In a clear sign of public-private articulation for the future of the region and the country's northern macro-zone, Empresa Portuaria Iquique (EPI) and Zofri S.A. held a working session between their boards of directors and executive teams.
The instance was led by the Chairman of the Board of EPI, Max Barrera, and the Chairman of Zofri S.A., Marcos Gómez, accompanied by the Vice President of EPI, Ximena Cancino; Director Sergio Telchi; the General Manager of EPI, Rubén Castro; and the Vice President of Zofri S.A., Gisela Schäfer, who was accompanied by directors and executives of the free zone administrator.
The central focus of the meeting was to consolidate the concept of Port – Zofri Integration, a shared vision that transcends strictly logistics to become an integral driver from a logistical, commercial, and industrial perspective. During the day, EPI presented its proposed Regional Logistics Policy, whose strategic axes directly connect with the infrastructure design and future development of the Iquique Free Zone.
In this regard, the Chairman of the Board of EPI, Max Barrera, highlighted that this meeting marks a turning point: "It was an instance of joint work planning. The Port of Iquique is an essential and critical element in the operation of Zofri, and therefore the idea is to articulate possibilities that had not been fully united until today. There is a possibility of enormous growth between both institutions, and for that, we need to establish challenges, goals, and measurement of results. This way, we will transform our institutions into a generating element of dynamism for this region, for South America, and for the people of Iquique who so much hope for the possibility of improving the situation of such beloved institutions as Zofri and the Port of Iquique."
For his part, the Chairman of Zofri S.A., Marcos Gómez, emphasized the undeniable complementarity of both links: "The Port of Iquique and the Free Zone are the two main links in the logistics chain of the first region. One without the other is not understood; one without the other will not be absolutely efficient. And this meeting aimed to agree on seeking synergies between what the Iquique Free Zone is developing and what the port is doing, in order to present the largest and best logistics project for the Tarapacá region and that it can be projected."
With this alliance, both companies reaffirm their commitment to coordinate visions and structure a common strategy that boosts foreign trade, competitiveness, and the quality of life of Tarapacá families, marking a transcendental milestone for the sustainable economic growth of northern Chile.
