We Are Expanding Our Trade Basket

- Ahmad Shariq Khan

TDB: India-Chile relationship is characterised by warmth, friendship and commonality of views on a wide range of issues. Are you satisfied with the way things are progressing?

Andrés Barbé González (ABG): Undoubtedly, the two countries have enjoyed a long and fruitful friendship. The relationship was founded when a delegation from Chile attended the ceremony to celebrate India’s independence in 1947. Later in 1949, the first Chilean ambassador was stationed in New Delhi. Well, we are about to complete seven decades of friendship.

I believe both countries realise the need to have a stronger accord to work more closely in the economic sphere.

Today, the Indo-Chilean ties are characterised by a large number of memorandums of understanding (MoU). Some of our recent MoUs are aimed at increasing cooperation in sanitary and phytosanitary measures, education and renewable energy, among others. Also, the two sides have recently expanded the preferential trade agreement (PTA), which I believe is indeed a big step in the right direction.

In terms of cultural exchange, I must highlight a recent development – the publication of three books by the Chilean poet and Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda in India. The important thing is that these books were published in Hindi, Bengali and Marathi with cooperation from Dr. Dibyajyoti Mukhopadhyay, Director of Indo-Hispanic Language Academy, Kolkata. Though the bonhomie shared between the two countries is almost perfect, there is definitely scope for further improvement.

TDB: While commercial vehicles, motor cars, two-wheelers, pharmaceuticals, textiles, footwear and carpets from India have great demand in the Chilean market, India’s imports from Chile largely comprise copper ores and concentrates. Do you see the country’s export basket expanding soon?