Hidalgo’s Economic Renaissance: Strategic Growth and Industrial Development Shape Mexico’s Future
Economic Transformation and Development
Hidalgo has been designated as one of Mexico’s 15 key economic development hubs, with two strategic areas identified for growth: the Felipe Ángeles International Airport to Tizayuca corridor and the Circular Economy zone near Tula. These zones will benefit from government infrastructure support and tax incentives to advance their growth.
The state’s economic performance in 2025 has shown promising indicators, with international sales reaching US$46.1M in April, though facing a trade balance challenge with international purchases of US$125M.
Industrial and Manufacturing Growth
Hidalgo’s economy is primarily driven by manufacturing, textile manufacturing, and metallurgy sectors, with exports focused on industrial machinery, transportation technology, and mineral products. The state’s workforce comprises 1.46M people, with a gender distribution of 40.4% women and 59.6% men, primarily employed in agriculture, retail, and commerce sectors.
Investment and Development Initiatives
The region has shown significant financial activity, with key municipalities like Tulancingo de Bravo, Ixmiquilpan, and Pachuca de Soto receiving substantial remittance inflows. In 2025, the state has accumulated US$396M in remittances and US$296M in Foreign Direct Investment.
Future Outlook and Challenges
To unlock its full economic potential, Hidalgo faces several key challenges. These include the need for revenue-enhancing actions to maintain debt sustainability, increased private sector participation in infrastructure investment, and the necessity to navigate a complex trade and investment landscape while building greater trade resilience.
The state is positioning itself in key sectors including automotive, aeronautics, pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, consumer goods, electronics, semiconductors, energy, chemicals and petrochemicals, textiles, footwear, and the circular economy. Investors in these sectors can benefit from incentives including 100% immediate deduction on new fixed asset investments and additional deductions for training and research initiatives.
