Meeting in Coyhaique brings together companies and institutions to promote the sustainable development of native forests

More than 30 companies, ventures, and institutions participated in the meeting "Forests of Aysén, ventures for the future!", held at the Coyhaique Cultural Center, within the framework of SME Week 2026. The initiative sought to strengthen public-private collaboration and bring financing, technology, and development tools closer to businesses linked to native forests and nature tourism.

The event brought together representatives from the forestry, timber, and tourism sectors, as well as public agencies, trade associations, and academic entities. The program included presentations on support instruments, carbon markets, and forest management, along with exchange spaces to generate alliances and new commercial opportunities.

The Regional Minister of Economy of Aysén, Rodrigo Aguilera, highlighted the joint work with Conaf and the Ministry of Agriculture to reduce gaps, facilitate access to financing, and strengthen the competitiveness of regional SMEs. Meanwhile, the regional presidential delegate, Luz María Vicuña, emphasized the potential of native forests as a driver of development and job creation for families in the area.

Native forests as a productive driver

The Aysén Region concentrates approximately 33.2% of Chile's native forests, with more than five million hectares. This heritage represents an opportunity to promote economic activities that reconcile value generation with ecosystem conservation.

In this context, the Clean Production Agreement (APL) "Native Forest Coyhaique" seeks to promote forest management and the sustainable use of resources. Sebastián Carvallo, acting executive director of Corfo's Sustainability and Climate Change Agency, highlighted the importance of strengthening the capacities of SMEs to improve their processes, diversify their businesses, and develop viable productive activities.

For her part, the regional director of Conaf, Marcela Piñones, emphasized the work to strengthen the forestry value chain. Among the initiatives, she mentioned a market study in Coyhaique and Aysén, as well as the projection of investments to transfer capacities to artisans, sawmills, dryers, forestry contractors, and transporters.

From the private sector, José Ignacio Aguilar, from ECOBOSQUE SpA and president of the APL Producers Consortium, highlighted that the challenge is to demonstrate that responsible management of native forests can generate profitability and opportunities for SMEs without compromising the conservation of natural heritage.

Companies present development opportunities

The activity included stands and networking spaces between companies and institutions. Maderas El Palomar, Maderera MACOVIK, TROCKNNER, Trazo Sur, Parque Los Ñires, and the APL Consortium participated, along with BancoEstado and Corfo, which presented experiences and tools to support the productive sector.

Representatives from the Aysén Regional Government, the Municipality of Coyhaique, Conaf, Sernatur, Sercotec, INDAP, the Sustainability and Climate Change Agency, and the University of Aysén, among other institutions, also attended.

The meeting made it possible to strengthen collaboration networks and raise awareness of new alternatives to add value to the territory's resources, boost the competitiveness of ventures, and contribute to the conservation of Aysén's native forests.