The growing demand for resources such as copper and lithium, the energy transition, and the development of artificial intelligence are opening up new opportunities for projects in various countries. In this context, Chile has unique strengths that enable it to play a significant role in addressing this challenge: it has natural resources and energy potential, as well as productive and technological capabilities and human capital.
But what makes Chile an attractive destination for investment today? As part of Enade 2026 (National Business Conference), Marca Chile spoke with officials, business leaders, and industry leaders to learn their perspectives on the opportunities the country offers and the conditions that could attract foreign investment.
This year, the 48th edition of the business conference was held under the theme “Tempus Invertendi: Time to Invest” and brought together representatives from the public and private sectors to discuss how to drive growth, build confidence, and create better conditions for the development of new projects.
A vast land of opportunities
Chile's geographic diversity presents an opportunity for the development of new industries and technologies. The conditions in the north for solar power generation and the development of data centers, along with the possibilities offered by marine ecosystems, agriculture, and food production, create an attractive environment for a variety of projects.
This was the view expressed by Ximena Lincolao, Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Knowledge, who highlighted the opportunities the country offers for developing solutions related to artificial intelligence, as well as the talent available here.
“Chile has competitive advantages due to its geography. We stretch as long as four European countries or as wide as the United States. That geographic diversity gives us the opportunity to test innovations in various climates and ecosystems. Consider northern Chile and the potential we have there with solar radiation, which also gives us the opportunity to build data centers. Southern Chile offers much more: Antarctica, the ocean—we’re a salmon-farming nation, the world’s second-largest producer—and we have a very strong agricultural sector as well as wine and pisco production. We’re known for these things, but within all these industries there are also opportunities for Physical AI,” says Lincolao.
These opportunities are also linked to the resources the world needs to move forward with its transformation processes. According to Alfredo Moreno, director of Codelco and former foreign minister, Chile is well-positioned to face the changes that are reshaping the global economy.
“Chile today could not be better positioned for what is happening in the world, which is undergoing a transformation unlike anything we have seen in perhaps more than 100 years, at an enormous pace—and what is needed is exactly what Chile has: clean energy, copper, lithium, and clean agricultural products that come from Chilean soil,” Moreno says.
Along the same lines, Bernardo Larraín Matte, a businessman and president of Empresas CMPC, highlighted the opportunities presented by sectors such as mining, energy, agriculture, and the forestry industry. “Chile has enormous potential. The world is demanding products derived from these natural resources, so Chile must present itself to the world with pride, showcasing all these natural resources that provide essential products for the energy transition, the deployment of artificial intelligence, and so on,” he said.
Clear Rules and Confidence to Invest
Institutional stability, legal certainty, and regulatory conditions are key factors when evaluating an investment destination. In this regard, Paulina Núñez, president of the Chilean Senate, highlighted the importance of Chile’s institutional framework for those considering developing projects in the country.
“Not only does Chile offer legal certainty, with clear rules for investors, but we also have a strong institutional framework—we have solid institutions, such as the peaceful transfer of power between presidents, which takes place with respect, and the deliberations in the National Congress. I think it’s very important for people to know that if they invest in Chile, we will have clear rules at every stage,” says Núñez.
Various perspectives agree that Chile has opportunities to strengthen its economic development, expand its participation in global markets, and attract investment, major projects, and talent—a scenario in which the initiative launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known as “Choose Chile,” takes on greater significance.
