With the approval of the national government, the province of San Juan has initiated a series of technical and administrative actions to advance the implementation of the Jáchal Free Trade Zone. At this stage, as explained by the Secretary of Coordination for Economic Development of San Juan, Alfredo Aciar, efforts are focused on land surveying and taking possession of the site, in order to enable future infrastructure works and organize the bidding process.
By Panorama Minero
The project is shaping up as a strategic axis for the development of northern San Juan, with a focus on the mining value chain and investment attraction. Through the tax benefits of the free trade zone regime and in line with the RIGI, the aim is to improve business competitiveness and consolidate Jáchal as a key logistics node within San Juan’s productive framework.
With the recent authorization from the national government to relocate the Jáchal Free Trade Zone to the “Campo Los Blanquitos” site, a schedule of technical and administrative actions has begun to activate this logistics and industrial hub. After securing the legal continuity of the right to maintain this special customs zone, the province is now focused on taking possession and preparing the infrastructure necessary to attract investments, as projected by Alfredo Aciar. The objective is for this Free Trade Zone in Jáchal to focus on the mining value chain.
In the short term, tasks are centered on completing the land survey, a technical step preceding the staking process. This procedure, which formalizes the taking of possession of the land by authorities, is expected to take place at the end of March or early April. Once completed, it will be possible to begin initial improvements on the site, subject to coordination with infrastructure areas and construction stakeholders.
Additionally, Aciar expressed positive expectations regarding Expo San Juan Minera, an international event organized biennially by PANORAMA MINERO, to be held from May 6 to 8, where the social and official presentation of the project will take place. At this event, videos and graphical representations (renders) will be showcased to visualize the planned development for the 110 hectares that make up the new location. This site was selected for its strategic position along National Route No. 150, its proximity to high-voltage lines, and its natural protection against climatic contingencies—factors that position it as a key node for the Bioceanic Corridor and major mining projects in the area, such as Vicuña, Veladero, and Gualcamayo.
On the legal and administrative front, the process will continue with expropriation proceedings to obtain full ownership of the land. Once the State Prosecutor’s Office confirms the completion of this process and the province obtains full title, a draft bidding document will be submitted to the national government for approval. The provincial government’s objective is to launch the public tender during the second half of the year, before the end of the annual period.
Aciar noted that the development of this free trade zone seeks to leverage tax benefits for the import of inputs and capital goods, allowing companies to industrialize products and export them with greater international competitiveness. In alignment with national policies that promote private sector participation, this project is positioned as a key component for the regional productive ecosystem and for investments linked to the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI).
