News: India and Chile aim to conclude CEPA negotiations by end-2026 to deepen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Proposed CEPA

• Trade & Investment: Greater market access → increased trade and investment.
• Technology: Promote technological cooperation.
• Human Capital: Strengthen talent and skill cooperation.
• Supply Chains: Build resilient and diversified supply chains.
• Critical Minerals: Strengthen India’s access to copper + lithium, vital for EVs, batteries, electronics and renewable energy.

Why Chile Matters to India?

• Copper: Chile → world’s leading copper producer.
• Lithium: Major global producer with significant lithium resources/reserves.
• Strategic Value: Critical minerals → energy transition + manufacturing + supply-chain security.
• Latin America: Stronger Chile ties → wider Indian economic engagement with the region.

Chile: Key Geography

• Location: Long, narrow South American country along the Pacific coast, between the Andes and Pacific Ocean.
• Neighbours: Peru + Bolivia + Argentina; Drake Passage lies to the south.
• Capital: Santiago.
• Climate: Atacama Desert (North) → Mediterranean (Central) → cool & wet (South).
• Atacama: Driest non-polar desert in the world.
• Loa River: Chile’s longest river.
• Ojos del Salado: World’s highest active volcano.
• Ring of Fire: High seismic and volcanic activity due to Nazca Plate subduction beneath the South American Plate.