This Tuesday, October 15, a ceremony was held at the border between Chile and Argentina where representatives of both nations met to begin a new season of passenger service at the Bellavista Border Complex , constituting the southernmost crossing in the world, between the Magallanes Region and Chilean Antarctica, with the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands.
The presidential delegate of the Chilean province of Tierra del Fuego, José Miguel Campos Prieto, and the vice-governor of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands of Argentina, Mónica Urquiza , led the opening ceremony, which also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Argentina and Chile . The highest provincial authority, José Campos, indicated at the opening ceremony that since this agreement “ Chile and Argentina have built a solid relationship based on cooperation in multiple areas: economy, culture, science and technology, defense and human rights.”
At the meeting, the authorities indicated that the operation of this border crossing is key to continue promoting connectivity, economic development, security and cooperation between Chile and Argentina, which in this new season will remain open from October 15 of this year until April 30, 2025 . "The idea is to move towards a diversification of the productive matrix of Tierra del Fuego and this matrix must be connected to the growth of tourism, therefore, the operation of the pass is very important to boost this industry," said the presidential delegate.
Representatives of the control services of both countries participated in the event, on the Chilean side: Customs, PDI and SAG, in addition to Conaf, Carabineros, Tierra del Fuego Harbor Master's Office, Caupolicán Detachment No. 11 and Gendarmerie, in addition to the community of the towns closest to Bellavista, Timaukel in Chile and Río Grande in Argentina.
Among the authorities present, Carlos Dettleff, National Director of Borders and Boundaries of the State of Chile, visited the Bellavista Pass for the first time, highlighting that “ the opening of the bridge this year has allowed both countries to be definitively connected every year during the corresponding seasons.”
The event was also attended by Gustavo Ferragut, National Director of Borders and Waterways of the Ministry of National Security, as well as the person responsible for foreign relations of the Argentine province, Andrés Dachary, Secretary of Malvinas, Antarctica, South Atlantic Islands and International Affairs of Tierra del Fuego, and the Consuls General of Río Grande, Roberto Ruiz Piracés and of Punta Arenas, Germán Domínguez.
Finally, the provincial presidential delegate, José Campos, thanked the coordination and deployment of the border teams of both countries to begin a new season of operations at the Bellavista pass.
