The Diplomat
Spain consolidated its position as the second largest investor in Mexico in 2021, with 13.7% of foreign direct investment destined for the North American country, which places it only behind the United States (47.5%), according to data published on Monday by the Mexican Ministry of Economy.
During 2021 Mexico received a total of 31,621 million dollars in foreign investment (27,886 million euros), 8.7% more than the previous year. The United States and Spain accounted for more than 60% of this investment, with Canada (6.5%), the United Kingdom (5.7%), Germany (5.2%) and Japan (5%) being the other major investors in the Aztec country, reports Europa Press.
The figures are known shortly after the statements made by the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who proposed a “pause” in relations with Spain to turn the page on a period in which, according to the president, Spanish authorities and companies have taken advantage of the North American country.
López Obrador then alluded to the fact that several Spanish companies such as Repsol, Iberdrola and OHL had engaged in “bad practices” during previous governments.
Far from a halt in relations between the two countries materialising, the Mexican president clarified a day after the declarations that they were simply a ‘pointing out’ of ‘abuses’ committed by Spanish companies, assuring that no action was planned against Spain.