Tucuman now has the second biggest airport cargo station in Argentina, after the Ezeiza airport. Opened on Friday, this new trading platform, which cost around $600 million, will allow a doubling of locally produced fresh fruit exports.
The inauguration ceremony, at the Benjamin Matienzo International Airport, was headed by the Minister of Transport, Guillermo Dietrich, and Governor Juan Manzur. The coordinator of the Belgrano Plan, Jose Cano, and several national and provincial officials also attended the ceremony.
The new facility will allow air transport of goods from Tucuman and other jurisdictions in the country to various destinations in the world 24 hours a day, and not only at night, as was the case so far so they would not interfere with commercial and health services.
The trading platform was opened with the departure of a commercial flight that moved 110 tons of blueberries to the United States and Europe.
"This work was made possible thanks to the teamwork and coordinated work of all stakeholders: producers, companies, the province and the nation," stated Dietrich.
"The $600 million investment was used to extend the trading platform by about 7,790 squared meters. This platform will have a direct impact on the development of the region, allowing an increase in production, and will generate up to 20,000 jobs in the sector," said the minister.
"This project was part of our government plans from before we were elected because the Thinking Foundation had detected the need to increase production, and we made it come true in a very short time," he added. "From now on, Tucuman will be an air cargo hub that will continue to grow enormously," said Dietrich.
Then, he said, the NOA corridor would continue to grow because "we will double the motorways in these four years." He said there were 1,400 kilometers under construction and that they expected to reach 2,800 kilometers.
According to the official, the Belgrano Plan "is the largest investment made since the railways were built in the country, and it will connect Tucuman and the ports of Rosario."
Meanwhile, Manzur thanked the minister for having kept his word and making this platform a reality. He then asked the minister to convey to President Mauricio Macri their appreciation on behalf of the Government of Tucuman and its people. "The extension of the trading platform connects the province to the world. It generates new expectations because, apart from blueberries, we'll be able to export other products, such as strawberries, avocado, our flowers, and seeds," he added.
There will be no time restrictions for loading products onto the aircrafts, a task that up to now could only be done at night.
Source: elintransigente.com