Antofagasta, April 2026 – With a positive outcome and highlighting the high level of
participation, empowerment, and networking of 30 businesswomen from the
region, the Technological Dissemination Program (PDT) “Mining Entrepreneurs to
the Next Level: Capacity Building for Generating Competitive Advantages
Associated with the Commercial Positioning of Companies in the Mining and
Energy Market” (code 24 pdta-266470) concluded. This initiative, implemented by
Agencia Redes and supported by the Corfo Antofagasta Committee, aimed to
boost the development of women-led businesses in the mining and energy
industry.
The program brought together businesswomen from five municipalities in the
Antofagasta Region, who, during its execution, strengthened key skills in areas
such as B2B sales, leadership, networking, marketing, and access to new business
opportunities thanks to Agencia Redes' national and international network, with a
focus on their expansion into more competitive and even international markets.
Bárbara Torres, Deputy Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Corfo
Antofagasta Committee, praised the impact of the initiative, stating:
“This program has brought together businesswomen from different parts of our
region and has allowed them to network, move towards internationalization, and
continue growing. We hope that this initiative will provide them with tools to boost
their businesses, but also that it will serve to encourage other women and inspire
them to grow together.” Since the program's inception, Paola Quezada, founder
and general manager of Agencia Redes, highlighted the collaborative spirit and
territorial impact of the project:
“Today is a very special day because it marks the culmination of an important
project where we were able to bring together women entrepreneurs from the
mining and energy sectors of the region, representing five municipalities, to support
them in skills development and networking. This is a highly strategic area for
industries such as mining, energy, and logistics, and this was a collaborative effort
where they not only learned but also empowered us all, because when women
move forward together, we have a greater impact.”
The program's closing also included an international perspective. Alejandra
Cardona, executive director of the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies,
emphasized the opportunities for binational collaboration: “I have experienced this
event with great enthusiasm; it is a fantastic initiative. I believe we have much to
learn from Chile, and these interactions can create opportunities for mutual growth.
Chile and Argentina have mining agreements and binational projects, and this is a
starting point that can generate interesting synergies.” For his part, Pablo Rojas,
head of the DIFOI (Directorate of Innovation and Development) of the Antofagasta
Regional Government, emphasized the strategic importance of these types of
initiatives for regional development:
“For the Regional Government, represented by our Governor Ricardo Díaz, it is
essential to strengthen the productive sectors of our region, diversify our
production matrix, and incorporate gender equality into an industry as important as
mining. We hope that more companies will be created, partnered, and
internationalized, and the Regional Government has a set of tools that have
allowed us to support this challenge.”
The “PDT Mining Businesswomen to the Next Level” program is thus positioned as
a key initiative to advance gender equality in the industry, strengthening the
ecosystem of local suppliers and promoting the regions sustainable growth.