Advances in Antarctic Logistics and market diversification in China, Chinese Taipei and South Korea, for the seafood products from the southern zone, were some of the most relevant topics discussed in the first 2024 External Trade Board (Comex) of Magallanes.

The meeting, which was held in the offices of ProChile from Punta Arenas, had the regional director Claudio Villarroel as host, and was attended by the ambassador Juan Aníbal Barría, the Seremi of Finance, Álvaro Vargas; the regional director (S) of Customs, Elio Zúñiga; the manager of Asogama, Mery Ruiz; the manager of Frank Camera AG, Claudio Gutiérrez; from the manager of the Magallanes Chamber of Production and Commerce, Eduardo Yaksic; and representatives of the companies APAL, MF Chile, Pesca Cisus, Pesca Chile, Patagonia Timber, Cidepes, Aerovías SAP, Agropat, Antartic Gate and Insua.

Claudio Villarroel said that "for ProChile this is a very relevant event of the Magallanes Comex Board, because it is a space where the public and private sectors can have an open dialogue about the situation of foreign trade from and to the region, emphasizing facilitating trade and collaborating to remove any existing barriers."

For Seremi Álvaro Vargas, this meeting was a positive one, “because we had the possibility to see the progress that we have been working with the different exporting sectors of the region since last year. Last year we subdivided this table into several lines of work that has allowed us to better respond to the needs of each sector with the corresponding public services and to be able to address problems that have occurred since years ago.”

At the meeting they presented in telematic form Ingrid Garrido, of the Department of Access to Markets of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations (SUBREI) on “Commercial Agreements: Advantages in Access to the Merchandise Market”, and Carolina Ramírez, of the SUBREI Regulatory Department, on the topic “Chile and its Trade Policy”. 

In addition, the situation regarding Antarctic Logistics was also analyzed, including the existing facilities for the conduct of scientific and tourist activities in that area, counting as base of operations Punta Arenas, both for shipping and air services. 

Another relevant topic discussed was the efforts made by both ProChile and Sernapesca, aimed at facilitating the entry of food from the Magellan Sea, mainly hedgehog and centolla, into new Asian markets, considering alternatives to Japan as a traditional destination for these shipments. It was reported that efforts were made with China's health and customs authorities to allow exports from the region, taking into account the new requirements in force.