Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends delegation level talks with the President of the Republic of Chile, Gabriel Boric Font at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on April 01, 2025.
New Delhi: Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font today underscored India’s importance as a “priority partner” in Chile’s global economic strategy during his ongoing State visit to India from April 1-5, 2025. In talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both leaders launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at boosting trade, creating jobs, and fostering economic growth between the two nations.
President Boric also announced Chile’s decision to grant multiple-entry permits to Indian businesspersons, easing visa procedures to encourage trade and investment further further. The discussions centered on expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including critical minerals, health, space technology, green energy, and infrastructure.
List of outcomes
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, received the Chilean President at Rashtrapati Bhavan today and also hosted a banquet in his honour. Welcoming President Boric on his first visit to India, the President said that his political journey, from student politics to the post of President, was an inspiration for young leaders across the world. She said that this visit was an important milestone in India-Chile relations, as it was taking place at a time when both countries were completing 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Strategic Cooperation in Critical Minerals and Green Energy
One of the significant areas of discussion was cooperation in critical minerals, a vital sector for both countries’ economic futures. Chile, home to some of the world’s largest lithium reserves, and India, with its rapidly growing tech and manufacturing sectors, are well-positioned to collaborate in the mining and processing of minerals crucial for advanced technologies and clean energy transitions. Both leaders agreed to accelerate cooperation in research and development in this field and explore long-term supply agreements to meet India’s growing demand for critical minerals.
In line with the global push for sustainability, both nations also focused on green energy and the transition to low-emission economies. The leaders expressed their commitment to joint investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and energy storage technologies. Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for Chile’s support of India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA), while President Boric reaffirmed Chile’s strong support for India’s efforts to drive global clean energy initiatives.
Enhanced Trade Relations and Business Engagement
A major focus of President Boric’s visit is the further deepening of trade relations. Both leaders acknowledged the success of the India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed in May 2017, which has led to significant increases in bilateral trade. While addressing the ongoing expansion of business delegations from both sides, Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for the sizeable Chilean business delegation accompanying President Boric, emphasizing that it would help strengthen economic ties.
The launch of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was a significant development in this regard. The CEPA aims to create a framework for balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial trade that will unlock the full potential of the trade and commercial relationship between the two countries. President Boric emphasized that the agreement would not only boost bilateral trade but also lead to the creation of new jobs and increased economic growth.
Modi said India was ready to share its positive experience with Chile in the areas of Digital Public Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, Railways, Space and more.
Additionally, both leaders acknowledged the importance of people-to-people exchanges and committed to expanding visa facilitation, with President Boric announcing that Chile would grant multiple-entry permits to Indian businesspersons, a move welcomed by Prime Minister Modi. This initiative is seen as a step toward easing the business and travel processes between the two countries.
Expanding Cooperation in Health, Pharmaceuticals, and Space
Health and pharmaceuticals also featured prominently in the talks, with both sides recognizing the importance of India’s pharmaceutical sector in providing affordable and high-quality medicines globally. President Boric acknowledged India’s leadership in the pharmaceutical industry and called for enhanced cooperation between the two countries to increase trade in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical devices. The two leaders also agreed to address market access challenges for Indian pharmaceuticals in Chile and discussed the mutual recognition of pharmaceutical standards, including the Indian Pharmacopoeia.
In the field of space, both countries reaffirmed their long-standing collaboration. India had launched Chile’s satellite, SUCHAI-1, in 2017 as part of a commercial arrangement. Building on this, the two countries agreed to further deepen their cooperation in satellite research, development, and capacity building. Chile’s establishment of a Space Executive Committee signals a renewed commitment to working closely with India’s space agencies, including ISRO, IN-SPACe, and various private startups.
Defence, Antarctica, and Multilateral Cooperation
President Boric and Prime Minister Modi also discussed the expansion of defence cooperation. Both countries agreed to enhance their collaboration in training and military capacity-building. The Indian side expressed a desire to host Chilean military officials for training programs on specialized topics such as mountain warfare and peacekeeping operations.
Another strategic area of mutual interest is Antarctica. The two leaders welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent to strengthen Antarctic cooperation, emphasizing their commitment to protecting the region’s unique environment and fostering scientific research. Chile and India, both Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty, agreed to work together to promote joint initiatives and exchanges related to Antarctic policy and marine conservation. “We see Chile as the gateway to Antarctica. We welcome today’s agreement on the Letter of Intent to strengthen cooperation in this vital region,” Modi said.
The leaders also reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism and global governance reforms, including support for the expansion of the UN Security Council to reflect the geopolitical realities of the 21st century. Both countries committed to working together in international forums, including the UN, to advocate for democratic principles, human rights, and the resolution of conflicts through peaceful dialogue.
Cultural and Educational Collaboration
Beyond trade and security, President Boric and Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of cultural and educational exchanges in strengthening bilateral relations. The two leaders welcomed the signing of a new Cultural Exchange Programme, which aims to promote collaborations in music, dance, theatre, literature, and festivals. Both countries expressed a mutual interest in deepening cultural ties, with an emphasis on sharing their rich histories and traditions.
“The great Chilean poet and Nobel Laureate “Gabriela Mistral” found inspiration in the ideas of Rabindranath Tagore and Aurobindo Ghosh. Similarly, Chilean literature has been appreciated in India, too. The growing interest among the Chilean people towards Indian films, cuisine, and classical dances is a living example of our cultural ties,” Modi said. He pointed out that today, around four thousand people of Indian origin consider Chile their home and are the “custodians of our shared heritage”.
In education, the leaders agreed to expand partnerships between Chilean and Indian universities, focusing on joint research, vocational training, and digital learning initiatives. President Boric welcomed India’s National Education Policy 2020 and encouraged Chilean universities to strengthen academic and research linkages with Indian institutions. The leaders also discussed the potential for establishing an ICCR Chair on Indian Studies at a Chilean university.
Addressing Global Challenges Together
The visit highlights the growing convergence between India and Chile on a range of global challenges, including climate change, terrorism, and the promotion of sustainable development. Both leaders expressed their commitment to advancing joint efforts in combating climate change through clean energy solutions and supporting global initiatives such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
On security, both leaders reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and agreed to continue working together to combat terrorism through multilateral platforms such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the No Money for Terror initiative. They also called for the early finalization of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
Conclusion: Strengthening the Bilateral Relationship
President Boric’s visit to India marks a significant step in the deepening of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“This is President Boric’s first visit to India. His strong sense of friendship toward India and his commitment to strengthen our relations is truly amazing. For this, I extend my heartfelt felicitations to him, and warmly welcome him and his distinguished delegation,” Modi said.
As both leaders explored new avenues for cooperation across a range of sectors, the partnership between Chile and India is set to grow stronger, driven by shared goals of economic development, sustainability, and global cooperation. The visit is a clear indication of the growing importance of the South-South partnership between India and Chile, paving the way for future collaboration in areas ranging from trade and technology to defence and culture.
President Boric thanked Prime Minister Modi for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation and invited him to visit Chile at a mutually convenient time. Boric continues his visit to Agra, Mumbai, and Bengaluru from here.
– global bihari bureau
