México reportó 23 mil 591 millones de dólares de inversión extranjera en el primer trimestre de 2026. La cifra impresiona hasta abrirla: 22 mil 222 millones fueron reinversión de utilidades de empresas que ya operaban aquí y alrededor de 1,705 millones correspondieron a nuevas inversiones.
Reinvertir es positivo: significa permanecer. Pero permanecer no es lo mismo que atraer nuevas fábricas, empresas y capitales. Al mismo tiempo, la inversión privada nacional muestra debilidad y la confianza para invertir sigue por debajo de 50 puntos.
México tiene alrededor de 5.5 millones de negocios: 95.5% son micro; 3.6%, pequeños; 0.7%, medianos y apenas 0.2%, grandes. Las MIPYMES concentran cerca de siete de cada diez empleos, pero las grandes generan más de la mitad del valor agregado.
Nuestro problema ya no es emprender. Es crecer.
México creó 14 Polos de Desarrollo Económico para el Bienestar sobre cerca de 4,900 hectáreas, con infraestructura e incentivos para atraer industria. La estrategia es correcta, pero mientras buena parte continúa en preinversión o construcción, ¿por qué dejar suelo productivo esperando?
Reservemos temporalmente una fracción para empresas mexicanas con capacidad de crecer: suelo público bajo uso productivo condicionado; naves modulares financiadas entre empresarios; cinco años sin renta o con cuota simbólica y después renta gradual. Sumemos garantías de Nafin, crédito para maquinaria, digitalización, certificaciones, seguridad, trámites simples y acceso a grandes compradores.
Pongamos números. Un programa para 10 mil empresas podría impulsar a 6 mil micro hacia pequeñas, 3 mil pequeñas hacia medianas y mil medianas hacia el siguiente nivel. Si cada grupo generara cinco, diez y veinte nuevos puestos, serían 80 mil empleos formales.
Con el salario base promedio del IMSS, representarían unos 19 mil 500 millones de pesos anuales en nueva masa salarial. Dinero que volvería a vivienda, comercio, restaurantes, transporte y servicios, además de generar ISR, cuotas sociales, IVA y mayor recaudación.
No estaríamos creando negocios desde cero, sino consolidando 10 mil que ya sobrevivieron, tienen clientes, trabajadores y experiencia. Después, otras 10 mil.
Quintana Roo puede iniciar ordenando corredores industriales y logísticos permanentes para que Cancún no vuelva a construir viviendas alrededor de bodegas que después tendrá que desplazar.
No midamos el éxito por cursos, créditos anunciados o hectáreas decretadas. Midámoslo en empresas que crecieron, empleos creados, salarios pagados e impuestos generados.
México no necesita dejar de emprender. Necesita aprender a crecer.
¡Hasta la próxima semana, con nuevos retos y oportunidades!
Sin miedo a la cima, porque el éxito ya lo tenemos.
Entrepreneurship Is Not Enough
The Roar of the Lion
By: Sergio León Cervantes
Mexico reported $23.591 billion in foreign direct investment during the first quarter of 2026. The figure sounds impressive until we break it down: $22.222 billion came from reinvested earnings by companies already operating in Mexico, while approximately $1.705 billion represented new investment.
Reinvestment is positive: it means companies are staying. But staying is not the same as attracting new factories, businesses and capital. At the same time, domestic private investment remains weak, and business confidence regarding whether this is a good time to invest remains below the 50-point threshold.
Mexico has approximately 5.5 million businesses: 95.5% are microenterprises, 3.6% small, 0.7% medium-sized and barely 0.2% large. MSMEs account for nearly seven out of every ten jobs, yet large companies generate more than half of total value added.
Our challenge is no longer just entrepreneurship. It is growth.
Mexico has created 14 Development Hubs for Well-Being across nearly 4,900 hectares, offering infrastructure and incentives to attract industry. The strategy makes sense, but while many remain in pre-investment or construction stages, why leave productive land waiting?
Temporarily reserve a portion for Mexican businesses with proven growth potential: public land under conditional productive-use agreements; modular facilities financed jointly by entrepreneurs; five years rent-free or at a symbolic rate, followed by gradually increasing rent. Add Nafin-backed guarantees, financing for machinery, digitalization, certifications, security, simplified procedures and access to major buyers.
Now put numbers behind it. A program targeting 10,000 businesses could help 6,000 microenterprises become small businesses, 3,000 small businesses become medium-sized, and 1,000 medium-sized companies move toward the next level. If they created five, ten and twenty additional jobs respectively, that would mean 80,000 new formal jobs.
At the current average IMSS base salary, those jobs would represent roughly 19.5 billion pesos in additional annual payroll—money flowing back into housing, retail, restaurants, transportation and services, while generating income tax, social security contributions, VAT and additional tax revenue.
We would not be creating 10,000 businesses from scratch. We would be strengthening companies that have already survived, built customer bases, hired workers and gained experience. Then we could help another 10,000.
Quintana Roo can begin by establishing permanent industrial and logistics corridors so Cancún does not continue building housing around warehouses that will eventually have to relocate.
Success should not be measured by courses delivered, loans announced or hectares designated. Measure businesses that grew, jobs created, wages paid and taxes generated.
Mexico does not need to stop encouraging entrepreneurship.
It needs to learn how to help businesses grow.
¡ Until next week, with new challenges and opportunities!
Fearlessly reaching the top, because we already have success.
X: @Oigres14 | IG: @sergioleoncervantes | Mail: sergioleon@sergioleon.mx
