MONDRAGON strengthens inter-cooperation among its subsidiaries in Mexico

Inter-cooperation is one of MONDRAGON’s defining characteristics and one of its main competitive strengths. This was clearly demonstrated at the 2nd MONDRAGON Mexico Forum, which brought together representatives from the different subsidiaries of the Corporation’s cooperatives in the country. The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships, share knowledge and identify new projects, building on an increasingly well-established culture of collaboration.

The event also highlighted the excellent work being carried out by MONDRAGON’s delegation in Mexico to promote and strengthen relationships among the subsidiaries. Rafa Villeda, Director of Corporate Relations and Continuing Education at Universidad Mondragón México, acted as master of ceremonies.

During the official opening, Oskar Goitia, President of MONDRAGON International, thanked the subsidiaries for their participation and invited Olatz Imaz and Bixente Atxa to share their thoughts on the forum and MONDRAGON’s development in the country. Imaz, who was attending this type of event in Mexico for the first time, expressed her pride in the project that had been developed, particularly in the connection between the university and business. Atxa, for his part, recalled how, in 2011, Universidad Mondragón México was still just an idea outlined in a presentation. He highlighted how it had evolved into a reality and emphasised its future potential.

A strength that multiplies results

MONDRAGON President Pello Rodríguez reflected on his experience as an expatriate in England and Germany and highlighted the importance of having a support network such as the one the subsidiaries have built in Mexico, particularly in contrast to the loneliness that can sometimes accompany those working far from their usual surroundings.

Rodríguez also reviewed the Corporation’s positive development, its main strategic projects and the challenges posed by an increasingly competitive international environment. Against this backdrop, he championed inter-cooperation as a distinctive MONDRAGON asset: pooling efforts and sharing capabilities to multiply results through trust and generosity.

The same theme was at the heart of a round-table discussion moderated by Iban Garate from MONDRAGON’s Communications Department. Participants included representatives of the General Council—Edorta Herce, Zigor Ezpeleta and Marijo Pagaldai—and representatives of the Mexican subsidiaries Eika, Mondragon Assembly and Fagor Ederlan: Txus Álvarez, Ricardo Bustamante and Telmo Agirrezabalaga, respectively.

The discussion explored the value of inter-cooperation in an environment where Basque and Mexican business cultures converge. One of the main conclusions was that inter-cooperation is not something that comes naturally to people or is automatically embedded in their DNA. Rather, it is a capability that must be cultivated, practised and understood as a way of working.

Participants agreed that it requires generosity and commitment, a willingness to share without necessarily expecting an immediate return, and the ability to listen to and learn from others. This form of collective intelligence makes it possible to combine strengths and build lasting relationships, turning inter-cooperation into a competitive advantage for the cooperatives.

From relationships to shared projects

Another highlight was the review of initiatives developed over the past year. The Finance, Purchasing, People and Communications committees, established following the first edition of the forum, have become well-established platforms for exchanging information, experiences and best practices.

Projects undertaken include initiatives related to financial management, cost optimisation, regulatory monitoring and talent management. One notable initiative is MONDRAGON People Mx, which is being launched with the participation of eight subsidiaries and aims to strengthen talent attraction and retention, as well as MONDRAGON’s employer brand in Mexico. Meanwhile, the MONDRAGON México newsletter, which has already published five issues, helps raise the profile of the companies and people that make up this community.

Inter-cooperation was not only discussed; it was put into practice

The forum itself was an exercise in collaboration among the subsidiaries. Through meetings, conversations and working sessions, participants identified common challenges and explored new business opportunities. Talent, purchasing, business development, innovation, automation, artificial intelligence and social impact were among the areas discussed.

The aim was to go beyond exchanging experiences and move towards joint initiatives capable of creating value for the companies. Participants committed to working on these areas over the following twelve months, leading up to the next forum.

Mexico: a country of opportunities and challenges

The forum also featured Valeria Moy, Director General of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), who provided an overview of the country’s economic situation. In her presentation, she highlighted the need to stimulate private investment as a driver of growth, improve productivity and harness Mexico’s industrial and business potential. She also addressed challenges such as informal employment, economic volatility and export competitiveness in a changing international environment.

Closing the forum: a business community with a future

Towards the end of the event, Arturo Alvarado, MONDRAGON’s delegate in Mexico and Rector of Universidad Mondragón México, reviewed the work carried out over the previous twelve months and the progress made in inter-cooperation. He highlighted joint initiatives in areas such as talent management, salary benchmarking, business development and regulatory monitoring, as well as the consolidation of the Finance, Purchasing, People and Communications committees.

Alvarado also emphasised the importance of keeping subsidiaries informed and connected, sharing knowledge and anticipating challenges in the business environment. In this regard, he highlighted regulatory alert mechanisms and dedicated meetings on current issues, such as developments in the trade agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA), which enable the companies to address shared challenges collectively.

In the area of talent, Alvarado highlighted the strategic importance of MONDRAGON People Mx as a joint initiative to improve the attraction and retention of professionals. He also identified new opportunities for collaboration with Universidad Mondragón México through company-based learning programmes that connect education with the needs of the subsidiaries. In the commercial sphere, he proposed the possibility of making joint corporate presentations to prospective customers, leveraging the strength of the MONDRAGON brand to unlock new business opportunities.

Reflecting on the progress made, he identified three key achievements: greater mutual understanding of the people and projects involved, the development of trust-based relationships founded on generosity, and the establishment of stable channels for participation. These three pillars will underpin further progress throughout 2027, with the aim of creating ever greater value for the cooperatives, subsidiaries and people who make up MONDRAGON in Mexico.

The forum concluded with  the announcement that Querétaro will host the next edition in 2027, followed by a networking lunch that provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships in a more informal setting. In the afternoon, participants had the chance to gain first-hand insight into the operations of the Fagor Ederlan, Onnera and Batz subsidiaries in San Luis Potosí.

Once again, the event brought the spirit of the day into focus: inter-cooperation was not only discussed; it was put into practice.