Chilean ministers present attractive portfolio of infrastructure and transport projects to Spanish business leaders

In an effort to strengthen economic ties and encourage bilateral investment, a high-level Chilean delegation met with Spanish businessmen at the headquarters of the CEOE in MadridThe conference, entitled «Strengthening business in Chile"It was inaugurated by prominent figures such as Antonio Garamendi, president of the CEOE; Pablo Conde, Director General of International Development at ICEX Export and Investment; and Jaime Montalvo, International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. The Chilean ambassador to Spain, Javier Velasco, also actively participated in the event.

The appointment in Madrid is part of the InvestChile Week Europe, an ambitious tour that seeks to position Chile as a priority destination for foreign investment. This initiative includes meetings with nearly 300 company representatives in various European cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, Zurich, Milan, Rome And, of course, Madrid. The central objective is to showcase high-potential projects in Chile, ranging from green hydrogen and the lithium industry to electromobility and public infrastructure concessions.

A Key Destination for European Investment

Chile is projected as a country dynamic, open to the world and highly competitive, supported by a network of 31 trade agreements that guarantee preferential access to markets representing 88% of global GDP. The presence of Spanish companies is significant in Chile, especially in strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure, the agri-food sector, and telecommunications, encompassing everything from large corporations to small and medium-sized businesses.

Antonio GaramendiThe president of the CEOE emphasized that "Chile offers a favorable environment for doing business, with talent, innovation, and the capacity to generate added value, making it a key partner for Spanish companies." Garamendi also highlighted the importance of the legal security, regulatory stability and public-private partnerships as "fundamental pillars for the success of our investments." The CEOE and CEIB actively promote business cooperation, as evidenced by the Spain-Chile Business Councilwhich has held seven meetings since 2019. "Growth comes from investing, training human capital, and innovating. To guarantee this growth, we must continue to commit to joint collaboration within the Ibero-American space," Garamendi added.

Pablo Conde, Director General of International Business Development at the State Secretariat for Trade, highlighted the crucial role of his secretariat and ICEX in promoting bilateral trade relations, in close collaboration with CEOE and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. Conde emphasized the New Advanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Chile, effective February 1, 2025, as a milestone that modernizes the legal and commercial framework and opens up new opportunities. He also underscored the strength of the trade relationship, with Spanish exports to Chile reaching €1.774,26 million in 2024 and imports reaching their highest level in decades at €1.730,72 million, consolidating a balanced and growing trade relationship.

The event, part of "InvestChile Week Europe", highlighted the potential of the Andean country as hub of foreign investment in Latin America, especially in key sectors such as renewable energy, electromobility and infrastructure

For its part, Jaime MontalvoThe International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce stated that in the current "complex international context, fraught with uncertainties and challenges, both countries share the importance of..." strategic alliance between the EU and Latin AmericaWhile acknowledging the remarkable growth and consolidation of trade and investment relations, Montalvo noted that "there is still a long way to go to bring trade to the levels it should be reaching."

The Chilean ambassador to Spain, Javier VelascoHe reinforced the strategic nature of the bilateral relationship: “It’s not just about investments. It’s about…” values, of mutual trust, of understanding that we are in a historic moment in which we can do great things togetherChile is not only open to the world, but also wants to lead a new way of doing business from the south: with responsibility, a vision for the future, and real cooperation.” Velasco emphasized that Chile, as a leading player in the Pacific alliance and promoter of projects such as the Bioceanic Corridor, offers a strategic platform for projection towards Asia.

Business Opportunities in the Andean Country

During the InvestChile Week Europe, the Chilean delegation focused on consolidating the country as a platform stable and trustworthy for foreign direct investment in Latin America. Karla FloresThe director of InvestChile stated: “Chile has demonstrated that it is possible to combine economic openness with institutional stability. Today more than ever, we are prepared to receive investments with a long-term perspective.” Flores revealed that the portfolio of projects managed by the agency exceeds $56.000 billion in more than 470 projects, mainly in sectors such as clean energy, technology, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

In the field of transportation, Chile stands out as a benchmark in Latin America, standing out for its management, technological implementation, and electromobility. The Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos MuñozHe emphasized: “We have enormous potential in renewable energy, and we are already seeing how that potential is being transformed into real infrastructure. In electromobility, Chile leads the region: Santiago has the most electric buses after China, and we will continue to expand that model.” Muñoz detailed that Santiago’s metropolitan transport system plans to reach 4.400 electric buses by 2025, and similar experiences are being replicated in other regions. Furthermore, the Santiago Metro is preparing to double its network over the next decade, increasing from six to eleven lines with an investment of nearly $9.000 billion.

Jessica LopezThe Minister of Public Works highlighted the essential role of the State as a facilitator of high social and economic impact projects. “Chile has a long tradition of public-private partnerships that we have perfected over time. Today we have internationally recognized technical and regulatory standards. The opportunities exist, and what we are looking for are partners who share a vision of inclusive and sustainable development,” she stated. The portfolio under her management exceeds $3.700 billion in projects, including highways, hospitals, prisons, and airports. A future landmark will be the San Antonio Outer Port, projected to be one of the most important port complexes in South America.

The meeting reaffirmed that the dialogue between Spain and Chile has matured, with investment and talent flows in both directionsChilean companies are expanding in Europe, and Chilean professionals occupy key positions in multinational corporations. This new phase of the relationship is not limited to financial flows, but is defined by the development of long-term strategic alliances.

In short, Chile presented itself not only as a reliable economy with great projection, but also as a regional hub with privileged connections with Asia-Pacific and South America. The Chilean delegation extended a clear invitation: Investing in Chile is investing in a country that believes in the future.