Chile is expected to boost its global trade relationships and attract more foreign investment in its lithium industry with the unveiling of a new lithium strategy by President Gabriel Boric's administration. According to Claudia Sanhueza, Chile's deputy trade minister, the government is in talks with over 40 investors from more than a dozen countries interested in investing in the country's lithium industry. Sanhueza refused to provide more specific details.
The new plan is designed to enhance the state's intervention in public-private partnerships, ensuring environmental protection, and increasing value-added benefits. The plan seeks to achieve its goals by giving the state a controlling stake in these partnerships while still attracting private capital.
Lithium is a critical metal in the global clean-energy transition, and Chile has the world's largest reserves of it. Sanhueza recognizes that the country's biggest challenge moving forward is to add value to what is extracted. She believes that the lithium strategy will deepen Chile's economic partnerships and trade relationships with other countries around the world.
In conclusion, Chile looks to strengthen its lithium industry by expanding its global trade relationships and attracting foreign investment while also intensifying state intervention to maximize environmental protection and increase value-added benefits. With the unveiling of their new plan, Chile expects to make significant progress towards its goal of adding more value to its extracted lithium.