Argentina's Chubut Province Plans Port Authority for Rawson and Camarones, Giving Private Sector Decision-Making Role

Ignacio Torres, Governor of Chubut Province, Argentina, announced at a press conference held in the provincial government building on the evening of Wednesday, November 11, that a port authority will be established for the ports of Rawson and Camarones, with the new management structure bringing municipal governments and the private sector into the decision-making process. Damián Biss, Mayor of Rawson, Claudia Loyola, Mayor of Camarones, and provincial deputies allied with the ruling party attended the press conference; these deputies will play an important role in the legislative review of the bill.

Torres said that discussions over port management authority have lasted for decades and have repeatedly been shelved due to political disagreements and disputes between jurisdictions. He thanked the two local officials for their "patience" and commitment in advancing a common proposal, and said the issue "is not a question of jurisdiction; in the end it is more like a tug-of-war mixed with vanity and ego," and that officials at all levels should make a pragmatic judgment about what is best for the province, for Rawson and for Camarones.

According to Torres, the goal is to change the old model in which the private sector was merely "informed" of decisions to a new model in which it has binding participation, with the provincial government, municipal governments and enterprises jointly bearing responsibility for port planning and development. He stressed that this is not a devolution of authority but a "marriage" between the municipalities of Rawson and Camarones, the province and the private sector, aimed at making the two ports the most competitive in the region and creating more jobs.

The specific engineering arrangements announced at the press conference include: the provincial government's commitment to carry out dredging at the Port of Rawson, which is regarded as a priority for the operation of the dock and is currently in the awarding process; and private enterprises' commitment to fund the expansion of the port with a new 50-meter dock. Torres said this reflects a development agenda that requires the participation of both the provincial and municipal governments and the deputies.

At the legislative level, Torres asked the provincial deputies present to support the proposal and to expedite its review in the legislature. The bill must first pass through the relevant committees and obtain the necessary consensus before it can become law. He also previewed that the legislative agenda will include other tools to facilitate corporate investment and financing, including the establishment of a guarantee fund to enable the private sector to obtain financing and replenish working capital, an initiative planned to be advanced next week. He also mentioned a stamp tax exemption for corporate capitalization and said he would consult with Banco de la Nación Argentina, Banco del Chubut and the Federal Investment Council (CFI) to coordinate new financing tools.

Torres also mentioned the aquaculture potential of Chubut Province, calling for the sector to be advanced with seriousness and planning, and urged the deputies to maintain a short-, medium- and long-term development agenda. He cited other initiatives that already involve the private sector, including a tourism investment promotion law originating from industry proposals, which enables participating municipalities to obtain incentives for advancing projects. He concluded by again calling for expedited legislative review so that the new port authority can begin operating as soon as possible.