Chile to boost exports to China via pavilion in Shanghai

Chile is seeking to boost its exports to China via a permanent pavilion in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

Covering an area of about 2,000 square meters, the pavilion of China Chile Central allows more than 100 Chilean companies to exhibit their products and to have access to translation, commercialization, distribution and storage facilities.

Eduardo Frei, former Chilean president and current Chilean extraordinary ambassador to the Asia-Pacific, said the pavilion offers an opportunity for Chilean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter the Chinese market.

"We can witness the great interest and the high expectations that China Chile Central has generated among Chilean entrepreneurs. This platform is not only a portal to the Asian giant, but to the rest of the continent," said Andres Rebolledo, director of international economic relations at the Chilean Foreign Ministry.

"Promoting Chilean brands in China is one of our great challenges. Counting on a permanent national pavilion, in one of Shanghai's strongest commercial zones, is undoubtedly an element that favors Chilean business," he said.

China Chile Central Director Arthur Wu said China and Chile "are in a new era of shared profits and mutual benefits...this is an opportunity that comes around once every 100 years, showing a great future ahead."

All these remarks were made at the seminar titled "China Chile Central, entry point for Chilean exports," which concluded Friday after bringing together more than 80 SMEs and dignitaries to discuss how to enhance economic and trade ties between China and Chile.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 10th anniversary of the birth of their bilateral free trade agreement.

China Chile Central has so far signed commercial agreements with supermarket chains in the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Changsha to promote Chilean exports. Endi