Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena takes part in LATAM 2024

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Mexico-Chile Free Trade Agreement, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena, participated in the Latam 2024 meeting "25 Years after the Free Trade Agreement: A modernized treaty for SMEs, inclusiveness and innovation." The event was organized by ProChile to promote bilateral and regional trade and investment.

In her remarks, the foreign secretary said that, over the past 25 years, "We have achieved a very clear focus on foreign trade [...] Trade has tripled since the treaty came into force. We went from 1.1 billion dollars in 1998 to 3.4 billion dollars in 2023."

"We have an enormous opportunity because this treaty has been modernized [...] It has very important and innovative new components: a chapter on inclusion to improve the participation of micro, small and medium-sized companies in trade [...] and, in addition, a chapter on the participation of women, greater gender equality, and more women entrepreneurs in trade and investment," she said. "With the modernization of the treaty, we are going to have a great opportunity to revive the business communities and in the industries of the future."

Secretary Bárcena highlighted the transformation currently underway in Mexico. "I believe that very interesting opportunities will open up between Mexico and Chile," she said, while reaffirming the "great legacy of friendship and brotherhood" between the two countries: "The ties we have built in good times and in dark times, that solidarity, empathy and friendship, is always what brings us together," she added.

The Under-Secretary for International Economic Relations of Chile, Claudia Sanhueza, and Chile's Ambassador to Mexico, Beatriz Sánchez, agreed that the modernized treaty would strengthen the bilateral economic relationship and give it an inclusive approach focused on women and SMEs.

Chile's Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, Claudia Sanhueza, and Chile's Ambassador to Mexico, Beatriz Sanchez, agreed that the modernization of the treaty would strengthen the bilateral economic relationship, now with an inclusive approach focused on women and SMEs.

Secretary Bárcena was accompanied by Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean Laura Elena Carrillo Cubilla; Director General of Global Economic Promotion Rodrigo Morales Castillo; and Director General for South America Pablo Monroy Conesa.

On behalf of the Government of Mexico, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its commitment to continue strengthening our ties of friendship and economic relations with Chile, for the benefit of the societies of both countries.