Javier Milei Visits Bahía Blanca to Highlight RIGI Investments and Rally Supporters

President Javier Milei traveled to Bahía Blanca on September 18, 2026, to tour industrial infrastructure projects tied to the Régimen de Incentivo para Grandes Inversiones (RIGI) and meet with local business executives.

The presidential aircraft landed at Comandante Espora Airport shortly after 10:30 a.m., launching an itinerary designed to spotlight private capital inflows and position the provincial interior as a key political battleground ahead of next year’s presidential elections.

Milei’s arrival in the southern Buenos Aires province city marks his third visit since taking office, following previous trips prompted by emergency responses to a destructive December 2023 storm and severe flooding in March 2025.

The delegation accompanying the President included General Secretary of the Presidency Karina Milei, Cabinet Chief Diego Santilli, Secretary of Communication and Medios Fabián Fernández, and La Libertad Avanza provincial leader Sebastián Pareja.

Inspecting Major Industrial Projects and RIGI Commitments

The official schedule began at 11:00 a.m. at Compañía Mega S.A., where Milei met with YPF S.A. President and CEO Horacio Marín and Mega CEO Tomás Córdoba.

During the tour of the control room and facilities, officials reviewed a planned investment of USD 365,4 millones aimed at expanding processing capacity and boosting hydrocarbon exports under the RIGI framework.

Before reaching the plant, Milei flew by helicopter from the airport alongside Pampa Energía head Marcelo Mindlin to survey land designated for a massive urea production project slated to launch by 2029 with a USD 2.700 millones investment.

At approximately 12:20 p.m., the presidential entourage moved to Puerto Galván to tour the Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) facility.

Executives briefed the President on a projected US$400 million soybean and sunflower processing plant, which ranks among the largest grain processing projects globally.

Political Rallies and Union Protests Amid Reelection Campaigning

Beyond industrial site visits, the itinerary included a planned political gathering for 4:30 p.m. near the Land Plaza Hotel to rally local libertarians and advance the governing party’s mobilization efforts for the upcoming national vote.

The push into the interior aims to counter internal friction within the ruling coalition and solidify the party’s provincial footprint.

The political event faced uncertainty due to planned demonstrations by labor organizations, including ATE and SUTEBA, which called for a counter-mobilization at Plaza Rivadavia starting at 3:30 p.m.

Despite local pushback and ongoing political tensions in Buenos Aires—such as disputes involving Senate bloc leader Patricia Bullrich over the 2027 budget proposal—the executive branch maintained its focus on showcasing private sector growth and industrial investment metrics.