to casting, machining, and high-precision manufacturing processes—activities that generate highly specialized jobs and raise the technological content of the industry established in Querétaro.
International Openness as a Competitive Advantage
We live in a deeply integrated economy.
Global supply chains require regions capable of offering infrastructure, connectivity, stability, specialized human capital, and institutional certainty.
Querétaro has worked for years to build that reputation.
Today, that trust is reflected in concrete results.
The state continues to position itself among the leading recipients of Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico and maintains a prominent role in the country’s manufacturing exports.
Sectors such as automotive, aerospace, household appliances, information technologies, and industrial devices continue to drive economic growth and the creation of formal employment.
But perhaps one of the greatest benefits of this international projection is the impact it can generate for small and medium-sized enterprises in Querétaro.
When SMEs Also Become Part of Development
Participation in international forums such as Hannover Messe does not benefit only large corporations.
It also opens new opportunities for local suppliers to integrate into international supply chains, access technology transfer processes, and incorporate best practices that strengthen their competitiveness.
In an economy where collaboration is increasingly important, promoting the participation of SMEs in global scenarios means strengthening regional development from its productive base.
For that reason, attending international events should not be understood as an expense.
It is a strategic investment to build the conditions that enable long-term economic growth.
Innovation Also Means Growing Responsibly
Year after year, Hannover Messe confirms that the industrial future will be defined by two major pillars: innovation and sustainability.
New investments are moving toward more efficient production models, lower-impact industrial processes, clean energy, intelligent automation, and technological solutions aimed at building increasingly resilient economies.
Querétaro has adopted this vision as part of its development strategy.
We believe that economic growth and environmental protection are not opposing goals. On the contrary, they represent two essential conditions for building a more competitive, innovative, and sustainable economy.
This conviction allows us to participate with confidence in the main international forums where the future of industry is being designed today.
Looking to the World to Build the Future
Querétaro’s participation in Hannover Messe 2026 left a clear message.
Today, our state is part of a global conversation where innovation, technology, and talent are the main drivers of economic development.
But, above all, it confirmed that competitiveness is not built solely with infrastructure or investment.
It is also strengthened through relationships of trust, international collaboration, and a shared long-term vision.
In Querétaro, we will continue working so that every alliance, every project, and every investment contributes to generating more opportunities for our companies, more specialized jobs for our people, and economic development that benefits Querétaro families.
Because building Mexico’s industrial future also means strengthening the capacities of the regions that are driving its growth today.
And Querétaro is determined to continue being one of them.
Autor
CEO del medio de comunicación LYPmultimedios y GreenInc.