Chile – Alberta
Relations
This map is a generalized illustration only and is not intended to be used for reference purposes. The representation of political boundaries does not necessarily
reflect the position of the Government of Alberta on international issues of recognition, sovereignty or jurisdiction.
PROFILE
DID YOU KNOW?
Capital: Santiago
 On his July 2007 visit to Chile, Prime
Minister Harper and Chile’s thenPresident Michelle Bachelet signed the
Canada-Chile Partnership Framework
(CCPF). Through the CCPF, both
countries agreed to broaden ongoing
exchanges and expand collaboration in
science and technology, the
environment, agriculture, sustainable
development of natural resources,
education, youth exchanges and
cultural issues, complementing
previously existing Memorandums of
Understanding (MOUs) in geomatics
and aquaculture.
Population: 17.1 million (2010 est.)
Language: Spanish
Government: Republic
Head of State and Government:
President Sebastian Pinera, Coalition for
Change (since March 11, 2010)
Currency: $1 CDN = 483.27 Chilean peso
(CLP) (May 2011)
GDP: US $203.4 billion (2010)
GDP (PPP): US $257.8 billion (2010 est.)
GDP per Capita (PPP): US $15,080
(2010 est.)
GDP growth rate: 5.2% (2010)
Inflation: 1.4% (2010)
Unemployment: 7.1% (2008 est.)
Key Industry Sectors: Copper, lithium,
other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing,
iron and steel, wood and wood products,
transport equipment, cement, textiles and
agriculture.
CHILE OVERVIEW
 Chile is strongly committed to free
trade and has welcomed large amounts
of foreign investment. Chile has signed
free trade agreements (FTAs) with
several important economies, including
Canada, the United States, China and
the European Union.
 Chile is a member in full standing of
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Forum (APEC) and the Pacific
Economic Cooperation Council
(PECC).
 Chile’s natural resources include
copper, silver, timber, iron ore,
nitrates, precious metals, and
hydropower.
COMMUNITY
 6,680 Albertans are of Chilean
descent (2006 Census).
 The majority of Chileans in Canada
arrived as political refugees after the
Allende government was overthrown
in 1973.
 The Chilean Canadian Community of
Edmonton and the Chilean Canadian
Community Association of Calgary
are the main organizational bodies
for the community in Alberta.
 Chile holds associate member status in
MERCOSUR, a trade agreement
between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
and Uruguay.
Input was provided from the departments of: Advanced Education & Technology, Agriculture & Rural Development, Culture & Community Services,
Education, Energy and Human Services.
June 2011
June 2011
 Chile is a small oil producer, with 150
million barrels of proven oil reserves in
 Between 2006 and 2010, Alberta exports
2010. The country’s refining capacity
to Chile have averaged $91.65 million
in 2009 was 226,800 bbl/d.
per year. Top exports include wheat and
 In 2009 Chile’s energy consumption
mineral fuel and oil.
mix was composed of 56% oil, 11%
 A spike in the value of exports to Chile
natural gas and coal, 16% biomass
in 2008 was primarily a result of an
and 6% hydro. Oil consumption
increase in the price of sulfur.
increased from 232,400 bbl/d in 2001
 From 2006 to 2010, Alberta imported
to 297,600 bbl/d in 2009.
goods worth an average of $46.89
 In response to gas and electricity
million annually from Chile, primarily
shortages in 2008, Chile created a
fresh grapes and wine. This figure does
Ministry of Energy in 2010.
not include goods sold in Alberta that
 Calgary-based TransCanada owns a
arrived via distribution hubs in other
30% interest in Gas Pacifico, a 540km
provinces.
natural gas pipeline from Lata,
 In 2010, Alberta’s agri-food exports to
Argentina to Concepción, Chile.
Chile totaled $15.8 million, consisting
EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES
mostly of wheat ($13.5 million).
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
 While minerals remain the mainstays of
Chile’s exports, trade of non mineral
products, such as forestry products,
fresh fruit and seafood, have grown
considerably over the past two decades.
ENERGY
 The Chilean government’s strong
commitment to market liberalization
and privatization has created
opportunities in various sectors.
 As natural gas becomes a source for
electricity generation, opportunities for
Alberta companies in building in Chile
natural gas pipelines, processing, and
related services are expected to grow.
 Chile has limited energy resources and
needs to import from international
partners to meet increasing demand. In
 Opportunities also exist in Chile’s
2008, nearly 80% of Chile’s energy
mining sector for supplying equipment
needs were met through imports in the
and services.
form of coal, gas and oil.
 Mining is a key economic sector in Chile.  CODELCO uses advanced robotics and
unmanned ground vehicles in its
The national copper company,
operations; a technology transfer
CODELCO, is the world’s biggest
opportunity for Alberta mining and
producer and exporter of copper. It
unmanned vehicle industries.
constituted 57.4% of Chilean exports in
January 2010.
 There is a great demand for
environmental goods and services.
 Chile opened a liquefied natural gas
The rapid growth of Chile’s economy
(LNG) terminal in 2009 to address
over the past decade has led to
natural gas supply disruptions from
environmental concerns.
Venezuela, and to decrease dependence
on hydroelectric power. Hydro was
 Opportunities in renewable energies
previously Chile’s largest electricity
and energy efficiency and the
source, before severe droughts in the
exchange of information on
late 1990s and late 2000s.
environmental, clean coal technology,
ALBERTA/CANADA ASSISTANCE
 Since 2006, Chile has received funding
from the Government of Alberta for
projects focused on children’s rights,
elderly care and to provide wheelchairs
to disabled persons.
EDUCATION AND CULTURE
 The University of Alberta and the
University of Calgary have diverse
Academic and Student Exchange
Agreements and have signed MOUs
with different Chilean universities,
including the University of Chile and
the University of Concepción.
 The University of Calgary awarded an
Honourary Doctorate in Law to Chilean
President Frei in 1997.
 The University of Calgary has linkages
for student exchanges and academic
collaboration with Universidad Austral,
Universidad de Concepción,
Universidad Católica del Maule,
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
and Pontificia Universidad Católica de
Valparaíso.
RECENT VISITS
 June 2007: The Chilean Ministry of
Mining visited Alberta on a mission to
attract investment and exploration in
the mining sector.
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION
 Chile’s Ambassador in Ottawa is His
Excellency Roberto Ibarra.
 Canada’s Ambassador to Chile, located
in Santiago, is Ms. Sarah Fountain
Smith.
 Canada’s Honourary Consul in
Concepcion is Mr. Ramiro Trucco.
 Canada’s Honourary Consul in
Antofagasta is Mr. Marcos CasasCordero.
and mini-hydro.
For more information, contact:
Alberta Intergovernmental, International
and Aboriginal Relations
Tel: 780-427-6543 Fax: 780-427-0699
www.albertacanada.com