The executive director of the Monterrey Aerocluster, Erick Palacios Garza, poses for a portrait during an interview with AFP in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico, on April 29, 2024. While the north of Mexico is home to industrial hubs closely linked to the neighboring United States, the world's largest economy, the south has historically lagged behind economically, prompting Mexico's outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to pursue economic development projects for the region. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP)