01/07/2026
Strengthening Pakistan–Chile Economic Ties 🇵🇰🇨🇱
During the fourth week of June 2026, Ambassador Hassan Afzal Khan, accompanied by Trade & Investment Counsellor Ms. Nazish Sami, undertook an official visit to the Republic of Chile and held a series of productive engagements with key public and private sector stakeholders to advance bilateral trade, investment, and innovation cooperation.
The delegation met with senior officials of InvestChile-including Mr. Salvatore Di Giovanni, Head of Investment Promotion, Mr.Juan Pablo Candia , Head of corporate management and Mr. Juan Pablo Garnica, Head of Global Services & Digital Economy.Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral investment flows, fostering digital economy partnerships, and exploring opportunities for Pakistani IT companies in Chile.
A constructive meeting was also held with Mr. Felipe Henríquez Palma, Director General for Multilateral Economic Affairs at SUBREI (Undersecretariat for International Economic Relations), under Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions centered on strengthening institutional collaboration between SUBREI and Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce, while exploring new avenues to expand bilateral trade.
At ProChile, Chile’s export promotion agency, both sides discussed joint trade promotion initiatives and greater business-to-business engagement. An invitation to participate in TDAP’s 4th International FoodAg Exhibition 2026 in Karachi was extended, with a request to disseminate the information among leading Chilean food importers and companies.
The visit also included a highly encouraging meeting with Ms. Javiera Araneda de la Sotta, CEO of Start-Up Chile, one of Latin America’s leading startup accelerators. Discussions explored collaboration with Pakistan’s innovation ecosystem, including institutions such as Ignite, and the potential for a South-South innovation gateway. Start-Up Chile expressed strong interest in engaging with Pakistan’s growing technology and entrepreneurship landscape.
The delegation also engaged with the Office of the National Coordinator for the Pacific Alliance, discussing avenues for closer economic cooperation and Pakistan’s engagement with the regional bloc. In addition, a meeting with officials of the Asia Pacific Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile provided an opportunity to exchange views on bilateral relations and reaffirm the shared commitment of both countries to further strengthen Pakistan–Chile cooperation across political, economic, and commercial spheres.
These engagements reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to deepening economic relations with Chile and unlocking new opportunities in trade, investment, digital services, innovation, and entrepreneurship.