KEYPOINTS OF PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE

Army for the investigation of the death of 5 young men. The President asked that no one be fooled, as this call may be promoted by delinquency. In addition, a thorough investigation is being carried out on the death of the Americans in Matamoros, as it was discovered that they had criminal records in the United States, and Rosa Icela and the Tamaulipas Prosecutor’s Office are in charge, and they are analyzing “bringing” the case to the Attorney General’s Office.

• Security: In a conference from the Federal Police Intelligence Center, better known as Genaro Garcia Luna’s Bunker, the President stated that violence cannot be confronted with more violence. He pointed out that a member of the Republican party in the U.S. raised the possibility of presenting an initiative for U.S. forces to confront organized crime in Mexico. In response, the President of the Republic indicated that he will not allow any type of foreign interference. If such interest continues, he will launch an informative campaign so that citizens know that this is an offense to national sovereignty and will promote a campaign so that people do not vote for this party.

Infrastructure

• Isthmus of Tehuantepec: President Lopez Obrador is working on the construction of three major highways in Mexico: from Ciudad Hidalgo to Ixtepec, from Salina Cruz to Coatzacoalcos, and from Coatzacoalcos to Palenque. The port of Salina Cruz is also being modernized, the railroad is being modernized, and 10 industrial parks are planned along the corridor. The president will seek progress in the works, including gas pipelines, water system and fiscal policy in terms of subsidies for companies to set up and generate jobs. Legislators from the United States will come to learn about the Tren Maya and Ismo projects on March 19. In addition, the port of Veracruz and other ports in the south-southeast of Mexico are being promoted as alternatives for companies. The President also pointed out that Mexico faces significant water problems in the central and northern zones, so the feasibility of using the water available in the south-southeast should be considered.

Economy

• Remittances: PROFECO’s Ombudsman reported that in January 2023 there was an increase of 12.45% in the receipt of remittances compared to January 2022 and an increase of 34.03% compared to January 2021. He also noted that, in January 2023, remittance receipts were the highest in the last four years. Likewise, he pointed out that the remittance company ULink was the most conve- nient for migrants sending money to Mexico, while SIGUE was the worst. Regarding the services offered to the remittance recipient, he indicated that Financiera del Bienestar covers the largest number of municipalities, while OXXO has more branches and better opening hours.

Energy

• Energy Sector: The President of the Republic reported on the inauguration of the first stage of the Puerto Peñasco solar park in Sonora and said that more solar cells will be installed in the region, as well as work will continue on the laying of distribution lines to connect the north of Sonora and Baja California. He also mentioned that on March 21 he will have a meeting in Oaxaca with John Kerry, U.S. special envoy for climate issues, to discuss renewable energy, Plan Sonora and wind energy. Finally, he promised that CFE technicians will explain the entire plan for Sonora.

• Energy Sector: President Lopez Obrador received the Secretary General of OPEC to discuss Mexi- co’s oil policy and the importance of refineries and self-sufficiency. Work must be done to reduce the use of fossil fuels and take better care of the environment, but this must be done gradually. The capacities of existing refineries are being increased and two large plants are being built to convert fuel into gasoline. There is also a need to train more technical professionals for the energy sector, in the construction industry, and petroleum engineers and chemists are being recruited to work in the refineries. The boost for the southeast is necessary since it has contributed a lot to national development through oil extraction. Mexico’s development should be oriented to the southeast because it is where there is water, while the availability of water from the center to the north is very low.

Health

• Health Report: The Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, indicated that the reduction of the pandemic in Mexico has been slower in the last five weeks compared to the first weeks of the year, but that hospital occupancy has remained at 5% and mortality has dropped. For his part, Zoe Robledo, director of IMSS, announced the recruitment of 634 doctors for IMSS-Bienestar and the opening of a call for retired doctors to work in IMSS-Bienestar. He also pointed out that Hidalgo has joined the process of federalization of the health system. In addition, the Secretary of Health, Jorge Alcocer, mentioned that the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples is promoting community health and traditional medicine in the country’s indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities.