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Infor Completes Training Courses for 34 New Carpenters in Arauco Province

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• The initiative will help strengthen technical and human capacities for the development of wood construction in Biobío.

The Forestry Institute (INFOR) held the closing ceremony for three carpentry training courses, where 34 people from Los Álamos and Lebu were trained and gained new knowledge to expand the focus on wood construction as part of the program "Training for the Competitiveness of the Timber Forestry SME and Wood Construction in Biobío," funded by the National Regional Development Fund (FNDR).

During the ceremony, the Coordinator of INFOR's Wood Technology and Products Area, Gonzalo Hernández Careaga, emphasized that the course "has been a platform for beneficiaries to acquire practical skills and technical knowledge that will allow them to contribute significantly to the wood construction industry in our region."

In this context, Hernández added that the training "not only improves the competitiveness of construction SMEs but also promotes sustainable development and the efficient use of our forest resources."

Meanwhile, the Acting Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fabiola Lara, stated that "the work carried out by INFOR in this area is highly relevant, as it provides training in carpentry and finishing, positioning the Biobío region as a hub for wood construction through the preparation and coordination of public and private actors."

Over its three-year duration, the FNDR program included three Carpentry and Finishing training courses—one for each province in Biobío—as well as three courses on structural sawn timber grading, also distributed by province. Additionally, it included three training sessions for professionals from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINVU) and SERVIU in the field of wood for construction.

The courses were taught by Canadian professional carpenter Daniel Lachance, a renowned expert in carpentry and finishing. Under his guidance, students built wooden modules that were donated to JUNJI kindergartens in the commune of Los Álamos, demonstrating the practical application and positive impact of the training on the local community.

Leodan Carinao, one of the course participants and an employee of the construction company Ruka Kimün, expressed his gratitude and satisfaction with the training. "The course taught us new work methods that streamline tasks and reduce costs. We discovered new construction materials we weren’t aware of, which will broaden our approach to building. We want to apply these learnings to our future projects," he said.

The closing ceremony not only celebrated the students' success but also highlighted the importance of collaboration between institutions to foster the economic and sustainable development of the Biobío region. As part of this effort, proposals were made to update the curriculum for technical-professional high school specialties and to hold three online workshops on updates and new Chilean standards in the wood sector, as well as to identify a feasible public infrastructure project to be built with wood.

The initiative, funded by the Regional Government, was attended at its closing event by the Acting Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fabiola Lara; the Biobío Regional Government Coordinator for Arauco Province, Rodrigo Nahuelcura; the Mayor of Los Álamos, Pablo Vargas; the Manager of INFOR Biobío, Karina Luengo; and other local authorities, along with instructors and students.