Mexico to receive $4.8bn in AI data center

• CloudHQ to invest $4.8 billion in new data infrastructure.

• Project will create six facilities in Querétaro.

• Expected to generate 7,200 jobs in coming years.

• Officials say investment builds “highway” for AI economy.

• Sheinbaum hails project as “new economic route” for Mexico.

Mexico’s government has announced a $4.8 billion investment to develop large-scale data infrastructure aimed at anchoring the country’s entry into the artificial intelligence economy. Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard confirmed the project on Thursday, unveiling plans by U.S.-based data center firm CloudHQ to build six installations in the central state of Querétaro.

Speaking during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference, Ebrard described the project as “a highway for everything artificial intelligence means in Mexico,” noting that it would underpin the country’s transition to a digitally driven economy. “We are building the roads and bridges for this new economy to function,” he said.

According to Ebrard, construction will begin immediately and continue over the next several years, with the project expected to generate 7,200 jobs. Querétaro’s governor, Mauricio Kuri of the opposition National Action Party (PAN), was praised for supporting the initiative, which officials say will ensure Mexico has the backbone infrastructure needed to integrate AI into daily life.

“Practically all services in our daily lives will be connected to these types of data centers,” Ebrard told reporters. President Sheinbaum added that the investment marks “a new economic route for the country,” positioning Mexico as a regional hub for advanced technologies.

Querétaro has already emerged as a magnet for data center investment thanks to its connectivity and relative safety, drawing interest from firms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft. The CloudHQ deal represents one of the largest commitments yet to Mexico’s digital economy, signaling confidence in both local infrastructure and political support for high-tech growth.

While the government is touting the project as a milestone, analysts note that Mexico still faces challenges in bridging its digital divide, including expanding broadband access and preparing its workforce with the skills needed for an AI-driven economy. Still, the CloudHQ investment underscores the Sheinbaum administration’s efforts to attract foreign capital into strategic industries as Mexico positions itself for the next wave of technological transformation.