Neuquén Mayor Mariano Gaido launches infrastructure upgrades and records commercial boom

Mayor Mariano Gaido announced a comprehensive infrastructure program for Neuquén’s Confluencia district. The plan will cover more than 60 blocks with drainage works, street paving, curb and gutter installation, and a new underground canal feeding a pump station beside the Neuquén River. Licitations are already in progress and construction is set to begin within 45‑60 days, targeting streets such as Los Álamos, Aguado, Copahue and El Chocón, and linking the area to the new Costero promenade.

In the same period, Neuquén posted a historic commercial expansion. Official data show 603 new businesses opened in the first half of 2026—about four per working day—while only 77 stores closed. The surge follows municipal policies that include a twelve‑month tax exemption for new firms, the removal of more than 50 local fees and streamlined licensing procedures, and is reinforced by broader regional growth tied to Vaca Muerta, technology investment and urban development.