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Promotion Table for the Forestry Industry in the Los Ríos Region Launched

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National and regional authorities led the milestone event establishing this initiative, which includes representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The goal of the Promotion Table for the Forestry Industry in our region, established this Friday, is to serve as a platform for coordination and collaboration among various public and private institutions interested in the development of a sustainable forestry sector in Los Ríos.

The event was attended by CONAF's Executive Director, Aída Baldini; INFOR's Executive Director, Sandra Gacitúa; Regional Governor Luis Cuvertino; Regional Presidential Delegate Jorge Alvial; Regional Minister of Agriculture Jorge Sánchez; Regional Minister of Economy Alejandra Vásquez, along with other regional authorities and representatives from forestry associations such as PYMEMAD Los Ríos, Aprobosque, Achbiom (Chilean Biomass Association), Corma Bosque Nativo, and the College of Forest Engineers of Chile.

During the event, Sánchez explained the scope of this initiative, driven by the Regional Minister of Agriculture with support from INFOR and CONAF professionals in Los Ríos. He emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration to boost economic recovery in the forestry sector.

"The Promotion Table for the Forestry Industry aims to promote and position wood as a local, renewable, and sustainable resource, while also facilitating access to development tools to enhance innovation, diversification, and productive linkages. Additionally, it seeks to support the wood-based biofuels industry and create training and outreach opportunities," stated the Regional Minister of Agriculture.

INFOR's Executive Director highlighted, "We are very pleased to be here in Valdivia, launching a highly significant milestone for the forestry sector, where we will focus our efforts on supporting timber SMEs, fostering productive linkages, and adding value to native wood, which is so crucial for the Los Ríos region," said Sandra Gacitúa.

Meanwhile, CONAF's Executive Director stressed that the forestry promotion table "is a long-awaited step for the forestry sector, especially in a region like Los Ríos, where we have such a high proportion of native forests. We must develop an industry that aligns production with environmental sustainability. That is the most important aspect, particularly here," emphasized Aída Baldini.

Strategic Sector

The Regional Presidential Delegate acknowledged the significance of this milestone for the government, stating, "The forestry industry is a strategic sector for us."

"We have demonstrated through concrete actions our commitment and efforts to advance the forestry industry with a focus on innovation, production, and a balanced environmental approach—both short and long-term—across various areas, leading to significant outcomes in job creation, economic growth, exports, and relevance across multiple industries," argued Jorge Alvial.

The Regional Governor noted that this initiative "is an important space for collaboration, fully justified—especially when discussing the need for the public and private sectors to have a common platform that strengthens their relationship, facilitates dialogue, and enables future-oriented decision-making," expressed Luis Cuvertino.

In turn, José Carter, head of the Association of Native Forest Producers (Aprobosque AG), who was elected chair of the Promotion Table during its first session, emphasized that the association seeks action rather than further evaluations and appreciated that the authorities present at the launch share this vision.

"We can no longer spend time on diagnostics without concrete results, as that does nothing for our territories. People are waiting for tangible actions. That’s why I resonate with this table’s name—because when we emphasize 'industry,' it means we also have a productive vision. Forests are not just for contemplation but also for deriving products, especially in today’s global economy, where demand for sustainable bioproducts from forests is growing," Carter stressed.

Importance of the Sector

It is worth noting that the forestry sector is highly relevant and strategic in Los Ríos, covering over 50% of the territory and significantly contributing to the regional agricultural GDP and employment. Thus, creating a dialogue space integrating trade associations and public-private institutions was imperative to drive dynamism, coordinated regional actions, and economic reactivation in this sector.

The Forestry Promotion Table will initially include the Regional Minister of Agriculture, Regional Minister of Economy, Regional Government, Corfo Fomento Los Ríos, Regional Productive Development Corporation, CONAF, and INFOR from the public sector; alongside PYMEMAD, Aprobosque, Achbiom, Corma Bosque Nativo, and the College of Forest Engineers of Chile (Los Ríos Chapter) from the private sector.

Key topics to be addressed include technological capacity-building, wood quality management, promotion of biofuels (bioenergy), reducing sectoral and production chain uncertainties, and raising awareness about the importance of sustainable wood use.

Additionally, the formation of the Table aligns with the 2022-2026 forestry agenda of the Ministry of Agriculture, Strategic Guideline No. 4 on Sustainable Economic Development from the "Regional Development Strategy 2023-2027," and the 2021-2026 Regional Policy on Productive Development, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation."