Jalisco’s industrial elite sat down with President Enrique Peña Nieto Thursday and gave him an earful about the recent blockades of the Guadalajara International Airport that have disrupted the flow of exports from the region and caused financial losses for many firms.
Ejidatarios, or communal landowners, say the federal government still owes them significant sums of money for land appropriated decades ago to construct the city airport. They recently stepped up their campaign, shutting down sections of the airport’s car park for six consecutive days, affecting the plans of many travelers and businesses.
Daniel Curiel Rodríguez, president of Jalisco’s Industrial Chambers, said the federal government – and the president – is obliged to bring this age-old dispute to a conclusion, one way or another. “There are 130,000 tons of merchandize being moved through the airport each year,” he said.
The ejidatarios ended their protest last week after accepting to meet with federal officials in Mexico City. No agreement was reached, and the industrial leaders fear the situation will now return back to square one.
Peña Nieto was hosted Thursday at a luncheon given by the National Confederation of Industrial Chambers, prior to which he opened a new 400-million-dollar baby formula factory at the Nestle plant in Ocotlan on the shores of Lake Chapala.
Nestle stated that the new facility will provide 250 direct and 1,250 indirect jobs, as well as supplement the incomes of many regional dairy farmers. The plant has been named “Nantli,” the Huichol word for mother.
The president praised the Swiss company’s commitment to the environment by introducing a policy of conservation, treatment and recycling of water in its operations and among farmers, suppliers and partners.
Nestlé has been present in Mexico for eight decades and offers a portfolio of more than 80 brands and a range of 1,600 products. It employs nearly 15,000 people at 17 facilities.