April 7, 2025 | Economy & Business News
As part of the official presidential tour to Asia, Chile’s Minister of Mining, Aurora Williams, concluded a high-level visit to India focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, attracting investment to Chile’s mining sector, and fostering innovation and technology partnerships.
During the five-day mission accompanying President Gabriel Boric, Minister Williams led a packed agenda across New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Her primary focus: showcasing Chile as a strategic and reliable partner in the global energy transition, particularly in the supply of critical minerals.
A key highlight of the visit was a bilateral meeting with India’s Minister of Mines, G. Kishan Reddy. The two officials discussed shared priorities for the sustainable development of essential minerals like copper, lithium, and molybdenum—resources vital for clean energy technologies. Reddy expressed strong interest in Chile’s mining expertise and its potential to support India’s national critical minerals strategy.
“India has established a national mission for critical minerals, and we’ve identified mutual interest in deepening cooperation on copper, lithium, and molybdenum,” said Williams after the meeting.
Minister Williams also participated in two key roundtables aimed at encouraging Indian investment in Chile. The first, organized by the International Copper Association (ICA), brought together local government officials and Indian private sector leaders interested in exploring business opportunities in Chile’s mining industry. The session included contributions from Codelco board chairman Máximo Pacheco, InvestChile director Karla Flores, and Fernando Cortez, CEO of the Antofagasta Industrial Association.
The second roundtable, hosted by InvestChile and titled “Mining in Chile: Perspectives and Investment Opportunities for Indian Companies”, featured executive vice president of Corfo, José Miguel Benavente. The event underscored Chile’s investor-friendly environment and its commitment to adding value to its mineral exports.
Beyond mining, the visit also spotlighted tech collaboration. On Thursday, the minister toured the headquarters of Tata Consultancy Services, an Indian tech giant with a growing footprint in Chile. The following day in Bangalore—dubbed India’s “Silicon Valley”—Williams joined President Boric in a working session with innovation leaders from both countries. The goal: to strengthen technological cooperation and explore joint development initiatives.
“India is not only a market of immense scale, but also a hub of manufacturing and technological innovation,” noted Williams. “This is why promoting Chile’s mining industry here makes strategic sense.”
With a population exceeding 1.4 billion and decades of sustained economic growth, India stands as one of the world’s leading emerging markets. Its rapid industrialization, manufacturing strength, and push for energy self-sufficiency make it a key player in the global demand for strategic minerals—an area where Chile seeks to play a pivotal role.