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Chile Foreign Minister to Visit India for Trade and FTA Talks

Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco Perez Mackenna will visit India from May 9-15 for bilateral talks and business events. He will meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss trade and investment. The visit comes as India is close to concluding a Free Trade Agreement with Chile to secure critical minerals. India has signed eight FTAs with developed countries in the past four years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Key Points: Chile Foreign Minister Visit India May 9-15

  • Chile Foreign Minister Francisco Perez Mackenna visits India May 9-15
  • Talks with Piyush Goyal and S Jaishankar scheduled
  • FTA with Chile expected to secure critical minerals
  • India has signed eight FTAs in past four years
2 min read

Chile Foreign Affairs Minister to visit India from May 9-15

Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco Perez Mackenna visits India from May 9-15 for trade talks, FTA discussions, and meetings with Piyush Goyal and S Jaishankar.

"We will soon close an FTA with Chile, which will open up critical minerals for India. - Piyush Goyal"

New Delhi, May 8

Francisco Perez Mackenna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile will visit India from May 9-15, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Mackenna will attend a programme in Delhi on May 10. He will attend business events organized by Forum of Indian Food Importers and ASSOCHAM on May 11.

On May 12, he will hold talks with Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and will attend a business event hosted by CII and the CII Annual Business Summit 2026.

On May 13, he will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, followed by a meeting with Goyal. He will then attend a Joint Meeting with Indian-Chilean Business Delegation.

On May 14, he will hold a meeting with Priyank M Kharge, Minister of Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology of the Government of Karnataka.

The visit comes as Goyal on January 30 said that India has signed eight Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in the past four years with developed countries, whose per capita GDP is significantly higher than India's, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing the ICAI World Forum of Accountants in Greater Noida, Goyal said these FTAs cover all of Europe, including the 27-nation European Union and the four-nation EFTA.

He further said that India is likely to conclude an FTA with Chile soon, which would help secure critical minerals essential to the country's growth and industrial needs.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister Goyal said, "We have signed eight free trade agreements in the past four years with developed countries whose per capita GDP is much higher than ours. These FTAs cover all of Europe, the 27-nation European Union, and the four-nation EFTA. All of these countries need talent, skills, and young people for their economies to survive, let alone grow. We are engaged in active dialogue with many other developed nations, with different benefits to the nation. We will soon close an FTA with Chile, which will open up critical minerals for India."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I hope our government ensures that these FTAs actually benefit small businesses and farmers, not just big corporations. Chile's agricultural exports could compete with our own. The details matter more than the headlines.
V
Vikram M
Piyush Goyal ji is really pushing hard on trade deals - 8 FTAs in 4 years is impressive! Chile has rich mineral resources and a stable economy. This will help India secure supply chains for semiconductors and batteries. Smart move! 👍
A
Ananya R
Finally some focus on South America beyond just Venezuela and Brazil! Chile is a developed, stable partner. But I'm curious about what we're giving in return - these deals have to be balanced. Let's see the fine print.
R
Rohit P
The critical minerals angle is crucial - lithium, copper, and rare earths are the future. India needs to secure these supply chains fast. Kudos to the Ministry for doing groundwork. Hope the FTA doesn't take years like some others.
K
Kavya N
Interesting to see Priyank Kharge involved - Karnataka is India's tech hub, so meeting with IT Minister makes sense. Chile could become a partner in digital innovation too, not just minerals. These visits build long-term relationships.

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