Regional Governor, Pedro Pablo Álvarez-Salamanca, highlighted the strategic nature of the event, saying that «we are very pleased to hold our first investment seminar in the Maule Region. Foreign investment is key to the region’s development, so we must continue to promote it. To do so, it is essential to have clear rules that provide certainty and confidence to those who wish to invest in Maule.»
The governor added that foreign investment «not only drives economic growth, but also creates jobs and better opportunities for our residents, allowing us to project a more prosperous Maule into the future.»
«For us, signing this agreement with the Maule Regional Government is very important, as it marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to strengthen the attraction of foreign investment in the region. One of our main challenges is to decentralize foreign investment and bring it to all parts of the country. In that sense, strengthening the capabilities of the Regional Government is key to achieving this goal. This will not only enable us to attract more investment and generate high-quality jobs, but will also have a positive impact on the local economy by strengthening suppliers, developing the industrial base, and fostering connections with companies that can provide services to incoming investments,» noted Juan Pablo Candia, InvestChile’s Acting Director.
The growth of foreign direct investment reinforces this profile: over the last decade, the region’s FDI stock has tripled, surpassing US$4.5 billion and positioning it as an emerging investment destination in Chile.
From the private sector, Carolina Dosal, President of industry association Fruséptima, praised the initiative and called for stronger progress in key areas. «We need to promote foreign investment in ports, road infrastructure, and rural connectivity, recognizing that a large share of production takes place in rural areas,» she said. Dosal also noted that the region faces growing competition across Latin America, and stressed the importance of not falling behind.
Among the authorities attending the seminar were the Regional Secretaries (Seremis) of Agriculture, Alejandro Muñoz, and Economy, Katherine Núñez; the Mayor of Parral, Patricio Ojeda; and regional council members Mirtha Segura, Patricio Domínguez, and Román Pavez.