Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes; October 16, 2025.—Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, former federal secretary of tourism and a renowned political and economic analyst, delivered the lecture "Mexico in Your Hands: Challenges That Inspire, Opportunities That Transform" at the Aguascalientes campus of theUniversidad Panamericana , where he urged young people to take an active role in Mexico’s transformation by embracing dialogue, values, and innovation.
Speaking before a packed auditorium, the former secretary noted that Mexico is going through a decisive phase in its development, marked by the need to rediscover shared values and rebuild trust between citizens and institutions.
“I don’t think we’re as polarized a society as some would have us believe. What we need is to resume dialogue, envision together the country we want to build, and agree on the values that should guide us,” he said.
Envisioning the Mexico We Want
As a starting point, the speaker invited attendees to reflect on what their “ideal city” would be like, an exercise that led to concepts such as safety, justice, sustainability, cleanliness, mobility, decent jobs, and culture.
Based on that dialogue, he emphasized that Mexicans have more in common than they might seem, and that the pursuit of a shared future must begin with the people.
“It’s not true that we can’t reach an agreement. We all want to live in safe, clean cities with jobs and opportunities. If we start by focusing on those points of common ground, we’ll be able to rebuild the vision for our country that we all long for,” he said.
With a career that includes leading Financiera Rural, Bancomext, and the Ministry of Tourism, Enrique de la Madrid emphasized that economic growth and job creation must be national priorities.
“Great ideas are useless if they don’t translate into a thriving economy that creates decent jobs. Development is also measured by the ability to provide well-being and social mobility,” he said.
Values That Inspire Transformation
De la Madrid discussed the values that, in his view, set Mexicans apart and must be strengthened to build a more just and compassionate country. Among them, he mentioned hospitality, solidarity, joy, family, creativity, and passion.
“We are a country deeply rooted in solidarity and hospitality. We have ingenuity, a sense of humor, and an enormous capacity to bounce back. But we need to translate those values into productivity, innovation, and ethical commitment,” he noted.
He also warned of the risks of relativizing the truth or losing ethical benchmarks in public life: “Today, there is an attempt to convince us that everyone has their own truth. If we do not share basic values, it will be impossible to build a country we all share. We need a shared set of ethical values that unites us and allows us to move forward together.”
Development, Democracy, and Freedom
Enrique de la Madrid emphasized that Mexico has enormous potential thanks to its strategic location, its natural resources, and its young population, but he stressed the need to strengthen economic certainty and institutional trust.
“Certainty is essential. If an investor or a young person doesn’t know whether they’ll have a job or whether their business will be respected, they stop investing and stop believing. And without confidence, there is no growth,”, he emphasized.
When addressing political issues, he emphasized that freedom and democracy are essential prerequisites for progress.
“There is no contradiction between a prosperous country and a free country. Freedom is what makes us human: the freedom to think, create, dissent, and decide our future. Without freedom, there is no lasting prosperity,” he said.
The Responsibility of a New Generation
During the question-and-answer session, the students addressed topics such as demographic transition, pensions, the proliferation of political parties, and the challenges of entrepreneurship in an environment of insecurity. De la Madrid encouraged them not to wait for ideal conditions, but to take action at the local level and with a sense of purpose.
“Fall in love with a problem and work to solve it. Mexico needs young people who are outraged, but who also take action. Who understand that transforming their environment is also their responsibility,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing that the talent, education, and values of the younger generations will be the driving force behind a more just, competitive, and free Mexico: “You already have the education and the ability to determine your own destiny. All you need is to believe it. Mexico’s future is in your hands, and that should be a source of enthusiasm, not a burden.”
