Río Grande

Río Grande is a city in Argentina, on the north coast of the eastern part of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. It has a population of 67,038, and is the industrial capital of the Tierra del Fuego Province.It is served by Hermes Quijada International Airport.HistorySheep farming, as many other places in Patagonia, was the main impetus for population settlements beginning in the late 19th century.Abundant rivers, the seacoast, and good pastures were some of the reasons that fueled population growth. Río Grande was founded on July 11, 1921, when the central government issued a decree recognising this locality as the "Agricultural Colony of Río Grande".In the beginning, the land was subdivided among a few families, owning large estates until the agrarian reform of 1925. Cattle raising became one of the most important economic activities in the area.To promote industrial development, Tierra del Fuego is excluded from VAT and federal income tax. As a result, several manufacturing companies, particularly those involving electronic products, have opened factories in this city. One of the most rapidly growing sectors is the production of laptops and netbooks. These products were totally imported until 2006 but by 2010, 42% of the Argentine market for these goods was supplied by firms established in Río Grande and Vicente López. Portfolio investments announced in 2011 plan the production of 6.9 million units in Tierra del Fuego Province, principally in Río Grande.