President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has confirmed that Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo, will be designated as a free trade zone. This move is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the city.

"I have already signed an agreement to make Chetumal a free zone. This will allow residents to purchase goods from all over the world at very low prices, just as it was in the past," said López Obrador. He added that Chetumal was once a major trading hub, attracting shoppers from across the southeast.

Governor Mara Lezama stated that this move will stimulate the economy of Quintana Roo's capital, transforming it into a development and well-being hub for the south-southeast of Mexico. She explained that there will be tax incentives and administrative benefits for individuals and corporations that meet import requirements.

"Thanks to the decree by President López Obrador, which designates Chetumal and all of Othón P. Blanco as a free zone, corporations with annual incomes less than 50 million pesos will receive a 100% tax incentive on VAT, ISR and import-related taxes," Lezama announced on social media.

In other news, López Obrador revealed plans to visit Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo this weekend to oversee ongoing projects, primarily the Maya Train. He reported that nearly a thousand kilometers of the railway, stretching from Palenque in Chiapas to Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo, are already complete. This route will enable travelers to visit key archaeological sites of the Mayan world, such as Palenque, Chichén Itzá, El Meco, Tulum, and Calakmul, as well as the Seven Colors Lagoon in Bacalar.

He also highlighted the success of the Tulum International Airport, which is currently receiving 60 international flights per week. In addition, he mentioned a potential meeting with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo in the border area between Mexico and Guatemala in May.