The investment spending keep focused on flagship projects that its profitability and financial sustainability are still being debated; while the amounts assigned with a gender perspective remain limited. In the last five years, public investment has remained at around 3% of GDP, a relatively low level to boost sustained economic growth in the country. The profitability of projects such as the Mayan Train and the Dos Bocas refinery raise doubts, while the Felipe Ángeles international airport seems a palliative to the capital’s air infrastructure, since it is not very clear if it will be able to operate simultaneously with the current one. terminal efficiently.
Private investment continues to be the engine of the economy, being five times higher than what the government does, but the complex business environment and regulatory changes faced by sectors such as renewable energy is worrying. Although the 2022 Budget has been said to have a gender perspective, programs to support women remain very small.
Spending on science, technology and innovation remains below 1% of GDP, difficult to understand in a world where knowledge is the lever for economic development. The pandemic taught us how important it is to bet on science and technology; vaccines have allowed a little by little return to normality, while digitization allowed the promotion of remote work and virtual classes.
Technology-based business models and innovation continue to generate new sectors with great perspective such as Fintech and Blockchain, although the low participation of women in STEM careers remains a challenge. It is surprising that health spending continues to be low in relative terms, in a world where pandemics and chronic degenerative diseases will be somewhat recurrent and will require better hospital infrastructure and access to medicines.
