I - Political Relations:

India-Chile relations have traditionally been characterized by warmth, friendship and a commonality of views on a wide range of issues. Both countries cooperate extensively in multilateral fora and share similar views on climate change/renewable energy and on expansion and reforms of the UNSC. Chile articulated its support for India’s claim to a permanent seat in the UNSC in a Joint Statement issued at the conclusion of the official visit of Chilean Foreign Minister to India in April 2003, and has consistently reiterated this support since then.  Chile shares India’s concerns regarding the threat of international terrorism and has condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

 

Bilateral relations have strengthened over the years with exchange of high-level visits, which include Prime Minister level visit in 1968 and three Presidential visits in 1995, 2008 and 2019 from the Indian side, and three Presidential visits in 2005, 2009 and 2025 from the Chilean side. Several other visits at the level of Cabinet Ministers, parliamentary delegations etc. have helped in furthering the relations.

In 2009, India and Chile celebrated 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations which coincided with the visit to India by the then President of Chile, H.E. Dr. Michelle Bachelet Jeria. That visit was in reciprocation to the visit of then Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil to Chile in 2008. Hon’ble President Mr. Ram Nath Kovind visited Chile (30 March to 1 April 2019) marking the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. MoS for External Affairs, Smt Meenakashi Lekhi participated in the Curtain Raiser event of International Day of Yoga  on 4 May, 2022 in Santiago during her two day visit to Chile. The incumbent President Mr. Gabriel Boric Font visited India in April 2025 making the 75 years of the completion of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

 

During MoS (VK)’s visit to Chile in May 2018, an MoU was also signed on the establishment of a high-level Joint Commission. The first India-Chile Joint Commission Meeting was held virtually on 16 October 2020, co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister and Chilean Foreign Minister. The second Joint Commission Meeting co-chaired by External Affairs Minister and Chilean Foreign Minister was held in New Delhi in August 2024. The 8th round of India-Chile Foreign Office Consultations was held in New Delhi on March 2023.

 

India and Chile have signed Agreements/MoUs covering various fields of cooperation such as Science and Technology, Antarctica, Defence, Air Services, Agriculture, New and Renewable Energy, Education, Geology and Mineral Resources, and Gainful employment of spouses and eligible dependents of diplomatic personnel.

 

A parliamentary delegation led by Shri Jagdambika Pal, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha visited Chile from 11-15 January, 2025 for participation in the Summit meeting at the Congreso Futuro (13th January) and the 3rd Third World Summit of the Committees of the Future (14th January) and exchanged views with Chilean parliamentarian on a wide range of issues.

 

II - Trade and Economic Relations:

Chile is the 5th largest trading partner of India in the LAC region. The bilateral trade between India and Chile in the last five years is tabulated below:

 

Year	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Export from Chile to India	836.06	1,125.12	1,702.15	1,351.58	2,598.94
Imports from India to Chile	709.15	1,246.10	1,421.70	1,315.08	1,244.09
Total Trade	1,545.21	2,371.22	3,123.85	2,666.66	3,843.03

Source: Chile Customs Agency

 

India’s exports to Chile had been growing steadily since 2009, with the exception of a slight decrease in 2014, when a new carbon tax on diesel vehicles in Chile adversely affected motor vehicle exports from India, but the sector saw a big recovery later on.  India’s trade with Chile registered a negative growth over a couple of years  due to the global slowdown and the domestic social crisis and labour unrest in Chile. The trade has since picked up and shown a robust recovery.

 

India’s export to Chile are diversified and constitute motor vehicles/cars, drug formulations, chemicals, products of iron & steel, man-made yarn, fabrics, cotton fabrics, made-ups, RMG Cotton including accessories, auto components, electric machinery and equipment, leather goods, rubber products, bulk drugs, drug intermediates, footwear of leather, iron and steel, aluminium & its product, ceramics & allied products, RMG man-made fibres etc.

 

There have been several visits by Indian trade and business organizations (such as CII, FICCI, PHDCCI, ITPO, CLE, PHARMEXCIL, AMA, EPCH, HEPC etc) to Chile to hold BSMs/B2B meetings, participate in Trade Fairs, and to organize road-shows in the areas of pharma, apparel, handicrafts, leather, chemicals and allied products. The 9th CII India-LAC Business Conclave in New Delhi on 3-4 August 2023 saw participation of a high-level Chilean business delegation led by Mr. Sebastián Gómez Fiedler, Director General of Bilateral Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile.  An Indian mining delegation led by Secretary (Mines) visited Chile in April 2024 to participate in World Mining Congress and CRU World Copper Conference. On the sidelines, Secretary (Mines) met Chilean Vice-Minister of Mining and other Chilean authorities to explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration. Chile sent a high level delegation led by Vice Minister for International Economic Relations for participation in the recently held 10th CII India-LAC Business Conclave in New Delhi on 19-20 March 2025.  Similarly, several high level business delegations from India visited Chile in the last year to expand trade and economic relations.

 

On 6 September 2016, an Agreement on the expansion of the India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was signed in New Delhi which increased the scope of the agreement from about 474 tariff lines to 2829 tariff lines. The expanded preferential trade agreement came into force in May 2017. The two sides have now launched negotiations for finalizing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. First round of negotiations were held in India in May 2025. Second round of negotiations are scheduled to take place in Chile in July 2025.

 

The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and Chile was signed on 9 March 2020 and came into effect from 19 October 2022 after ratification by both countries.

 

Investments: Based on the information provided by various companies, the Indian investment in Chile is estimated to be about US$620 million. Indian companies have entered the Chilean market by acquiring Chilean companies or setting up joint ventures. Chilean investment in India amounts to US$ 118 million (source: DIPP). However, as per unconfirmed sources, Chilean Financial Institutions have invested more than US$ 3.2 bn in the Indian Financial sector.

 

III – ITEC:

25 slots are offered to Chilean civilian candidates every year and there has a good response, especially in courses for English language, IT skills, Legislative drafting, Audit, E-Governance, Renewable energy and Environmental technologies. On the defence side, slots are offered regularly for Staff College, NDC, NDA and HDMC. In addition, slots have been offered in the past for specialized courses in peacekeeping operations and mountain warfare. However, uptake of these offers is not satisfactory, primarily because defence ITEC slots were earlier not funded by us, unlike the civilian slots which are fully funded.

 

IV – Cultural Relations:

Indian culture is very popular in Chile. There are a number of local Yoga schools (Kundalini Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga etc.) and practitioners. Chile has declared November 4 as National Yoga Day.  Ayurveda is also slowly gaining popularity in Chile, with the establishment of a few Ayurveda institutes/clinics. Organisations such as ISKCON, Brahmakumari Samaj, and Art of Living are also flourishing.  There are few Hindu Temples in Chile.

 

V - Indian Community:

The origins of the Indian community in Chile can be traced back to 1905. Currently, it is estimated that there are around 4000 Overseas Indians (1850 NRIs and 2150 PIOs) living in Chile.  The majority are from the Sindhi community who are mainly engaged in business, and have integrated well into Chilean society. One third of them live in Iquique and the rest are in Santiago, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar and Punta Arenas.  In addition, there is a constant flow of professionals and businessmen from India, working mainly in the ICT and financial services sectors. Some Indian labour is also present in Chile, working mainly in Indian restaurants/shops.

 

Useful Resources:

Website           : http://www.indianembassysantiago.gov.in/

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Twitter             : @Indiainchile

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