President of the Republic of Chile, Gabriel Boric Font was paid an official five-day visit to India from 1st to 5th April 2025, at the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi, to further strengthen the 76 years of diplomatic relations between India and Chile.
- This is his first visit to India, accompanied by a high-powered delegation comprising cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials, and a large business delegation.
Note: Chile was the only country in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region to send a Special Envoy to India’s Independence Day celebrations in 1947.
Highlights of the Visit:
Key Meetings:
i.During his visit, the President of Chile held bilateral discussions with PM Narendra Modi and the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in New Delhi, Delhi. He also held bilateral talks with Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) .
- Both countries are working towards strengthening cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, cultural exchanges, academic collaboration and agriculture.
ii.During the meeting, India and Chile have agreed to begin negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement(CEPA) to enhance defense and security cooperation.
iii.Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font announced the introduction of a Multiple Entry Permit for Indian businesspersons, aimed at simplifying the visa process to enhance bilateral trade and investment opportunities between two countries.
- He also visited Agra (Uttar Pradesh, UP), Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Bengaluru (Karnataka).
Key Agreements:
PM Narendra Modi and the President of Chile witnessed the signing of key Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs), including on Antarctica cooperation, space, disability, and mineral resources.
i.Antarctic Research Partnership: India and Chile have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to work together on Antarctic research. As part of this, both countries will soon start joint research expeditions to Antarctica, focusing on areas like climate change, geosciences, microbiology, and innovation.
- The partnership will be carried out by India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) based in Vasco Da Gama, Goa and Chile’s Antarctic Institute INACH(Instituto Antártico Chileno).
ii.Cultural Exchange Programme: Both countries signed a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2025–2029 to deepen ties in areas like Ayurveda and classical dance. Despite the distance, Indian culture is popular in Chile, which has celebrated National Yoga Day on November 4 since 2021.
iii.MoU on Disaster Management: An MoU was signed between India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headquartered in New Delhi and Chile’s National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) to work together in the area of disaster management by sharing knowledge, and improving response systems.
iv.MoU on Mineral Cooperation: Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) based in Kolkata , West Bengal (WB) has signed a non-binding MoU with National Copper Corporation of Chile(CODELCO) to collaborate in the areas of mining and mineral processing.
- The partnership aims to share expertise and explore joint projects, helping HCL grow globally in the mining sector.
India-Chile Round Table Focuses on Mining and Critical Minerals
India and Chile held a Mining Industry Round Table to strengthen cooperation in the mining sector, with a focus on key minerals like copper, lithium, and other critical resources.
i.The Indian side was led by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Coal(MoC) and Ministry of Mines(MoM) along with V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary,MoM and senior officials from the MoM. Chile’s delegation was headed by its Minister of Mines, Aurora Williams.
ii.Both sides discussed ways to boost mineral exploration, promote eco-friendly mining methods, improve processing of minerals, and renew the existing MoU on Geology and Mineral Resources for future cooperation.
India Invites Chile to Participate in WAVES Summit 2025
As part of Chilean President Gabriel Boric five-day state visit to India, Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MoI&B) met Chile’s Minister of Culture, Arts & Heritage, Carolina Arredondo, in New Delhi and invited Chile to take part in the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025(WAVES 2025), scheduled from 1st to 4th May 2025.
About the Republic of Chile:
Chile is the world’s largest producer of copper and also ranks among the leading producers of lithium and other rare-earth elements, contributing significantly to the global supply of critical minerals.
President– Gabriel Boric Font
Capital– Santiago
Currency– Peso
