Sheinbaum Inaugurates First Economic Well-Being Hub (Podecobi) in Huamantla, Tlaxcala — $540M Investment

President Sheinbaum inaugurated the first of 15 planned Economic Development Hubs for Well-Being (Polos de Desarrollo para el Bienestar, or Podecobi) on April 16 in Huamantla, Tlaxcala. The 53-hectare hub represents a US$540 million investment and is projected to create 6,000+ jobs in the first phase, integrating industrial, housing, commercial, and public services infrastructure in proximity to manufacturing workplaces — a model designed to reduce urban migration pressures and promote regional development. Eight of the 15 planned hubs are designated for Mexico's south-southeast region, targeting states with historically lower industrial development. The Podecobi framework is a flagship component of Plan México's industrial decentralization strategy and complements Economy Secretary Ebrard's 15-zone special economic framework. The Huamantla hub will focus on automotive parts, electronics assembly, and agro-industrial processing. BMW's $800M lithium-ion battery center in San Luis Potosí and Foxconn's $900M AI server plant near Guadalajara were cited as examples of the private sector investment that Podecobi infrastructure is designed to attract.