Glencore Pachón’s Entrepreneur Fund Program has been running for three years, establishing itself as a key driver of innovation and local development in the Calingasta department.
By Panorama Minero
With over 64 entrepreneurs supported, the company has invested more than ARS 700 million in initiatives that strengthen the region’s social and economic fabric.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to witness how these ventures grow. That’s why each new edition of the program is filled with emotion, enthusiasm, and great expectations. To further boost businesses and empower entrepreneurs—enhancing their soft skills, streamlining processes, and enabling long-term planning—we added a cycle of personalized mentorships in 2023,” said María Eugenia Basualdo, Head of Community Relations.
Yanina Sistema, Director of the consulting firm Equipo RH, which leads the training sessions, adds: “Many entrepreneurs don’t know how to scale their business, get organized, or increase sales. That’s why, together with Glencore Pachón, we’ve added this comprehensive support system.”
One of the winners of the latest edition of the Entrepreneur Boost Fund Program is Cristina Gallardo, founder of Parador Sur, a gastronomic space in Barreal. She is currently engaged in the mentorship process, aiming to professionalize the management of her venture. “I’m really excited. I want to learn more about marketing, but above all, I’d like help with the numbers. I’d love for the Parador to operate year-round and become a cultural hub for the community,” she said.
Cristina was awarded the Glencore Pachón fund earlier this year, which allowed her to acquire cutlery, dinnerware, a work counter, and tables to improve her service. Her business is family-run—though she leads it, her siblings are actively involved. Gallardo dreams of making Parador Sur not just a dining spot but also a cultural and recreational space that serves as a gathering point for both tourists and locals. In fact, she’s planning to add lodging to expand the project. She sources ingredients from local producers, trains her team in cooking, and although they currently focus on fast food, they also offer special dishes such as locro, empanadas, milanesas, and hot meals.
This is a clear example of the positive impact mentorships can generate. The program lasts six months and includes technical advice, site visits, and one-on-one work with specialists in areas such as finance, production, sales, and communication. It is part of the new development focus on building resilient communities, aiming to empower entrepreneurs.
Such was the case of Alejandra Roldán, founder of El Encanto, a personalized merchandise and gift shop in Barreal. After receiving the fund in 2022, she participated in the mentorship program the following year. “They helped me notice small things that made a big difference. I learned how to calculate costs and get organized. It was a turning point,” she says. The support she received—including training in various aspects of business management and finance—helped her strengthen areas she had never worked on before, particularly in cost control and logistics. It gave her a new perspective on the full operation of her business. Although she always considered herself a natural salesperson, she says the program helped her professionalize her venture and build the confidence needed to make strategic decisions.
Today, she supplies mining companies, shops, and public institutions—including Rawson Hospital—and has expanded her customer base beyond the department. Clients in San Juan’s capital, including security companies, solar energy firms, and private buyers, now choose her products. She has also been invited to speak at local events to share her experience and inspire other entrepreneurs. Looking ahead, she plans to invest in her own machinery to stop outsourcing some services and expand her product offering.
For Yanina Sistema, what sets the program apart is its human-centered approach. “It’s not just about producing more. It’s about entrepreneurs learning to value themselves, daring to grow, and becoming part of a network. That impact goes far beyond business,” she says.
With each new edition, Glencore Pachón’s program reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the entrepreneurial fabric of Calingasta, combining technical and human support to ensure each project not only moves forward but becomes truly sustainable over time.
For more information, please contact:
Media María Eugenia Basualdo M: +54 264 4422627 maria.basualdo@glencore.com.ar
Editor’s Note
El Pachón is a copper and molybdenum deposit located in the Calingasta department, San Juan province, Argentina. It sits at an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level, just 5 kilometers from the international border with Chile.
The deposit is 100% owned by Glencore.
El Pachón is currently in the advanced exploration stage.
The expected average production is approximately 360,000 tons of copper in concentrate per year during the first 70 years.
