Baja California Sur Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío met with the La Paz Business Coordinating Council (CCE) to discuss streamlining permits and attracting new investment under President Claudia Sheinbaum’s national Plan México strategy. The meeting produced several concrete commitments on energy, water, and regulatory timelines.
Among the key agreements, federal authorities committed to responding to new investment project applications within 30 days. That timeline, if enforced, would mark a significant change for a state where permitting delays have long frustrated both Mexican and foreign business owners.
Energy and Water Top the Agenda
The governor and business leaders also agreed to advance energy supply reliability across the state. Baja California Sur relies heavily on local generation and has faced recurring power challenges, particularly during summer months when air conditioning demand spikes. The two sides discussed reviewing wind and solar generation projects that could expand the state’s renewable capacity.
Water was the other major topic. The agreement calls for improving water allocation for productive activities, a persistent concern in a desert state where agriculture, tourism, and residential development compete for limited freshwater resources. BCS has long grappled with aquifer depletion, especially in the Los Cabos and La Paz corridors.
Follow-Up Meeting Planned for Late May
A follow-up meeting with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the federal Energy Secretariat (SENER) is scheduled for late May. That session is expected to address specific infrastructure decisions affecting utilities and commercial development across the state.
The discussions fall under the umbrella of Plan México, the Sheinbaum administration’s national economic strategy aimed at boosting domestic production and reducing dependence on imports. The plan emphasizes public-private coordination and faster government responses to business proposals.
For BCS, where tourism and real estate drive much of the economy, faster permitting and more reliable energy and water infrastructure could affect everything from hotel construction to residential developments. The state has seen steady population growth in recent years, putting additional strain on services.
The meeting was reported by the Baja California Sur state government through its official news portal.