MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South America News

PescaNova in Tierra del Fuego.

PescaChile that in Chile operates in association with the Spanish company PescaNova is setting up a mini fish processing plant in Porvernir, Chilean Tierra del Fuego. The half million dollars plant that will employ fifty people and begin processing eleven tons per day of produce should be in operations next October, and exporting to Japan in November. "The equipment should be here by the end of the month, we have to wrap up some details concerning the plot that was ceded for the plant", said PescaChile regional manager Drago Covacich. Mr. Covacich added that the mini plant was part of a greater five years investment involving 12 million US dollars for farming fish, building another plant and a jetty. However Mr. Covacich pointed out that much still depends on the incentives promised by government for setting up businesses in southern Chile. "Each production center demands a million US dollars investment, our plans are to cover 6.000 square meters, which is very significant", underlined Mr. Covacich. PescaChile already has invested a million and a half US dollars for salmon fattening in Natales, and expects to harvest a thousand tons this 2000/01 crop.

Magallanes Lamb

Punta Arenas industry and farmers associations launched this week in Santiago the "New Lamb from Magallanes" promotion campaign targeted to increase lamb consumption in Chile. The campaign with 100.000 US dollars official support set off in some of Santiago's most renown shopping malls and in television with chef Toro, who teaches culinary art in Chile's most popular morning program. Magallanes lamb will be presented in seven different cuts, in 700/800 grams parcels, labeled and certified by Fundación Chile, a government institution that promotes Chilean quality exports. Eugenia Muchnick, head of Fundanción Chile's Agriculture Department revealed the idea was born three years ago and was followed by an in depth study of the market and supply possibilities, plus an ongoing survey of consumers. "I believe this year we can consider ourselves happy if we manage 70 tons, but our goal next year is 300 tons, equivalent to 50.000 lambs", indicated Ms. Muchnick.