CRAMSA

Building Sustainable Partnerships: CRAMSA will form a framework agreement for associative territorial development

CRAMSA executives met with leaders of indigenous communities from Calama to present the scope of the Territorial Development Program.

Executives from CRAMSA met with leaders of indigenous communities from Calama at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History of the Atacama Desert, where the scope of the Territorial Development Program was presented, and the progress in the environmental processing of the “Maritime Waters” project was reported, during which the leaders raised their concerns and expectations.

This initiative, driven by CRAMSA, falls within its Community Relations and Sustainability Policy and involved the participation of the Indigenous Community Sons of Yalquincha, the Indigenous Community of Yalquincha Lickan Ichai Paatcha, the Indigenous Community of Chunchuri, and the Indigenous Association of Irrigators and Farmers of Chunchuri Poniente.

The meeting is part of CRAMSA’s ongoing work with these organizations under a methodology of early engagement and long-term partnership, which includes the signing of a framework agreement, the implementation of a working group, and the future realization of collaboration agreements for the execution of joint and specific initiatives aimed at promoting territorial development in the heritage, cultural, and productive spheres.

Daniel Lorca, representative of the Indigenous Association of Irrigators and Farmers of Chunchuri Poniente, stated, “This is a very important opportunity for us, where we formalize this alliance with a project as significant as the one CRAMSA is promoting. We have high expectations, as the proposal presented looks towards the long term and will allow us to continue developing the activity that sustains us, agriculture.”

Similarly, Amalia Bautista, president of the Indigenous Community of Yalquincha Lickan Ichai Paatcha, highlighted the impact that the Territorial Development Program will have on her community. “I appreciate that CRAMSA is updating us on the progress of this initiative because it will not only allow us to improve the quality of our products but also improve the quality of life for those of us who inhabit the area,” she said.

Carmen Espinoza, secretary of the Indigenous Community of Chunchuri, emphasized the relationship that the communities maintain with the company. “We must continue working together; it is the only way we can address the specific needs of each community and the territory.”

“Throughout history, productive and extraction areas in the Atacama Desert have been privileged, leading to an almost irreversible desertification. However, the proposal presented by CRAMSA, in a way, restores life and hope to a territory so plagued by water scarcity,” concluded Osvaldo Rojas, director of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History of the Atacama Desert.

Finally, Hugo Lecaros, Corporate Affairs Manager at CRAMSA, stressed the importance of proper community relations for the company as a key factor for long-term associative development.