Canadian business leader meets with four ministers on first visit to Chile

Written by Francisca Schwerter | May 16, 2025 9:34:50 PM

The visit by Goldy Hyder, President of the Business Council of Canada, included meetings with four government ministers and representatives from the public and private sectors, in an agenda focused on strengthening economic ties between Chile and Canada.

Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada (BCC), undertook an intensive schedule of activities in Chile as part of his first visit to South America in this role.

The agenda was organized by the Chilean-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy of Canada to Chile, the Embassy of Chile to Canada, and InvestChile.

The Business Council of Canada is a business association that brings together chief executives and entrepreneurs of over 17 leading Canadian companies, representing all sectors and regions of the country.

Together, they manage over CAD 7.5 trillion in assets and generate annual revenues of over CAD 1.2 trillion. Additionally, they are responsible for a significant portion of the country’s exports, investments, and skilled employment.

Hyder was accompanied by Daniela Lombardo, Trade Policy Analyst at the BCC, and Pierre Alarie, Region Chair of ATCO Latin America.

Day 1: Economic outlook, investments, and bilateral relations

The visit began with an overview of the current economic situation at Scotiabank’s offices in Santiago, led by Jorge Selaive, the bank’s chief economist, and Rodrigo Wagner, Macroeconomic Coordinator at the Ministry of Finance. Diego Masola, Scotiabank’s Executive Vice President and CEO for Chile and Uruguay, also took part in the discussion.

Next, a roundtable was held with senior executives from Chilean companies that focused on investment flows, trade dynamics, strategic sectors, and the impact of the current global geopolitical situation.

During lunch, the history and importance of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement was discussed.

Guests included former Minister of Finance Eduardo Aninat, former Deputy Director-General and Ambassador to the WTO Alejandro Jara Puga—who were both involved in the negotiations—and Senator Ricardo Lagos Weber.

Later, executives from Canadian companies operating in Chile shared their experiences at a second roundtable with Hyder, before holding a bilateral meeting with Minister of Finance, Mario Marcel.

Day 2: Mining, energy, and business cooperation

The second day began with a visit to Teck Resources Limited’s Integrated Operations Center, which monitors the entire production chain of the Quebrada Blanca mine. The delegation was welcomed by Amparo Cornejo, Teck’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

Additionally, the BCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation for Production and Commerce (CPC), aimed at strengthening collaboration between business associations in both countries.

This was followed by a lunch with Chilean business leaders at the offices of Carey, a law firm with extensive experience in advising international companies.

The day ended with a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Energy, Diego Pardow, to discuss energy investment and sustainability issues.

Day 3: Institutional strengthening and future vision

The final day of the visit began with a meeting with José Miguel Benavente, Executive Vice President of the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO), followed by a meeting with the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gloria de la Fuente, and the team from the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations (SUBREI).

Later, Hyder held a dialogue with representatives from Chilean state-owned copper mining company Codelco, and ended his visit with a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Public Works, Jessica López.

Strategic investment

Since 2018, Canada has been the leading source country for foreign direct investment in Chile. In 2023, InvestChile established an office in Ottawa, led by Investment Commissioner Francisco Appelgren, further strengthening the bilateral relationship.

In line with its mission, InvestChile will continue to support these high-level initiatives that contribute to positioning the country as a reliable, competitive, and sustainable destination for foreign investment.

View full post