The Italian ambassador, Valeria Biagiotti, together with the deputy director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and future foreign minister of Uruguay, Mario Lubetkin, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, arrived at the Sewell mining camp to learn about the history of the site that marked the beginning of large-scale copper mining in Chile, in the heart of the Codelco El Teniente Division industrial area.

There, at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters, they toured the historic buildings of the place that, in 2006, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The day also included visits to the mountain town of Coya, to Division assets such as Casa 100, and the Central Population.

“During the visit, the authorities shared with the mining heritage of the region and also learned about the heritage dimension of the operation, which will celebrate its 120th anniversary this year,” explained Alicia Reyes, Head of Public Affairs of the El Teniente Division, who accompanied the delegation.

In the mountain town of Coya, meanwhile, the group visited the School of Goldsmiths, where they were welcomed by Denis Célery, its director, who highlighted the training of more than 600 coppersmiths since the creation of this training center supported by Codelco.

Minister Valenzuela stressed that “it is very important that these types of visits take place, especially to places in our country that are World Heritage Sites, such as Sewell, as it allows us to show ourselves to the world and highlight the importance that this place has had, and continues to have, throughout history.”

The Secretary of State added that the activity also presents an opportunity “to celebrate agreements to boost Chile's economic and tourism development. So these visits, in addition to being a showcase, also open up possibilities to create new opportunities and collaborative work between the public and private sectors.”