Chile storm recovery and economic relief efforts

In late July 2026, Chile’s Ministry of Economy began a systematic response to the severe frontal system that struck the Coquimbo Region. Led by Minister Daniel Mas Valdés, the ministry launched the Emergency Business and Cooperative Registry (FEEC) to document damage and guide aid from Sercotec, CORFO, and regional authorities. Sernatur officials noted a special focus on the tourism sector to accelerate reopening, while the Social Development office recorded nearly a thousand emergency information forms (FIBE) in La Serena to support recovery bonuses.

Private sector support expanded through a partnership between Banco Bci and the Red de Alimentos network. The “Actuemos en Red” campaign mobilized food and hygiene supplies for displaced families in the Coquimbo disaster zone and other affected regions. Simultaneously, Banco Bci introduced financial relief, including up to six months of payment grace and refinancing options for individuals and small-to-medium enterprises.

By mid-August, Corfo announced extraordinary financial relief for companies affected by the storms. This initiative includes a temporary reduction in commission rates for coverage programs, specifically setting a 0.4% commission for new financial operations and 0% for the reprogramming of existing credits. These measures apply to the FOGAIN, Pro-Inversión, and COBEX programs for applications submitted between August 10 and October 31, 2026. Beneficiaries include companies in areas with declared agricultural emergencies, such as the Coquimbo Region, six communes in Atacama, and the continental provinces of Valparaíso.

In Coquimbo, the agricultural sector faces critical challenges. The Control Pisquero Agricultural Cooperative reported that 117 producers are priority cases, with approximately 196 hectares of pisco grapes affected by damage to irrigation systems and infrastructure.