The governor of Catamarca, Raúl Jalil, presented an assessment of the provincial mining sector during the inauguration ceremony of Teresita Regalado as the new Minister of Mining, where he highlighted the arrival of foreign investments, announced support measures for small and medium-sized mining, and detailed key infrastructure projects for the productive development of the province.
The ceremony took place at Government House and included the presence of provincial officials, legislators, and mayors. In that context, Jalil emphasized the strategic role of mining in Catamarca's economic matrix and the sustained growth of the activity in recent years.
International investments and the strategic role of mining
During his speech, the governor stressed that "80% of Catamarca's land is mountains" and celebrated that the province has managed to attract investments from more than 15 countries. According to what he detailed, companies from Europe, Switzerland, the United States, India, and China are currently participating in local mining projects, together with internationally significant firms such as Glencore and Albemarle.
Jalil also highlighted the participation of local business owners and emphasized the recovery of Yacimientos Mineros de Agua de Dionisio (YMAD) for the province. In that regard, he pointed out the coordination of public policies together with CAMYEN, and he recalled that this institutional decision originated during former governor Lucía Corpacci's administration.
The challenge of small and medium-sized mining
One of the central axes of the governor's message was the development of small and medium-sized mining, which he defined as "the great challenge" of his administration. To illustrate the sector's potential, Jalil compared Catamarca's situation with Chile's.
"Chile exports almost 6 billion dollars in small and medium-sized mining, which is practically what we export in total. Altogether, Chile exports around 60 billion," the governor stated, as he emphasized the growth margin that exists for the province.
In that context, he announced that the provincial government will support the sector with specific lines of credit and he called on business owners from Catamarca and Argentina to invest in smaller-scale projects that, with current international mineral prices, are economically viable.
