Mondino joined President Milei in his visit to Chile and had a busy agenda with local authorities and businesspeople

In the context of President Milei's visit to the Republic of Chile, Foreign Minister Diana Mondino is having a busy agenda of working meetings with various local authorities, including a bilateral meeting with her Chilean counterpart, Alberto van Klaveren Stork, to be held on Friday 9 August.

First, the Foreign Minister was received by members of the Chilean Council on Foreign Relations (CCRI), chaired by Chile's former Foreign Minister, Hernán Felipe Errázuriz. The meeting was also attended by former Foreign Ministers Teodoro Ribera Neumann, Alfredo Moreno and Mariano Fernández. Mondino discussed with them the current global and regional context and stated that "Argentina's foreign policy is not oblivious to the difficult situation our country is facing." They discussed their great interest in the ongoing reforms in Argentina and the status of the strong bilateral relationship between Argentina and Chile, in the context of the upcoming 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

Foreign Minister Mondino stated that "the greatest challenge is to free all the productive forces. The actions carried out by the Foreign Ministry are key to achieving this goal and bringing about the change that society demands." In addition, she highlighted that the reforms promoted by the Argentine Government "are being carried out in the midst of a complex and changing international scenario. Argentina has assumed a very active role in the defence of freedom, including at international fora, where we promote alliances with all the liberal democracies that hold these same values."

"We seek to strengthen bilateral relations with all the democratic countries in South America, as they are an essential first step towards integration and cooperation with a view to propelling Argentina into the world," the Foreign Minister said.

Then, she underscored that the Foreign Ministry is giving priority to enhancing the country's export capacity, by means of bilateral, regional and multilateral negotiations and by exploring new markets for Argentina's exports of goods and services.

The CCRI brings together experts, scholars, diplomats and international relations professionals and serves as a platform to exchange ideas and bring forward proposals that may have an impact on Chile's foreign policy.

In the afternoon, the Foreign Minister, together with the Minister of Finance of Chile, Mario Marcel Cullell, presided over a High-Level Business Meeting attended by representatives and leaders of the private sectors of both countries, as well as Chilean economic and financial authorities.

The Foreign Minister was joined by the Argentine Ambassador to Chile, Jorge Faurie, and the Foreign Ministry's Secretary for International Economic Relations, Marcelo Cima.

Mondino offered an overview of the structural economic reforms promoted by the Argentine Government, with a view to improving the business environment and facilitating the flow of investments, including Argentina's significant export supply and the most attractive sectors for investment.

The Foreign Minister stated that "Argentina and Chile are strategic trade partners in South America. We need to strengthen trade, diversify the exportable supply and develop new products and services with potential for export, as this will contribute to the creation of jobs and the economic growth of both countries."

For his part, the Chilean Minister of Finance reviewed the state of the bilateral relationship, particularly regarding the logistic aspects of trade, and reaffirmed Chile's interest in further improving them. Furthermore, he said that it is essential to explore all trade opportunities and potential for business and, in that context, improve border logistics to make the transportation process more efficient. With respect to investments, and considering those made by Chilean companies abroad, including in Argentina, Marcel considered it essential to move forward with the reforms promoted by President Milei, including the simplification of foreign exchange policy, to deepen commercial integration.

The Foreign Minister agreed on the need to promote joint infrastructure projects to improve connectivity with other international markets, as well as the importance of bi-oceanic corridors to facilitate trade with Asia. She also reiterated the need to simplify customs procedures to facilitate the flow of goods and stressed that progress must be made in "strategic projects, such as joint mining projects, that require coordination regarding matters like infrastructure and environmental protection."

It is estimated that 400 Chilean companies are based in Argentina and employ around 125 thousand workers in various sectors, such as retail, real estate, transport and communications. Some other companies are dedicated to the manufacturing industry (especially food, beverages, paper and wood), energy (electricity) and, to a lesser extent, mining (hydrocarbons) and agri-business (forestry).

In 2023, Argentina exported to Chile Knowledge-Based Services worth USD 323 million. Thus, Chile has become one of the main destinations for these kinds of exports in South America.

The Foreign Ministry's trade promotion activities to increase bilateral trade include:

• A Food Sector Trade Mission to Chile (7 and 8 May), with the participation of 55 Argentine companies from the provinces of Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Tucumán, Misiones, San Juan and the City of Buenos Aires.
• A Multi-Sectoral Trade Mission this August, organized together with the agency "Pro Córdoba", with the participation of companies from the province of Córdoba engaged in the manufacturing of industrial goods for the construction, electrical supply and healthcare sectors.
• The 7th Chile-Argentina Meeting on Mining, to be held at the end of August, which will gather the main players in the mining industries of both countries.
• The Espacio Food & Service Fair 2024, to be held in October. This is Chile's most important fair in the food industry and this year Argentina will have an outstanding presence, coordinated by the Foreign Ministry.
• A Trade Mission of the medical supplies and equipment sector to Chile.

Finally, Foreign Minister Mondino joined President Milei, who arrived in Santiago after his visit to YPF's facilities in Vaca Muerta, in an event to commemorate the construction of the GasAndes gas pipeline, a milestone in the bilateral relationship between Argentina and Chile, as it represents the mutual commitment to regional integration and cooperation and facilitates energy trade for the benefit of both countries.

The event was the perfect occasion to celebrate that 1 TCF (a trillion cubic feet) of gas have been transported since the gas pipeline became operational in 1977, as well as to highlight the importance of GasAndes for both countries' energy integration, as it connects the resources from Vaca Muerta to Chile, in order to satisfy its demand. This also shows there currently is a potential market to which GasAndes can contribute, by adding value through its current infrastructure, as well as through future expansions, with the possibility of reaching the Pacific Ocean and the opportunity to industrialize natural gas.

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