HE, Mr. Julio Bravo, Ambassador of Chile–”Investment opportunities have been identified in Romania in technology, renewable energy, and future-oriented industries.”
Chile–Romania Economic Cooperation: Opportunities in Technology and Investment
Chile and Romania share strategic priorities—innovation, digitalization, productive diversification, and energy transition—that create a natural space to deepen economic cooperation. In this context, ProC[1]hile* is driving a strategy to strengthen bilateral trade, attract investment, and promote technological partnerships that benefit companies and entrepreneurs in both nations.
- Strategy and Objectives for Trade and Investment Relations
Chile’s mission in Romania aims to build a modern, technology-driven economic link focused on innovation, leveraging the Chile–European Union trade framework. The recent modernization of this agreement will foster a more favorable environment for goods, services, and digital commerce.
Key objectives:
- Leverage Chile–EU agreements to facilitate Chilean companies’ access to the European market through Romania, especially in global services, software exports, and digital solutions.
- Promote collaboration in strategic technology areas, such as artificial intelligence for mining and energy, cybersecurity, IoT, industrial automation, fintech, and GovTech.
- Encourage joint investment and technology projects through B2B agendas, matchmaking platforms, and cooperation among innovation clusters.
- Position Chile as a gateway to Latin America for Romanian startups and companies seeking regional expansion.
The focus is on exploiting complementarities: Chile as a regional leader in mining, renewable energy, and agri-food, and Romania as a European hub for software, IT services, and digitalization.
- Shared directions for bilateral trade growth
The Chile–EU Interim Trade Agreement, effective since February 2025, modernizes disciplines on digital trade, services, and interoperability, creating an advanced regulatory framework that facilitates technological exchange and reduces operational barriers for businesses in both countries.
Areas with strong joint growth potential include:
- Industrial digitalization for mining and energy (IoT, AI, cybersecurity)
- Fintech and payment systems
- GovTech initiatives to modernize public procurement and government services
- Agri-food tech projects to improve traceability, logistics, and agricultural optimization
- Technologies for renewable energy, smart grids, and green hydrogen
In terms of trade, Romania imported US$13.74 million from Chile in 2024, while Chile imported US$29.14 million from Romania.
- Chile’s exports to Romania (2024): A basket ready for diversification
According to ProChile’s Market Intelligence Department, Chile’s non-copper, non-lithium exports to Romania reached US$12.38 million in 2024, mainly concentrated in food products, but showing signs of growth in manufacturing and services.
Export composition (2024):
- Agricultural: US$6.36 million (51.39%)
- Fisheries & aquaculture: US$4.14 million (33.44%)
- Forestry: US$835,961 (6.75%)
- Manufacturing: US$580,538 (4.69%)
- Services: US$347,398 (2.81%)
- Wine: US$113,735 (0.92%)
Top exported products:
- Pork meat: US$4.64 million
- Mussels: US$2.06 million
- Salmon & trout: US$1.81 million
- Cardboard: US$834,590
- Fresh peaches & nectarines: US$515,512
- Mechanical machinery: US$493,754
- Services: US$347,398
- Fresh fruits (kiwis, plums, grapes): ~US$700,000
These figures confirm clear opportunities to diversify into manufacturing, global services, technologies, and industrial solutions, especially given Romania’s strong demand for digitalization.
- Investment Opportunities in Romania
Romania has established itself as a technology hub in Central and Eastern Europe, recognized for its technical talent, competitive costs, and rapid growth. For Chilean companies, the country offers opportunities in information technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, as well as an attractive ecosystem for global services and software development.
The energy sector also presents possibilities in renewable energy, smart grid digitalization, and green hydrogen technologies. Automotive and e-mobility are additional areas of potential, especially considering Chile’s strategic role as a supplier of copper and lithium.
Romania’s IT industry exceeded €17.7 billion in 2024, with foreign direct investment (FDI) stock between €120–125 billion and annual inflows of about €5.6 billion. While Chile’s specific share of FDI remains limited, there are clear opportunities for expansion through joint innovation projects in renewable energy, digital transformation, and industrial technology.
- Advanced Cooperation in Innovation and Startups
A strategic priority is the creation of a bilateral dual-landing program connecting Start-Up Chile with Romanian accelerators such as Techcelerator, alongside European instruments like PNRR and Horizon Europe. This initiative would allow startups from both countries to access internationalization opportunities with local support, specialized financing, workspace, investor connections, and technology piloting.
Chile and Romania have solid foundations to build a modern economic agenda based on innovation, technology, and high-value trade. The modernization of the Chile–EU agreement, Romania’s dynamic tech ecosystem, and Chile’s growing export diversification create a real opportunity to deepen trade and investment ties.
