Aysén Region: Where is it most attractive to invest?

Its geography, safety, availability of talent, and tax benefits make it an excellent alternative for companies looking to develop their business in Chile.

Located in the far south of Chile, in the heart of Patagonia, is the Aysén Region, the third largest in the country. With unique geography featuring fjords, glaciers, mountains, large lakes, and numerous rivers, it offers excellent security and quality of life—it is the region with the second-lowest poverty level in Chile, with only 4% of the population living in poverty. Combined with the availability of skilled talent, it provides the perfect setting for foreign companies to establish their businesses.

In addition, due to its remote location, the Aysén Region offers a range of incentives, including investment subsidies, tax credits for investments, and labor and free-trade zone allowances. All of this makes it an excellent alternative for companies looking to establish their operations in Chile. But where are the opportunities located?

Given the region’s characteristics, there are four sectors in particular with the greatest business potential: clean energy, sustainable fishing and aquaculture, food and forestry products, and nature tourism.

Clean energy

Currently, 54.2% of the installed capacity for electricity generation in Aysén still depends on fossil fuels. As part of the decarbonization plan, new energy sources will be required.

The abundance of renewable resources in the region offers a significant opportunity to promote investment in clean energy. Aysén has renewable energy generation capacity exceeding 13,000 MW. With wind speeds surpassing 14 m/s and an area of 3,000 km² suitable for solar power systems, it is an ideal scenario for implementing sustainable energy infrastructure.

Sustainable fishing and aquaculture

The sea is a central feature of the Aysén Region, which has over 20,000 km of coastline. While nearly one-third of the region’s GDP comes from the fishing and aquaculture sector, there is a need to enhance the clean production of high-quality products: 54% of seafood consumers are willing to pay more for sustainably certified seafood, and the global industry could increase by an additional US$50 billion per year (+40%) with sustainable management practices.

Globally, Chile is the second-largest producer and exporter of salmonids, accounting for 28% of global production. Aysén is the Chilean region with the highest volume of salmonid harvests (breeding and fattening phases), accounting for 49.3% of the total. Key investment opportunities include improving productivity and eliminating contamination risks during the breeding and fattening phases through, for example, early disease detection technology, hydroacoustic technology, photoperiod technology, and antibiotic management, among others.

Food and forestry products

Aysén is the only region in Chile with a regional origin certification for food and crafts, which incorporates the Patagonia concept. The origin certification (Aysén Patagonia Quality Seal) aims to identify common practices and standards to recognize certain attributes present in products originating from the region.

The region has significant potential to meet food demand through the development of cattle and sheep farming; its 68 valleys with ideal conditions for agricultural production; over 78,000 hectares with agricultural potential; and technologies aimed at improving both industries.

Nature tourism

In addition to its extensive geographic diversity, Aysén is home to the largest number of units within Chile’s National System of State Protected Wilderness Areas (SNASPE), covering more than 53,000 square kilometers. This means that nearly 54% of the region’s mainland surface area falls under the category of National Park, National Reserve, or Natural Monument.

Chile has been recognized as South America’s best adventure tourism destination every year since 2016. The Aysén Region, in particular, offers a privileged natural environment for outdoor travelers, featuring activities like boutique skiing, fly fishing, and sports such as trekking, climbing, and cycling.

Find out more about investment opportunities in Aysén here.