On Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, AmCham Chile brought together more than 20 private and public sector leaders to talk about expanding trade and investment between the state of California and Chile through the trade agreement “Plan Chile – California: A Partnership for the 21st Century,” signed in June of 2008. The strategic alliance was designed to
maximize collaboration in the areas of education, agriculture, the environment, energy, information technology, communication and trade.
Mateo Budinich, past president of AmCham Chile and chairman of the group, began the meeting by noting the similarity of the challenges facing California and Chile. U.S. Ambassador to Chile Paul Simons echoed the sentiments and stressed the importance of renewable energy for both economies. Chilean Ambassador Gabriel Rodriguez, Director of Energy, Science, Technology and Innovation, explained the agricultural focus of the plan when first signed in the 1960’s and contrasted it with the plan’s new focus of promoting active collaboration in areas including alternative energy, higher education and innovation.
maximize collaboration in the areas of education, agriculture, the environment, energy, information technology, communication and trade.
Mateo Budinich, past president of AmCham Chile and chairman of the group, began the meeting by noting the similarity of the challenges facing California and Chile. U.S. Ambassador to Chile Paul Simons echoed the sentiments and stressed the importance of renewable energy for both economies. Chilean Ambassador Gabriel Rodriguez, Director of Energy, Science, Technology and Innovation, explained the agricultural focus of the plan when first signed in the 1960’s and contrasted it with the plan’s new focus of promoting active collaboration in areas including alternative energy, higher education and innovation.
The topics discussed include:
1. Using longer-term private, public and educational partnerships to facilitate sharing knowledge and technology between the two economies.
2. Refocus the intent of the original “Plan Chile – California” to reflect the current economic challenges.
3. Leverage the “Plan Chile – California” as a seal of approval when working with the public, private and educational sectors.
4. Explore using Chile as a platform for showcasing technology solutions
5. Expansion of educational initiatives in Chile, particularly in the area of the English language.
6. Developing closer ties with the numerous California Chambers of Commerce.
7. Organizing a trade mission with Governor Schwarzenegger for business leaders from California to coincide with the Americas Competitiveness Forum.
8. Putting the business visa program to greater use in order to send Chilean executives to California for in-depth professional training.
9. Utilizing California’s expertise in the energy sector to help Chile.
10. Creating a platform that expedites Chilean businesses setting up operations in California.
11. Focusing on developing human capital as an important adjunct to technology
12. Utilizing the “Invest in America” program to facilitate Chilean investment in California companies.
13. Opportunity for a joint venture between Chile and California agricultural producers to improve and expand year-round access to fruit.
1. Using longer-term private, public and educational partnerships to facilitate sharing knowledge and technology between the two economies.
2. Refocus the intent of the original “Plan Chile – California” to reflect the current economic challenges.
3. Leverage the “Plan Chile – California” as a seal of approval when working with the public, private and educational sectors.
4. Explore using Chile as a platform for showcasing technology solutions
5. Expansion of educational initiatives in Chile, particularly in the area of the English language.
6. Developing closer ties with the numerous California Chambers of Commerce.
7. Organizing a trade mission with Governor Schwarzenegger for business leaders from California to coincide with the Americas Competitiveness Forum.
8. Putting the business visa program to greater use in order to send Chilean executives to California for in-depth professional training.
9. Utilizing California’s expertise in the energy sector to help Chile.
10. Creating a platform that expedites Chilean businesses setting up operations in California.
11. Focusing on developing human capital as an important adjunct to technology
12. Utilizing the “Invest in America” program to facilitate Chilean investment in California companies.
13. Opportunity for a joint venture between Chile and California agricultural producers to improve and expand year-round access to fruit.
Discussion on the Chile-California Partnership at Amcham
Ambassador Simons participated in this discussion
Ambassador Simons participated in this discussion
Information published by the US. Embassy in Santiago, Chile:
On April 2, Ambassador Simons participated in a breakfast discussion on the Chile-California Partnership at the offices of the American Chamber of Commerce in Santiago, along with the U.S. Embassy's Commercial Counselor Mitch Larsen and Energy and Environment Officer Mary Brett Rogers-Springs. Opening and closing remarks were given by AmCham Past President, Mateo Budinich, who is also head of the commercial "working group" for the Chile-California plan. Ambassador Gabriel Rodriguez, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of Energy, Science, Technology and Innovation (DECYTI) provided a comprehensive overview of the Chile-California plan, including opportunities for improving commercial ties and joint-ventures.
On April 2, Ambassador Simons participated in a breakfast discussion on the Chile-California Partnership at the offices of the American Chamber of Commerce in Santiago, along with the U.S. Embassy's Commercial Counselor Mitch Larsen and Energy and Environment Officer Mary Brett Rogers-Springs. Opening and closing remarks were given by AmCham Past President, Mateo Budinich, who is also head of the commercial "working group" for the Chile-California plan. Ambassador Gabriel Rodriguez, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of Energy, Science, Technology and Innovation (DECYTI) provided a comprehensive overview of the Chile-California plan, including opportunities for improving commercial ties and joint-ventures.
In addition to Chilean government agencies (CORFO, InnovaChile, ProChile), a number of representatives of California companies already active in Chile were present, including Intercon, Austral Capital, Sempra Servicios, Oracle, Cisco and the Port of Los Angeles.
The California-Chile "Partnership for the 21st Century" was signed by President Bachelet and California Governor Schwarzenegger in June 2008. It is an agreement for the institutions, organizations, universities, research centers, companies and citizens of both Chile and California to collaborate in the areas of human capital, environmental protection, energy, agriculture, information technology, communication and trade and business. These topics represent areas that are mutually beneficial to Chile and California and will help both more toward a more sustainable future. For more information see the Chile-California Partnership link on this website.
The California-Chile "Partnership for the 21st Century" was signed by President Bachelet and California Governor Schwarzenegger in June 2008. It is an agreement for the institutions, organizations, universities, research centers, companies and citizens of both Chile and California to collaborate in the areas of human capital, environmental protection, energy, agriculture, information technology, communication and trade and business. These topics represent areas that are mutually beneficial to Chile and California and will help both more toward a more sustainable future. For more information see the Chile-California Partnership link on this website.
