As the world prepares to embrace the next industrial revolution, India and Mexico are stepping up bilateral engagement in the digital and technology domains, with a shared vision to harness Industry 5.0 for inclusive and sustainable growth. In the wake of the Digital Empowerment Summit 2025 in Mexico City last month, Ambassador Federico Salas, Mexico’s top envoy to India, reflected on the opportunities that lie ahead for both nations in a wide-ranging conversation with StratNewsGlobal.
The summit served as a catalyst for deeper collaboration between India and Mexico. And builds on the first-ever meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mexican President Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, held last month on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. The two leaders are expected to meet again later this year at the G20 Summit in South Africa, continuing discussions on strategic cooperation in digital innovation, AI, and economic connectivity.
Industry 5.0: Human-Centered, Sustainable, and Inclusive
Speaking about the evolution toward Industry 5.0, Ambassador Salas highlighted a shift from automation to human-centric innovation, “Indeed, the Digital Empowerment Summit has been an important catalyst for global discussion. From here in India, we see that Industry 5.0 represents a profound evolution, transcending the mere automation of Industry 4.0 to place the human being at the center. This new era prioritizes human ingenuity and well-being, seeking to enhance our capabilities through innovative technologies such as exoskeletons and brain-computer interfaces. The goal is to significantly boost productivity, creativity, and well-being. Furthermore, Industry 5.0 integrates environmental sustainability into every stage of production, promoting the circular economy and the use of clean energy, leading us toward smarter, more environmentally responsible manufacturing.”
He also underlined how this paradigm can address persistent social challenges, “Specifically, Industry 5.0 aims to actively address social challenges such as poverty and inequality through disruptive technological solutions. This entails ensuring equitable access to emerging opportunities and improving the quality of life for all citizens. An essential pillar is collaborative innovation, which fosters open ecosystems and fluid interaction between academia, industry, and government. These joint efforts are vital for knowledge exchange and accelerating technological advancements. Additionally, ethical considerations are prioritized, ensuring that the development and implementation of artificial intelligence technologies are fair, transparent, and accountable.”
India and Mexico Partnership: A Natural Fit for Industry 5.0
On strengthening India–Mexico ties in this space, Salas offered a compelling vision for bilateral cooperation: “An alliance between India and Mexico offers an unparalleled opportunity to harness the transformative potential of Industry 5.0. By combining India’s strengths in software development, IT services, and its growing AI research ecosystem, with Mexico’s solid manufacturing base and strategic geographic location, which facilitates access to North American markets, both nations can achieve significant and sustainable economic growth.”
“This strategic partnership can be strengthened through joint research initiatives in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and advanced materials. This would be facilitated through binational research centers, active academic exchanges, and project co-funding. It is also vital to facilitate technology transfer through mechanisms such as joint ventures, licensing agreements, and co-production arrangements, which will accelerate the commercialization of innovations and foster economic prosperity for both countries,” he said, Adding, “Creativity, as mentioned before, is an important pillar in this process. Both Mexicans and Indians can take advantage of this to fostering disruptive thinking, especially by joining efforts and working together.”
Indian Tech Presence in Mexico: Driving Local Transformation
Numerous Indian IT companies are operating in Mexico, and the Mexican envoy acknowledged their role in enabling this transition.
According to him, “The presence of Indian companies in Mexico is a clear reflection of our strong bilateral relationship and the trust they have in our market. Companies like Wipro, HCLTech, Infosys, LTI, and TechMahindra are key players already driving digital transformation and technological advancement in Mexico. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global giant in IT services and consulting, exemplifies the principles of Industry 5.0.”
“TCS, operating as a ‘Perpetually Adaptive Enterprise,’ has implemented AI-powered platforms that automate routine tasks, allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities like innovation, creativity, and complex problem-solving. Their contributions are evident in the use of AI-powered chatbots for customer service, the automation of data entry and analysis, and the application of machine learning for predictive maintenance in manufacturing. Their approach highlights how technology can enhance human capabilities and, consequently, the economic growth we seek.”
Preparing the Workforce for the Industry 5.0 Era
The ambassador also spoke about the imperative of skilling and infrastructure development. In his view it is crucial to invest in the development of joint training programs to equip our workforce with the skills needed to thrive in this new environment. A fast-changing industry landscape requires resilience and uncertainty tolerance, so could focus our efforts into building a binational talent pool with these characteristics.
“This includes fostering expertise in artificial intelligence, data science, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Furthermore, collaboration in the development of shared infrastructure, such as high-speed broadband networks, advanced manufacturing facilities, and renewable energy sources, is essential to establishing a solid foundation for the successful implementation of Industry 5.0.”
Both India and Mexico are positioning themselves as leaders in implementing these principles, and we will continue working together for a more prosperous and humane industrial future.