Mexico lacks majority of land for special economic zones

At least half the land needed to create Mexico's new special economic zones is not federally owned, and will need to be acquired in some way, the official assigned to develop them said on Friday, ruling out expropriations.

In May, President Enrique Pena Nieto signed a new law targeting underdeveloped states in southern Mexico that aims to offer tax breaks to lure private-sector investment.

The government has identified four initial areas for development: the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Chiapas on the border with Guatemala, the Gulf port of Coatzacoalcos, and the Pacific refinery town of Salina . . .