Jalisco
'Silicon Valley of Mexico'; 70% of national semiconductor industry; $12.9B electronics exports (2024); 1,000+ tech companies; Tequila UNESCO site.
Guadalajara earned its 'Silicon Valley of Mexico' title by concentrating 70% of Mexico's semiconductor industry and hosting over 1,000 tech companies employing roughly 150,000 workers. In 2024, the electronics sector generated $12.9 billion in exports—the state's primary trade driver. That same year, a Silicon Valley trade tour secured $890 million in commitments from Intel, HP, Oracle, and Micron to expand 2025 operations. Since 1999, Jalisco has attracted $42.5 billion in FDI.
The Tequila region—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—anchors agricultural exports and cultural tourism. Between 2019-2024, Jalisco added $2.76 billion in high-tech investment creating 40,000 new tech jobs. The state ranks 4th nationally in IMCO's 2025 competitiveness index. Universities including ITESO, Tec de Monterrey, and Universidad de Guadalajara produce over 10,000 tech graduates annually. Zapopan's office market, particularly Puerta de Hierro, contributed 38% of tech cluster leasing in Q2 2025.
By 2026, Jalisco will test whether it can capture semiconductor reshoring as North America rebuilds chip capacity. If Intel and Micron expansions proceed and local talent pipelines strengthen, Guadalajara could become a critical node in post-pandemic supply chains. If tariff uncertainty delays investments or talent emigrates to US tech hubs, the Silicon Valley name may remain more aspiration than achievement.