No Imposing Anything: Trust Fund for Port Works Conditioned on Consensus with Agriculture Sector

Santa Fe's provincial government has stated it will not impose a proposed trust fund for port infrastructure development, emphasizing that progress hinges on achieving a general consensus with the entire agro-industrial chain. The initiative, aimed at financing new road works and maintaining infrastructure for the millions of trucks serving the Gran Rosario port complex annually, had drawn criticism from rural entities concerned about added costs to production and exports.

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When we do not have general consensus, we are not going to move forward. The idea is not to impose anything, but for it to come out by consensus and for the sector to understand that it is the way and the definitive solution for the next 25 or 30 years.

Cristian Cunha, Santa Fe's Secretary of Cooperation, affirmed that discussions with producers, exporters, and sector representatives will continue throughout the year. "We are not going to advance until there is general consensus, until there is general dialogue," Cunha stated, clarifying that the goal is not to impose the measure but to find a definitive solution for the next 25 to 30 years that the sector understands and supports.

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We are going to work throughout this year, but until there is general consensus, until there is general dialogue, we are not going to advance.

While the province will proceed with its planned infrastructure projects, Cunha explained the trust's purpose was to establish a permanent fund for future investments and maintenance. He rejected claims of double taxation, reiterating the commitment to a mechanism agreed upon with the sector. The province aims to secure future funding for large-scale investments, even if the trust itself does not move forward without broad support.

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If there is no consensus from the sector, the province of Santa Fe will not advance, it will not impose. Santa Fe will continue to advance with the works. We will continue initiating those we have planned. What we are proposing is how to sustain those works in the future and how to finance another scale of investments.

Gustavo Idígoras, president of the Chamber of the Oilseed Industry and the Cereal Exporters Center (Ciara-CEC), highlighted the critical role of infrastructure in Argentina's ability to increase production and competitiveness. He argued that even without export taxes, insufficient infrastructure would prevent the movement of grains, underscoring the need for improved logistics to reach ambitious production targets like 200 million tons.

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Infrastructure is the only condition that will guarantee us reaching 200 million tons. We can eliminate export duties, but if we don't have infrastructure, we won't be able to move the grains.