The Port of Veracruz, Mexico: Essential for Economy and Trade

This led to the planning and implementation of an aggressive expansion project, including the construction of a new port zone that is estimated to take ten to twenty years to complete and cost over US $1.2 billion. The project will be implemented over two phases: the first from 20092014 and the second from 2015-2019. It is expected to increase the port’s capacity from 35.6 million to over 100 million tons per year by its projected completion date in 2019. 4 Additionally, the port expansion hopes to attract a considerable amount of public and private investment, create upwards to 70,000 jobs, enhance local transportation, sanitary and communications infrastructure, and grow other sectors of the economy including tourism. 5 An Opportunity for Research The aforementioned quote provides insight into concerns that some stakeholders have regarding the current production and transportation of goods through Mexican ports. During this time of transition, it is likely that the Port of Veracruz and the surrounding region will face new hurdles with economic development in both the shortand long-term. This presents an opportunity for UAX to explore a wide range of issues regarding the port’s role in the regional economy and how port operations can be maximized during the expansion and thereafter. There are several critical factors to consider when implementing an ongoing research project, such as the possibility of forming a partnership with another academic institution or stakeholder organization and the ability to secure research funding.