Minister of Mining Aurora Williams: "Exponor, Chile, 2024 reflects the dynamism that the mining industry is currently experiencing"

The international technical exhibition aims to be a turning point in the national mining industry, fostering new investments and business opportunities that contribute to strengthening the Progrowth Agenda from the Antofagasta Region to the country as a whole.

In an unprecedented meeting, the main representatives of the CPC, Sofofa, Sonami, the Mining Council, along with the Minister of Mining, were convened in Santiago by the Antofagasta Industrial Association, AIA, to analyze and discuss strategies that strengthen the Chilean economy.

Valuing the sense of collaboration between the public and private sectors, manifested in this meeting, Minister of Mining, Aurora Williams, reiterated the government's commitment to regional investment, emphasizing the high participation of national and international companies in Exponor 2024. 

This positions the value chain of suppliers with opportunities for internationalization. "It is important that it takes place in the mining region, with a business projection of over US$900 million, which significantly contributes not only to the regional economy but also to the northern macrozone and the country, providing - particularly - dynamism to the mining industry."

Marko Razmilic, president of AIA, highlighted the holding of Exponor as the most important international, technical, and on-site exhibition of the year in the national mining calendar. "We are convinced that this event will be a turning point for regional and national mining, stimulating new investments and business opportunities that contribute to strengthening the Progrowth Agenda in the Antofagasta Region and the country. This is of great value in the face of the threat of a potential setback in foreign investment and increasing inflation."

The private sector generates approximately 80% of the national GDP, directly impacting people's lives. Ricardo Mewes, President of the CPC, emphasized that "if governments succeed, so does the private sector and Chile." He stated that with the recently known figures regarding the development of Exponor 2024, "it practically drives the entire country, as it is a space of cutting-edge, innovative, state-of-the-art technologies associated with mining that can be transferred to other sectors such as commerce, agriculture, and others that can benefit."

"Growth has to be the keyword that unites the public and private sectors to identify the gravitating factors that make it possible for that growth to manifest in better jobs, more investments," said Rosario Navarro, President of Sofofa. She indicated that Chile requires stability, clear rules of the game, to regain at least a sense of security. Regarding Exponor, she highlighted the opportunities it generates, "not only from a business standpoint but also from the perspective of well-being, labor competencies, bringing to the table collaboration instances, to work together as a country and provide certainty for investments."

On the other hand, the top representative of Sonami, Jorge Riesco, thanked AIA for the space created to discuss key issues that move the country, stating that regions have much to contribute to collaborating with the central level, so their scope of action must be respected and enhanced. This is the case of the Antofagasta Region, which is an extra dynamism source that the country needs. "Exponor is within the framework of our country's growth, and it is a powerful instance to contribute from that perspective, and also for new companies to emerge, entrepreneurship, new human capital for Chile; undoubtedly, the most important exhibition of 2024."

Finally, Joaquín Villarino, President of the Mining Council, valued the role of the private sector in the Progrowth Agenda, emphasizing that certainty must be provided to advance investments. "At EXPONOR, conversations are generated around the major issues that move the industry and constitute the sector's challenges. It is one of the four most important exhibitions on the international stage; in Chile and Latin America, it is a reference, with great pulling power. Undoubtedly, its realization will mean an important contribution to economic reactivation from the region to the country. We are absolutely convinced that regionalism is part of Chile's future and that regions like Antofagasta are a symbol of how things can be done very well from the perspective of regions."

EXPONOR 2024, Key Momentum

Approximately US$900 million in new business is projected as a result of the twentieth edition of this international exhibition over the next two years, which will undoubtedly provide momentum to drive growth and dynamism in the national industry, with a direct effect on new investments, increased employment, growth of mining and energy projects, and other benefits.

With over 900 exhibitors, 15 pavilions, 30 participating countries, 130 technical talks, and more than 2,000 business meetings, EXPONOR will bring together leaders from the major national and international industries between June 3 and 6, becoming a networking space that will help boost key industries such as mining, energy, transportation, technology, and innovation, and be a key driver for the reactivation and strengthening of the economy in Chile.