The chairman of the board of the Empresa Portuaria Chacabuco (Emporcha), Enrique Runin, was elected president of the Asociación de Puertos de la Zona Sur Austral de la Patagonia Chilena, an organization that brings together the ports of Chacabuco, Austral (Punta Arenas) and Puerto Montt.
This organization was created in 2023 by the presidents of the three public ports of the southernmost regions of the country, with the objective of sharing best practices, coordinating activities, and promoting the development of the port sector in this area of the country, integrating the regions of Magallanes, Aysén and Los Lagos as part of a unique connectivity strategy.
Runin stated he was “very grateful to my colleagues from Empresa Portuaria Puerto Montt and Austral,” highlighting that, in its two years, “this organization has allowed for some coordination actions, always with a focus on services for our clients, for the inhabitants of our three regions, who so require efficient port services tailored to their needs.”
The executive recalled that the three ports share common challenges. “We share a territory that is quite similar and also some common productive sectors such as the aquaculture sector, the livestock sector, the shipping sector, the tourism sector in general. Our idea is to continue working jointly, unitedly, trying to strengthen our capacities, share knowledge and continue contributing to the development of the entire southern austral macro-zone,” he stated.
Runin added that they seek to emphasize for the next two-year period some matters that are under development and also to promote new initiatives, “always in direct contact with the regional authorities, with the various guilds and productive sectors of the southern austral zone to be able to identify what is necessary to improve, perfect and create new facilities (…) We are very satisfied with what we have done so far, however, we have many challenges and we believe that we can continue contributing as an association to the development of our zone.”
The regional governor of Aysén, Marcelo Santana, celebrated the designation of the head of Emporcha to the presidency of the organization. “It is very important, especially since our region presents special conditions for the development of some economic activities. For example, Chile has just been awarded for cruise tourism. Being well connected through the ports, equalizing cabotage costs, allows for the development of productive activity,” he stated.
Enrique Runin takes over the position previously held by Julián Goñi, president of Empormontt, who stated he was satisfied with what was accomplished during the two years of his management, which had the mission of “strengthening the structure of the Association and advancing in matters of regulatory compliance, operational management and digital transformation. We also incorporated new technologies in the ramps to improve services and developed a joint strategy to boost cruise tourism, connectivity and the productivity of the austral zone.”
In his handover message, the outgoing helmsman wished Runin success. “We must continue strengthening the coordination and joint work between the port companies, with a shared vision that allows us to continue improving services, connectivity and the territorial development of the extreme south of Chile,” stated Goñi.
