China is planning to court Mexico again for the $3.75-billion high-speed railway project after the latter abruptly backed out of the deal in November, according to one of the bidder companies involved in a Chinese-led consortium and an insider privy to the bid.
Mexico cancelled the railway project contract awarded to the Chinese-led consortium comprised of CSR Corp., China Railway Construction Corp. (CRCC) and four other Mexican companies on Nov. 7 after opposing legislators claimed that the uncontested bid was fixed.
Mexico said that it would be re-processing the tender by the end of November.
Local Mexican media reported that Grupo Higa, one of the Mexican companies involved in the consortium, possessed a house worth $7 million that was in the process of being acquired by the Mexican president's wife, who later said that she will not push through with the purchase.
"Whether we will continue to bid with CRCC, that's a definite yes," a CSR publicity department official surnamed Xu said.
Another source close to the bid confirmed that CRCC will be tendering its offer to Mexico again.
Xu did not answer whether the Mexican firms involved will still be in the consortium for the bid, but said that adjustments on consortiums are natural.
After the contract cancellation, CRCC said that they were shocked by the abrupt decision and that it was planning to take legal action.