Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism and Mining, Daniel Mas, visited the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica on April 17 as part of the National Reconstruction Plan and Economic Development. His agenda focused on supporting regional development through meetings with local authorities and industry groups, especially in the aquaculture and fishing sectors.
The visit aimed to highlight the region’s productive priorities and advance measures for economic recovery, investment promotion, and job creation. Mas began his activities by meeting with key figures from the fishing sector in Magallanes. The discussions addressed current challenges facing both industrial fisheries and artisanal fishers. The potential for growth in aquaculture under existing regulations was also reviewed.
Mas then led a regional cabinet meeting alongside Ericka Farías, presidential delegate for Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, along with other government officials. The group assessed the territory’s economic situation and reviewed main initiatives under the National Reconstruction Plan. They placed emphasis on measures designed to provide greater certainty for investors, unblock projects, and address urgent employment needs.
During these meetings, Mas said that regions play a crucial role in national development: “the 57% of Gross Domestic Product is generated outside the capital.” He noted that Magallanes is the eighth region he has visited since taking office at Economy Ministry. According to him, this area represents an important part of Chile’s economic growth. He added that “the National Reconstruction project can be an important incentive for this region”.
Mas also met with businesspeople from various sectors including tourism, energy, and aquaculture. He stressed that new legislation will support different sizes of companies while generating jobs: “We believe it is very good for Chile; it is a package of complementary measures that give certainty to investment… It goes directly to small businesses with employment subsidies reaching millions of workers from more than 150 thousand smaller companies… We are convinced it addresses today’s social emergency given there are more than 850 thousand unemployed workers.”
To conclude his visit, Mas held bilateral meetings with deputies Alejandro Riquelme and Carlos Bianchi as well as Senator Alejandro Kusanovic to discuss investment initiatives required by the region. These talks focused on legislative progress needed for local economic reactivation.
