Can you highlight the main areas of focus that ANIQ will work on with the new Mexican administration?

We are targeting three main areas for 2019: Firstly, we want to assure the supply of feedstock and energy products in Mexico. Over the last year we have seen a significant reduction in the offer of both natural gas and the petrochemical raw materials. Our goal is to work with the new administration to build a framework that allows the industry to grow again.

The second issue is the materialization of the new North American free trade agreement (USMCA), that had been in negotiations for two years. A key part of our work is the implementation of the agreement, which includes a strategy towards diversification in new markets, mainly Latin America, and more particularly Brazil.

The third topic is the implementation of the carbon credit market in Mexico, following the country’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. Today, the federal government has committed to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, and a further 50% by 2050. In this respect, all industrial sectors will have to contribute significantly for Mexico to achieve these goals.

Is the new government open to discussing all these topics?

We see continuity from the new government in regards to aspects of trade and the carbon credit market initiatives. What we would like to discuss further are the issues around energy. We are optimistic about the initiative to strengthen Pemex, however we are waiting to better understand the role the private sector will play in the energy segment. From our perspective, it is fundamental that the energy sector’s development is a shared effort by Pemex and private companies.

How is Mexico’s chemical industry tackling sustainability issues, and in particular the more stringent regulations on the use of plastics?

In Mexico’s 32 states, there are already 26 initiatives towards the ban of plastic bags, straws and single-use packaging. This suggests there is already strong pressure from a regulatory standpoint. At ANIQ, we have been incorporating some of the sustainable development objectives as part of our voluntary initiatives for many years. We have also worked on building the right infrastructure, so plastics can be properly collected and recycled.

Moreover, since October 2018, Mexico’s resins industry pledged to reach three fundamental objectives: the first one is to meet the zero-pellet target across the entire value chain. The second is to assure that 100% of the industry’s packaging is recycled or recyclable by 2030. Finally, by 2040 we will have to work with plastic converters and the retail industry to ensure that 100% of all packaging produced in Mexico is recycled or recyclable.

As a participant in the APLA meetings, what message would you like to send to the Latin American chemical industry community?

We want to reiterate the commitment of Mexico’s chemical sector to the industry’s growth and sustainability. The work we have been doing not only contributes to sustainability as such, but also the industry’s innovations allow for an improvement of the sustainability of other sectors, generating benefits for the whole society.