SQM Launches Production Development Program for Entrepreneurs in Pisagua

Pisagua neighbors and local and regional authorities gathered in the old port’s main square to launch Activa Pisagua 2022, an entrepreneurship support program led by SQM. These grants are designed to help entrepreneurs fund their business plans and acquire knowledge they need to develop successful business ventures. Developed in partnership with Universidad Arturo Prat (UNAP), the program will teach entrepreneurs to change paradigms, attitudes, behaviors and business conducts, which will enable them to better manage their businesses. This will be done through workshops and training sessions run by the Tamarugal Business Development Center.

The signing of the agreement was led by Pablo Pisani, SQM’s Northern Zone Director of Community and Public Affairs for the Nitrates and Iodine Businesses and Raúl Zúñiga, Director General of Innovation and Development at UNAP, who highlighted the town’s great human capital and the importance of working together to benefit families in the district of Huara. Others participating in the ceremony included Juan Francisco Retamal, acting Mayor of Huara; Félix Parra, president of the Caleta de Pisagua Neighborhood Council; Carlos Carvajal, chief of staff of the Tamarugal Presidential Delegate; and representatives from the Chilean Uniformed Police (Carabineros de Chile) and Navy.

“We have worked with community leaders and organizations from Pisagua over the last year on a set of initiatives aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, among other objectives. As a result, we are very happy to be launching the Activa Pisagua initiative to educate, train and provide technical assistance and economic resources for a variety of entrepreneurs, artisan fishermen and harvest divers from the town. This initiative is part of our Sustainability Plan and our goal of forming closer relationships with communities and establishing spaces for dialogue and development, so we are very happy to kick off this grand initiative today,” commented the SQM executive, Pablo Pisani.

UNAP’s Director General of Innovation and Development, Raúl Zúñiga, added that for the university it is “a privilege to fortify bonds with territories and communities, which is part of our mission, so we hope to help these neighbors with their business ventures, contributing know-how and achieving an appropriate level of development for their businesses.”

Activa Pisagua has three areas of action: 1) developing entrepreneurs and business ventures with high growth potential; 2) forming and strengthening new local suppliers and 3) reinforcing collaboration by supporting business ventures and community initiatives.

Félix Parra, president of the Caleta de Pisagua Neighborhood Council, showcased the initiative, adding that “it is very important for us since it creates an opportunity for people without formal enterprises, for small business owners, fishermen and harvest divers, to formalize their businesses and it adds value to their products. As a result, it strengthens other areas of Pisagua, such as adventure, archaeological and historical tourism, which is why this program will catapult us towards new opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Juan Francisco Retamal, acting Mayor of Huara, commented that “everything representing progress for our district and its towns is very important. We believe that these agreements directly benefit families, and our municipality thanks the private sector and the university for this program and we hope to continue working together to develop our communities.”

All local residents over the age of 18 with businesses also located in the town are eligible to apply for the grants distributed by this program. There are three lines of funding: “Formalization,” for entrepreneurs that want to formalize their businesses. “Take off,” for entrepreneurs and/or business owners who already have formal businesses, and Investment Support for Artisan Fisherman, for local artisan fishermen and harvest divers.

In this context, Darío Quintanilla, a local entrepreneur from Pisagua, thanked SQM for this program and explained how “we will be able to participate in training on soft skills, accounting and other topics, which will enable us to grow as entrepreneurs and continue to apply for other funding opportunities.”

The program’s training and advising sessions will cover important concepts for today’s entrepreneurs, such as business models, strategy, costs and marketing, equipping them with everything they need to start or strengthen a business.