Cumbre Puebla: Mexican fuel retailers on the eve of a defiant 2023
Onexpo’s end-of-the-year event gathered top representatives from Mexico’s fuel retail industry to experience two days full informative sessions, inspiring workshops and networking opportunities to welcome a challenging new cycle for the sector.
Mexico 's National Organization of Petroleum Retailers (Onexpo Nacional) celebrated its latest edition of Cumbre Puebla, its year-end gathering of delegates from the country’s top mobility and supplier companies. Held at the Puebla William O. Jenkins Convention Center on December 1-2, the event hosted a series of formative workshops, exciting conferences and special presentations to close busy 2022.
In addition to its Onexpo: Convention & Expo last June, the institution organizes this trade fair as a big farewell to the year with the entire local industry together. The show welcomed professionals and exhibitors as a platform for new business opportunities and for nurturing talent through a series of inspiring panels. Some of the topics tackled during the conference program included operational issues such as volumetric controls, verification and demobilization procedures. In addition, government representatives led roundtable discussions that delved into regulations related to fuel sales and their environmental impact.
One of Cumbre Puebla’s most discussed topics discussed was the current status of permits for the transportation, distribution and commercialization of fuels across the nation. Companies had to hold back several investments in the sector due to delays in authorizations from regulatory entities, until the last two months when the Energy Regulatory Commission officialized several approvals. Fortunately, this has led to many positive projections, with companies predicting a challenging but prosperous 2023.
Recently, Mexican fuel retailers have witnessed the government tightening its grip on foreign companies operating in the country. However, Onexpo's President, Jorge Mijares Casas, explained it as a natural process in line with the market maturity retailers aspire to achieve. "Today you see a brand here and tomorrow there is another one and then you have another color, that is precisely what describes an open market.”
Attendees were also able to participate in several networking activities beyond the conference program throughout the two-day fair. Over 50 exhibitors were present on site to showcase their latest innovations to keep pushing the Mexican market forward. Some solutions presented included cybersecurity and regulatory compliance tools as well as self-service ATMs equipped with several payment options.
The latest edition of Cumbre Puebla served as an inspiring and formative platform for the energy sector in Mexico to prepare for the year to come. Onexpo Nacional showed once again the importance of a united and connected local industry on the eve of a new cycle for Mexican fuel retailers.
