Mexico and South Korea have concluded negotiations to modernize their Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, known as the APPRI, after seven years of talks. The next steps are a legal review and each country’s internal procedures before the updated pact can be signed and enter into force.
For Nuevo León, the timing matters because the state is already the main landing point for South Korean capital in Mexico. Milenio, citing Mexico’s Economy Secretariat, reports US$3.2024 billion reached Nuevo León between 2024 and the first half of 2026, equal to 47.1% of Korean direct investment in Mexico during that period.
The signature still sits ahead
The APPRI was signed in 2000 and has been in force since 2002. The two governments say the modernized version is intended to create a more transparent and stable investment environment while balancing investor protection with the state’s ability to set public policy. Neither outlet reports that the updated agreement has been signed yet.
281 Korean companies already in Nuevo León
Milenio reports that 281 Korean companies were established in Nuevo León as of April 2026. The companies named include Kia, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai WIA, NIFCO and DH Autoware, with activity spanning automotive manufacturing, parts, electronics and automotive technology.
- Agreement: APPRI modernization between Mexico and South Korea
- Status: negotiations concluded; legal review and internal procedures remain
- Negotiation period: seven years, beginning in 2019
- Nuevo León: US$3.2024B, or 47.1% of Korean FDI in Mexico, from 2024 through H1 2026
- Companies: 281 Korean companies in the state as of April 2026