Havana, sep 2 (Prensa Latina) A delegation of Chilean authorities and businesspeople starts today a visit to Cuba as part of a mission to expand links with the island and explore new opportunities for investment and trade.
With a wide work agenda until next Saturday, September 5, together with officials, there will be some 25 companies plus representatives from Chilean tradeunions, plus eight small and medium enterprises coordinated by ProChile, the export promotion agency of the southern nation.

A note published here says the delegation will be headed by Foreign Relations Minister of Chile, Heraldo Muñoz.

The delegation also includes the director general of International Economic Relations of the Foreign Ministry, Andrés Rebolledo and Herman von Mühlenbrock, president of the Society of Industrial Promotion, one of the most important business organizations of Chile, among other enterprises.

It is important to highlight that last year Chile made a successful public-private visit to the island

On that occasion, 15 Chilean enterprises had about 50 business meetings, says the note.

This is due to the new Cuban foreign investment law that is attracting interest in the Chilean private sector, considering its incentives regime, guarantees and legal security for the investor that promotes foreign capital wanting to profit from it.

To that is added a Special Development Zone of Mariel, first of its kind with a very modern infrastructure for investors.

Chile has with Cuba an Economic Complementation Agreement, which governs the trade links between both countries.

On this occasion, authorities of both nations will hold a meeting of the Management Commission of this agreement, in order to profit from the opportunities offered to increase
bilateral trade relations.

The event Flavors of Chile will also take place at the Melia Havana Hotel, with 150 guests and a visit of Chilean businesspeople to the Special Development Zone of Mariel is in the program.

Trade turnout between Chile and Cuba amounted to 42 million dollars in 2014. In that year, Chilean exports to Cuba totaled 36 million dollars.

These consisted mainly of food, specially frozen fish.

Meanwhile, imports from Cuba amounted to six million dollars, mainly of rum.

During 2014, some 63 Chilean companies exported to Cuba about5 240 different products.