Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto Van Klaveren on Wednesday underscored the importance of deepening bilateral relations with India, particularly through a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Klaveren, who arrived on Tuesday for a two-day visit, took part in the second India-Chile Joint Commission Meeting, co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Recognizing India as a vital partner in the Latin American region, Klaveren expressed admiration for India’s growth, culture, and civilization. He highlighted the potential for expanding and deepening ties with India, both economically and politically. “India is a very important partner for Chile. We see great potential in strengthening our relationship with India, especially in economic and political spheres,” Klaveren said.
The Chilean Foreign Minister also discussed the prospects of moving forward with CEPA negotiations, underscoring that necessary studies have been conducted, and terms of reference have been analyzed. He expressed confidence in the success of these negotiations, acknowledging that while the process may take time, Chile is optimistic about the outcome.
Chile, with an estimated USD 2,847 billion in trade for 2023, sees India as a key market. In 2022, India ranked 16th among destinations for Chile’s non-copper and non-lithium exports, with goods and services exports totaling USD 560 million, 30% of which were food-related. Notably, Chile was the first nation to establish a Partial Scope Agreement (PSA) with India in 2007, which was expanded in 2017, allowing for tariff preferences on 1,110 Chilean products.
During the joint commission meeting, Jaishankar expressed India’s appreciation for Chile’s participation in the Voice of Global South Summits, noting the valuable contributions of Chilean President Gabriel Boric at the recent summit on August 17. Jaishankar also recalled that the previous joint commission meeting was conducted virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Klaveren’s visit follows a series of recent diplomatic engagements between India and Chile. In May 2023, Chile’s Ambassador to India, Juan Angulo, and Police Attaché Rafael Andres Tellez Benucci visited the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters, where they discussed cooperation in combating technology-enabled crimes, drug trafficking, and transnational crimes with CBI Director Praveen Sood and senior officials.
On Tuesday, Esteban Valenzuela, Chile’s Minister for Agriculture, met with Ramnath Thakur, India’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, for a high-level bilateral meeting in New Delhi. The discussions focused on agricultural challenges and opportunities to boost trade between the two countries. The ministers discussed market access issues for Indian mangoes and pomegranates and explored expanding trade in other agricultural products.
Valenzuela expressed Chile’s keen interest in importing Indian bananas and basmati rice. In response, Thakur proposed expanding trade to include products such as roses, garlic, and kidney beans, with the aim of unlocking the full potential of bilateral trade. Chile, in turn, expressed interest in adding walnuts, fruits, and vegetables to the list of traded agricultural products.
Both sides agreed to establish a task force to address market access and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) concerns, reflecting their commitment to deepening agricultural cooperation. The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Chilean Ambassador Juan Angulo and representatives from Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture, as well as Indian officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.