Hidalgo’s transformation plan focuses on industrial growth, improved mobility, agriculture, housing, and public spaces to elevate prosperity.
With an articulated planning strategy and multi-annual projects, the government of Julio Menchaca, through the Planning and Foresight Unit led by Miguel Ángel Tello, presents a master plan to President Claudia Sheinbaum to establish Hidalgo as a new national development hub.
For decades, Hidalgo was a state marked by marginalization and underutilized potential. However, a new vision of governance is rewriting its history. Far from improvisation and short-term welfare policies, the administration of Governor Julio Menchaca Salazar has committed to strategic planning as the fundamental tool to “change the face” of Hidalgo and break the cycle of poverty. This effort, based on a technical diagnosis of the state’s metropolitan and rural vocations and unprecedented collaborative work, has culminated in a portfolio of high-impact, multi-annual projects. This portfolio has been presented to the President of the Republic, Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum, as the roadmap for Hidalgo’s rebirth.
The brain behind this ambitious agenda is the Planning and Foresight Unit, coordinated by Miguel Ángel Tello Vargas. Following the governor’s directive, the Unit undertook the task of organizing the state, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses, and defining the critical actions for its transformation. The result is a portfolio of seven strategic initiatives that comprehensively seek to trigger industrial development, improve connectivity, increase agricultural productivity, and, above all, raise the quality of life for all Hidalgo residents.
The Seven Pillars of Hidalgo’s Transformation
The proposal presented to the federal government is a cohesive plan where each project reinforces the others, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and well-being.
1. The AIFA Logistics Corridor: The New Industrial Heart of Mexico. The strategy aims to consolidate the area of influence of the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) as the most dynamic industrial development hub in Latin America. With over 900 hectares ready for industry in the PLATAH logistics platform, Hidalgo is positioned as the ideal destination for nearshoring and high-tech manufacturing, promising unprecedented economic benefits and job creation.
2. Dignified and Efficient Metropolitan Mobility. For the more than 150,000 people who travel daily between Pachuca, Tula, Tizayuca, and Mexico City, two new passenger and freight trains are proposed. This multi-annual project will not only drastically reduce travel times but will also offer a safer and more economical alternative, directly impacting the finances and quality of life of thousands of families.
3. Dry Ports to Boost Industry. Connected to the railway project, the plan is for freight trains to have strategic stops in Tula and PLATAH. This will allow for the creation of dry ports, logistics nodes that will facilitate the import and export of goods, making Hidalgo’s industrial zones even more attractive for the establishment of new companies and the generation of better-paying jobs.
4. Revolution in the Countryside: Technification of the Mezquital Valley. Planning is not just metropolitan. For the countryside, an ambitious irrigation technification program is being promoted throughout the Mezquital Valley. The goal is to optimize water use and improve agricultural productivity, allowing producers to obtain higher yields, sell more, and consequently, substantially improve their standard of living.
5. Decent Housing for Well-being. To address the historical housing shortage, the plan includes the construction of more than 30,000 homes throughout the state through the housing for well-being program. This initiative not only guarantees thousands of Hidalgo residents access to a decent home but also provides them with the security of their own assets, strengthening the social fabric.
6. Connecting the Huasteca. Development must reach all regions. Therefore, the construction of a highway from Tamazunchale to Huejutla is planned. This work is key to improving the internal connectivity of the Huasteca region, speeding up communication and promoting the growth of a service, tourism, and agricultural economy in this area of great potential.
7. Quality Public Spaces. Transformation is also measured in daily well-being. The plan includes a massive program for the construction and reconstruction of public spaces throughout Hidalgo. Parks, squares, and family recreation areas not only improve the quality of life for residents but also create a safe and attractive environment that encourages the arrival of new investments.
This portfolio of projects, the result of technical planning and decisive leadership, represents the most serious bet in Hidalgo’s modern history to leave the stigma of poverty behind. It is proof that when political vision is combined with technical capacity and teamwork, it is possible to build a future of prosperity and well-being for all.
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