With the presence of the six governors of the provinces of the region, on Thursday February 9 in Viedma, the Argentine President aunched a project to foster the development of the Patagonian region which entails important investment opportunities.
The “Patagonia Plan” has the purpose of increasing social and productive growth. It includes programs which stimulate employment and projects to foster the production of conventional and wind energy and agricultural activity, fishing and tourism. This plan mirrors the “Belgrano Plan” which has been designed for the northern area of Argentina.
The Patagonia plan aims to consolidate Patagonia as a region, allowing for the solution of common problems and difficulties shared by all the provinces of the Patagonia. Governors’ suggestions will also be included in the Executive Branch’s original proposal.
To cope with this region’s particular problems, it has been announced that a “political cabinet” will be incorporated by the representatives of the different federal ministries and provincial authorities.
Rogelio Frigerio, Minister of Internal Affairs, reported that the meetings between the governors and the Argentine President which took place in the capital of Rio Negro were focused on matters such as “infrastructure, connectivity, urban development, hydric works, the ocean and renewable energies”.
In an open letter the President published in the regional newspaper “Tiempo Sur”, he asserted his intention to hold these meetings every three months. The next meeting will take place in April in the city of Puerto Madryn.
Since the announcement of the Patagonia Plan, public projects have been presented, including works in the province of Neuquén for the amount of 148 million pesos, with the objective of improving the Chapelco airport and in Tierra del Fuego for the amount of 3,800 million pesos to pave routes and expand Ushuaia’s dock.
Moreover, 3 million pesos will be invested in the airline industry to provide new equipment for Ushuaia’s and Rio Grande’s airports. These improvements will reduce flights suspensions and delays due to the poor meteorological conditions typical of the region.
The implementation of the Patagonia Plan and the investment opportunities that it brings is an area to watch closely.
This insight is a brief comment on legal news in Argentina; it does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis or to provide legal advice.