Chile Travel Guide - Business

• GDP: US$141 billion (2005).
• Main exports: Copper, fruit, fish, paper and chemicals.
• Main imports: Petroleum, chemicals, vehicles, electrical and telecommunications equipment.
• Main trade partners: USA, Argentina, Brazil, Japan and China.

With well-developed industrial and service sectors, Chile has one of Latin America’s strongest economies. However, it still depends on export of primary commodities (metals and ores, fruit, fish and wood) for a large proportion of its export earnings.

The industrial base has grown substantially and includes steel manufacturing, oil production, ship building, and the production of cement and consumer goods. The mainstay of the export economy for the time being is metals and ores: Chile is the world’s leading exporter of copper and also produces zinc, iron ore, molybdenum, manganese, iodine and lithium.

The service sector has developed rapidly in recent years, especially financial services, following the government’s introduction in the mid 1990s of a unique comprehensive pension scheme. Chile’s economic performance has been strong since 2000 with annual growth around 6% and low inflation; unemployment was estimated at 6.6% in late 2006.

Businesspeople should wear formal clothes in dark colours for official functions, dinners, smart restaurants and hotels. Dress is usually stipulated on invitations. There is a tendency to formality, traditional courtesies and politeness. Best months for business visits are April to December.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800.

Cámara de Comercio de Santiago de Chile AG
Monjitas 392 (3rd floor), Santiago, Chile
Tel: (2) 360 7109.
Website: www.ccs.cl

Cámara Nacional de Comercio de Chile
Merced 230, Santiago, Chile
Tel: (2) 365 4391 or 4114 (in English).
Website: www.cnc.cl

Santiago Convention Bureau (Information on Conferences/Conventions)
Officina 64, Avenida El Bosque Norte 0140, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
Tel: (2) 333 8085 or 7977.
Website: www.scb.cl