Chile ports cities demand equitable wealth sharing and investment boost

Mayors of Chile's port municipalities gathered at the 2026 General Assembly of the National Association of Port Cities and Coastal Communities (ANCPCH) and agreed on a joint strategy to press the national government for a fair redistribution of revenues generated by the ports. Valparaíso mayor Camila Nieto stressed the need to allocate at least 50% of central taxes collected from port activities back to the local communes to improve public services and quality of life. Iquique mayor Mauricio Soria called for “smart ports” that are integrated with city development, arguing that more than 90% of Chile’s international trade passes through the sea and the current investment does not match that importance. The assembly elected a new board, with Ali Manouchehri of Coquimbo as president. A study presented at the meeting highlighted that Valparaíso and San Antonio, despite being major ports, rank among the lowest Chilean cities in urban quality‑of‑life indicators, reinforcing the call for combined economic and territorial competitiveness.