Chile launches $2.5 billion fund to modernize free market fairs

SERCOTEC Tarapacá announced the launch of a development program for free market fairs across the region, allocating more than $2.520 billion to support 113 fairs nationwide. Applications are open until 15 July on the SERCOTEC website and may fund infrastructure, digitalisation, security, training, marketing and sustainability projects, with subsidies that can reach up to $30 million per organization.

The regional ceremony in Iquique’s AGROSUR terminal was led by regional Economy Minister Gladys Femenías González and SERCOTEC regional director Jhon Burg Sepúlveda, who highlighted the programme’s potential to strengthen vendor associations and modernise market operations. AGROSUR’s recent upgrades were cited as a concrete example of the fund’s impact. The national rollout was presented by Economy and Mining Minister Daniel Mas and SERCOTEC chief executive Henry Azurmendi.