The economic activity of the state has undergone a dramatic turnaround in the
last ten years-from being traditionally agricultural, to becoming heavily industrialized.
Roughly one-third of the gross internal product (GIP) was generated by manufacturing
industries, principally machinery and equipment, textiles, and nourishing products.
Car manufacturing accounts for 20% of the industry, 15.1% goes into yarn and fabric
materials, and 9.4% into dairy products.
According to the latest census, 71% of the people now live in urban centers, and
one out of four workers is employed in manufacturing. One of the most important branches
is the textile industry, especially because of the number of direct jobs it generates.
The share of agriculture in the GIP of the state has decreased in the last few
years; however, the worth of agricultural products has increased in real terms. Products
grown locally include cattle fodder, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
Stockbreeding has taken a prominent spot in the economy. This activity is carried
out in some 543,400 acres, and is mostly concentrated on cattle raising and milk
production, which is one of the most important nationwide (over 563,000 liters a
day).
A New Generation of Leadership
Aguascalientes is keeping step with Mexico's new philosophy concerning the role of
the State in the national development. We have adopted an open, broad, efficient
and flexible trade policy. In order to be more effective, the state government has
created the State Council for Economic and Trade Development (Comision Estatal de
Desarrollo Economico y Comercio Exterior), as a coordinating and advisory organization,
which links the government with the private sector and foreign prospects in all matters
regarding industrial deveolpment, export trade, marketing, tourism, new-business
promotion, multilevel training programs, and foreign investment.
