Chile Charts a New Growth Agenda

Chile’s Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, and Mining, Daniel Mas Valdés, joined Canning House for a roundtable discussion focused on economic growth under Chile’s new government, which took office in March 2026. The Minister outlined his ambition to accelerate economic growth, create jobs, attract foreign investment and maximise the potential of Chile’s key industries. The Minister emphasised the importance of improving productivity and competitiveness to achieve an increase in annual growth, with a particular focus on creating an environment in which businesses can invest, expand and generate employment.

A central theme of the discussion was the need to make Chile a more attractive destination for foreign investment. The Minister highlighted plans to streamline the permitting process, reduce bureaucratic barriers and provide greater tax stability, while ensuring that environmental standards were not compromised. He admitted that reform was needed to increase the efficiency of mining and infrastructure projects to enable businesses to move forward with investment. Mining remains central to Chile’s economic strategy, given its position as a leading global producer of copper, lithium and other critical minerals essential to the energy transition. The Minister outlined that the Chilean government aims to increase copper production to six million tonnes by 2030, with a renewed focus on accelerating mining exploration and development. Alongside mining, Chile’s significant renewable energy potential, particularly in solar, wind and green hydrogen, presents further opportunities for growth. The Minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships and capital markets to facilitate greater international investment.

The Minister reaffirmed Chile’s ambition to build on its reputation as a stable, export-oriented economy with strong human capital, while deepening its international partnerships. Strengthening ties with the UK was identified as an important priority, particularly across mining, energy, infrastructure and tourism. The discussion highlighted opportunities for British businesses to contribute to Chile’s next phase of economic development through investment, collaboration and the sharing of expertise. The Minister encouraged UK businesses not to see Chile merely as a place to invest capital, but as a country where they can play an active role in supporting and benefiting from the government's economic agenda and new opportunities.

Canning House thanks Minister Mas Valdés and Vanessa Severin, InvestChile’s Representative for Europe, for sharing their insights, and our participants for joining an engaging and informative discussion.