The Free Sub-Zone will allow fishing companies to process high value-added products within an environment with significant tax benefits

The Trelew Free Subzone: A Strategic Opportunity for the Fishing Industry

ARGENTINA
Sunday, December 15, 2024, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

The recent establishment of the Trelew Free Subzone represents an exceptional opportunity for various industries, particularly the fishing sector.

This initiative offers tax benefits that enable the creation of high-value-added products and their export without paying export duties. Two fishing companies have been included within the jurisdiction of this strategic area in Trelew’s industrial park, as reported by Nelson Saldivia en Parte de Pesca.

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The Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, signed Resolution No. 1363/2024, which designates 165 hectares of Trelew’s industrial park as an annex to the Comodoro Rivadavia Free Zone. This development seeks to leverage exceptional and strategic conditions, consolidating the region as a key platform for goods and services, reducing logistics costs, and streamlining administrative processes to foster trade and exports.

According to the Official Gazette, this expansion will boost essential sectors such as the metalworking and food industries, provide logistical support to the naval and fishing sectors, and function as a hub for hydrocarbon supplies.

Formal Presentation and Objectives

Governor Ignacio Torres will formally present the Trelew Free Subzone, emphasizing that its creation was one of his administration’s primary objectives. “This achievement is the result of a joint effort between public and private sectors, aiming to maximize Chubut’s industrial potential, attract investments, drive the growth of established companies, and create genuine employment opportunities,” Torres stated.

The resolution involved amending National Resolution No. 275/1996, framed within Law 24,331, which allowed for the delimitation of this new physical space, further strengthening key sectors of the regional economy.

Value Addition and Tax Benefits

The Free Subzone will enable fishing companies to process high-value-added products within a framework of significant tax benefits. These include the exemption from import duties for foreign technologies, reduced taxes on the purchase of fish and inputs, and the elimination of export duties for high-value-added products exported from the zone.

Governor Torres highlighted that Trelew’s infrastructure would allow companies with plants in Rawson or Puerto Madryn to establish value-added production lines, integrate processes, and enhance exports through the port of Madryn. This initiative will strengthen Chubut’s provincial economy and position its products on international shelves

Fishing Industry Investments

The Free Subzone includes two significant players in the fishing sector within its 165-hectare perimeter: the Consermar processing plant, part of the Profand Group, and a soon-to-be-authorized storage facility (formerly Casa Roma) owned by the Novello family.

This area is designed to attract concrete investments in value-added production, focusing on activities that generate sustainable economic impact. However, practices such as exporting block-frozen shrimp are excluded, as the primary goal is to foster advanced industrial processes.

A Historic Milestone for Chubut

The creation of the Trelew Free Subzone is considered a “historic milestone” for the province. In other contexts, similar initiatives, supported by strong political backing, have transformed such areas into highly competitive economic hubs.

This measure not only positions Chubut as a key player in the fishing industry but also lays the groundwork for comprehensive economic development, where advanced infrastructure and tax benefits act as catalysts for regional industrial growth.

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