With a broad turnout of representatives from the business, academic, and trade sectors of the Biobío province, CMPC held a new edition of the meeting “What’s Coming: Analysis and Projections of Economy and Politics” in Los Ángeles, featuring presentations by former Central Bank President Vittorio Corbo and political analyst Jorge Navarrete.
During the opening, Francisco Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of CMPC, highlighted the importance of creating spaces for reflection in the regions on the challenges facing the country, especially in a context marked by economic uncertainty and the discussion of structural reforms. He also emphasized the role Biobío plays as one of Chile’s main productive hubs and the contribution of the forestry industry to regional development.
In a conversation with the newspaper La Tribuna, he delved into the industry’s projections and the challenges he sees for the province.
This meeting has already become a significant event for the productive sector of Biobío.
What does CMPC seek to achieve by promoting these types of analysis and reflection spaces in the province?
The goal is to share with businesspeople, local academia, and regional trade associations what is happening in Chile as well. That’s why we bring a top-tier economist like Vittorio Corbo, with vast experience as president of the Central Bank and closely linked to academia, who can provide a well-founded perspective on national and international current events, as well as what lies ahead.
Chile faces major challenges today. Just look at the fact that today the Senate is voting on a reform that has generated significant economic and political effects. That’s why it’s interesting to hear the analysis of people like him. The same goes for Jorge Navarrete, who is a great connoisseur of Chilean politics. His perspective as an analyst, columnist, and panelist offers a very valuable insight into what may come for the country.
The Biobío province has a close relationship with the forestry sector and currently faces a complex economic scenario. What message does CMPC deliver to the workers, contractors, and suppliers who depend on this activity?
I believe the forestry industry is truly fundamental for the Biobío region; it’s part of the engine of its economy. Suffice it to say that between 15% and 18% of the regional GDP comes from this sector, depending on the year. Additionally, the generation of direct and indirect employment is very significant. At the national level, we’re talking about more than 300,000 people linked to this activity.
Chile has very favorable natural conditions for the development of this industry. However, there are also conjunctures, and not everything is always going well. Today, the forestry industry faces significant challenges in a global context where demand is lower and there is greater competition from major countries, such as China.
For this reason, an industry that has had a very successful trajectory in the long term must also adapt to more complex times like those we are currently experiencing.
One of the issues that has historically impacted forestry activity in the Southern Macrozone is security. How do you assess the current situation, and what challenges remain pending?
Security is fundamental. It is central to investment, to deciding where to operate and where to develop a productive activity. It’s similar to when a person chooses where to live: they want to do so in a safe place. The same applies to a company and the people who work for it. We have experienced very unfortunate situations in the past, and we hope they never happen again. I believe security has improved. Undoubtedly, wood theft has decreased significantly thanks to the law addressing this crime. However, it is an issue where we cannot let our guard down.
We must keep working. Last year, we again identified a significant number of intentional forest fires, and those types of actions are precisely what we must eradicate.
Security is fundamental for investment, for growth, and for continuing to develop prosperous industries in the region.
Recently, CMPC inaugurated an Innovation Center in Nacimiento. How relevant is this commitment for the future of the company and the forestry sector in Biobío?
The Innovation Center is a clear sign that there is still much to develop. From cellulose, there are derived products that we must continue researching, such as lignins and nanocelluloses. Cellulose allows for the manufacture of a wide range of products, including textiles, some medicines, food, resins, and insulating materials. There is enormous potential for applications that we still need to explore and research.
The meeting concluded with a series of questions where the common denominator was the leading role of the forestry industry, primarily in the Biobío province, due to its contribution to employment and investment, as well as the new opportunities opening up through innovation and the diversification of products derived from wood and cellulose.
Source:La Tribuna
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a comment