The Government of Catamarca Province is advancing plans to establish a Free Trade Zone in Tinogasta, following a meeting between Governor Raúl Jalil and Argentina's Cabinet Chief Diego Santilli in Buenos Aires.
By Panorama Minero
The proposal aims to strengthen Catamarca's logistics infrastructure, attract new investment and develop a strategic hub for international trade in the province's western region.
Provincial authorities view the project as a tool to improve the competitiveness of export-oriented industries while supporting continued economic growth.
Strategic Location for Export Corridors
Tinogasta's proximity to the San Francisco International Pass, one of the main road links connecting northwestern Argentina with Chilean ports on the Pacific coast, gives the proposed Free Trade Zone strategic importance for regional trade.
If approved, the facility would support warehousing, cargo consolidation, logistics services and value-added processing for export products.
The initiative is also expected to benefit the mining sector. Tinogasta is home to the Tres Quebradas (3Q) lithium project, operated by LIEX S.A., whose lithium carbonate production is primarily destined for international markets.
Part of a Broader Development Strategy
The proposal has been promoted for several years by Catamarca's national legislators as part of broader efforts to strengthen infrastructure, attract investment and expand export capacity.
The meeting also included Catamarca's Minister of Government, Security and Justice Alberto Natella, Senator Guillermo Andrada, Speaker of Argentina's Chamber of Deputies Martín Menem, and Undersecretary for Institutional Management Eduardo "Lule" Menem.
The Free Trade Zone proposal forms part of Catamarca's broader strategy to improve logistics infrastructure and support the expansion of mining and other export-driven industries.
