OXXEAN Maritime Companies held a ceremony to bless and inaugurate their new international port on December 30th.
Her Excellency, President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, participated in the event. The President toured the new international port accompanied by OXXEAN founders Ivar and Jorge Pacheco, and the Ministers of Finance, Alberto Arenas; Economy, Development, and Tourism, Luis Felipe Céspedes; Minister of the Sermon, Clauda Pascual; Acting Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, Patricia Silva; the Mayor of the Los Lagos Region, Nofal Abud; and parliamentarians from the region.
In her remarks to the OXXEAN founders during the ceremony, the President of the Republic highlighted the importance of OXXEAN Puerto Chincui for the economic development of the Los Lagos Region. «You know much better than I do how essential this is for the regional economy, especially for the salmon industry, which will be able to rely on this terminal to operate 24/7, 365 days a year. But you also said that this is the first step, that this port will continue to grow, and you project this total investment at more than $100 million. If you do this, you will surely become the port that leads maritime port traffic in the region,» she said.
President Bachelet added that OXXEAN Puerto Chincui is an example of how public and private sectors can work together for the sustainable development of an area. «By combining public and private capacities at all levels, both nationally and regionally, Chile will improve its growth prospects. This port is an example of how public and private efforts can be successful,» she stated.
OXXEAN thanked the President for her participation in the ceremony, presenting her with an award. Jorge Pacheco, general manager of OXXEAN, described this visit to OXXEAN Terminal Marítimo as very important. “What we are doing with Puerto Chincui is something we cannot achieve alone. We need the support of the State and its stakeholders to continue making this initiative an integrated effort for sustainable development in the south of our country. Having the President of the Republic accompany us at our inauguration validates that the work and focus we have given to this new international port, with its characteristics, standards, and development plan to ensure its operation benefits the Los Lagos Region and the extreme southern regions of Chile, is on the right path,” he stated.
During the event, OXXEAN also presented an award to Tránsito Zúñiga, a resident of the area where the new international port is located. Jorge Pacheco explained that «Mrs. Tránsito owned the land that leads to the port. When we spoke with her to reach an agreement and purchase what we needed to widen the road—something essential to the progress of the initiative—she not only accepted. She moved the house that was there and, with the money she received, helped her family. She improved their living conditions. Today, the house she moved has been transformed into a hostel run by one of her sons, which welcomes workers from other cities and ports. She lives peacefully. The change this family underwent is an example that reflects what we believe as entrepreneurs should do: to be part of a culture of sharing the well-being we have achieved, driving the local economy so that everyone is well,» he indicated.
The blessing ceremony for OXXEAN Puerto Chincui was officiated by Monsignor Leandro Cerna, parish priest of the Mother Church of Puerto Montt.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Ivar Pacheco Alvarado, president of OXXEAN, Jorge Pacheco Alvarado, general manager of OXXEAN, and the President of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet Jeria.
