Fama proposes a federal regime to boost mining suppliers

National senator for Catamarca Flavio Fama introduced a bill to create a Federal Regime for the Promotion of Competitiveness and Internationalization of Argentine Mining Suppliers. The initiative aims to consolidate a national network of companies linked to mining activity.

The proposal establishes an institutional framework to coordinate policies and remove obstacles, without creating a tax benefits regime or compromising the balance of public accounts. The goal is for mining development to also drive industrial, technological and skilled employment generation capabilities.

Among the tools envisioned are a National Registry of Argentine Mining Suppliers, a Digital One-Stop Shop and a National Mining Supplier Competitiveness Index. The latter would make it possible to identify barriers and track indicators related to productivity, innovation, financing and exports.

The bill also provides for assistance to raise productivity, incorporate technology, develop engineering and prototypes, certify processes, train workers and access international markets. It also includes financing and guarantee instruments, digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence programs, and support for clusters and associative projects.

Another focus is facilitating Argentine companies' access to mining supply opportunities through prequalification and contracting processes with greater predictability and transparency. The initiative does not establish mandatory quotas, market reserves or automatic preferences, but rather conditions to improve competition and value creation.

With information from Panorama Minero.