Within the framework of “Aysén Day”, an event held in Santiago to promote investment opportunities in the Aysén Region, the allocation of 35 million dollars for the expansion and comprehensive improvement of the Port of Chacabuco was announced, the main maritime terminal and logistical hub of the area.
The initiative is part of the “Plan de Desarrollo de Zonas Extremas”, which contemplates a total injection of 1.7 billion dollars in the region. In this context, the project of the Empresa Portuaria Chacabuco (Emporcha) aims to optimize docks, access points, and operational areas, aiming to increase the terminal’s technical and commercial capacity.
In this regard, the governor of Aysén, Marcelo Santana, while appreciating the port authority’s participation in “Aysén Day”, mentioned that “one of the most emblematic projects for the region will undoubtedly be the expansion of the Port of Chacabuco”, even anticipating the possibility of supporting the entry of private entities through port concessions.
“We are open to private investment being an engine for the region’s development, and in that sense, exploring concession models, both for existing infrastructure like the port, and also for others that need to be strengthened, such as the free trade zone issue,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the president of the board of Emporcha, Enrique Runin, commented that “today we serve vessels up to 190 meters in length; with this investment we will be able to serve vessels up to 230 meters, increase our draft to 14.5 meters, therefore, it is a tremendous advance not only for the company but for the region. This comes to improve the enabling conditions for investments to develop within the territory of Aysén.”
Arturo Clément, president of Salmón Chile, indicated that “we would like to develop a permanent and long-term relationship on how to progressively increase the port conditions of Chacabuco. Happy to collaborate with them in the future. That investment for the port announced by the regional governor undoubtedly improves all connectivity, facilitates all the work.”
Álvaro Fuentes, general manager of Andean Silver, a company that exports gold and silver concentrate from the Port of Chacabuco, appreciated that “it is super good that the infrastructure in general is being improved as mentioned in this forum; the region’s interconnectivity is super important for all of us who are working and developing businesses there.”
Rolf Traeger, regional director of the Consejo del Salmón, assured that “the investment being made in Emporcha today is going to generate confidence in the industry and potential growth as well. That is why we are here today in Santiago trying to attract new investments to our territory with that enabling physical infrastructure.”
Aysén Day
The activity brought together different companies and representative institutions of the Aysén Region, to present the Regional Investment Plan and a series of projects that will be realized in the area in the coming years.
The mission was led by the regional governor, Marcelo Santana, and included the participation of national authorities, among them, the executive vice president of Corfo, José Miguel Benavente.
Among the participants, Emporcha played a prominent role, taking advantage of this instance to strengthen its connection with businesspeople, guilds, and authorities, with the goal of identifying support and funding sources, and consolidating itself as a key facilitator and partner in the development strategy of the Aysén Region.
The company’s general manager, Felipe Candia, praised the event, highlighting it as a key gathering that allows “different economic actors who are working in the region to come together to achieve the materialization of investments and broaden the range of productive alternatives that the region has. As a port, it is very relevant to be at this event because it allows us to showcase the potential of the port, our infrastructure, work teams, and also to look for new project alternatives in infrastructure, innovation, or other services that could be interesting for us.”
“Through the port, through our facilities, natural resources flow, passengers flow, cargo in general, the entire productive sector of the region that requires port services. Our role is to contribute as a port with an efficient service, with infrastructure in permanent recovery, maintenance, and expansion, to the development of the Aysén Region and its inhabitants in the productive spheres of its different sectors,” concluded the chairman of the board of Emporcha, Enrique Runin.
