Brandon Judd, U.S. Ambassador, Tours Port of Iquique

As part of his first official visit to the Tarapacá Region, the United States Ambassador to Chile, Brandon Judd, toured the facilities of the Port of Iquique. During the visit, he held a working meeting and observed the terminal operations firsthand.

For the diplomatic mission, the port facility of Iquique is a strategic point for Chile's commercial activity and a support for the regional economy. With the activation of bi-oceanic corridors, it will gain greater importance, but will also face greater challenges in relation to the fight against smuggling and organized crime.

In this regard, the Chairman of the EPI Board, Max Barrera, stated that "this meeting allows us to give visibility to the gravitational role of the Port of Iquique in regional competitiveness and foreign trade. It reaffirms our commitment to the development of a secure infrastructure, where institutional coordination and international collaboration are fundamental to shield maritime borders against organized crime."

During the day, the diplomat met with the Chairman of the Board of Empresa Portuaria Iquique (EPI), Max Barrera; the company's General Manager, Rubén Castro; Director Ximena Cancino; and the General Manager of the concessionaire ITI, Rodrigo Pommiez. The meeting addressed the port's logistical relevance for the South American macro-zone, as well as the strengthening of operational and port security standards.

Likewise, the importance of strengthening public and private cooperation to confront global criminal threats was discussed in depth, emphasizing the fight against transnational organized crime and the protection of maritime supply chains.