The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Chile enters into force today
Abu Dhabi, November 24 / WAM / The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Chile officially entered into force today, in a step that represents a qualitative shift in the course of economic relations between the two countries.
The agreement aims to enhance trade exchange and create new investment opportunities in key sectors, reflecting the aspirations of the two countries towards achieving joint and sustainable economic growth.
The agreement, which went into effect today, builds on a solid foundation of trade prosperity between the two countries, as the volume of non-oil foreign trade between the UAE and Chile during the past year reached $270 million, and rose during the first half of 2025 to $153 million, with an annual growth of 7.1%.
With the entry into force of the agreement, the volume of trade exchange is expected to exceed $500 million annually in the coming years, driven by improved market access and enhanced cooperation in key sectors.
His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, expressed his optimism about the positive effects of the start of implementation of the agreement, saying that the entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Chile represents an important milestone in trade and investment relations between the two friendly countries, and paves the way for more cooperation and investment opportunities in vital sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure.
He added that the agreement reinforces the joint commitment to implementing an open, rules-based trading system, which is essential for achieving common economic goals.
Chile, with a GDP exceeding $300 billion, has strong sectors in manufacturing, financial services, energy, tourism and agriculture, and is one of the most prominent producers of copper and lithium in the world, providing great opportunities for Emirati investors.
In this context, the agreement aims to enhance the mutual flow of investments and build on existing Emirati investments in Chile, such as the Abu Dhabi Holding Company’s recent acquisition of Verfrut, one of the most prominent fruit exporters, in addition to the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s investment in the MUT (Mercado Urbano Tobalaba) project, which is the first urban market in Chile.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Chile will consolidate the UAE’s position as a global supply chain hub linking South America to markets in Africa, Europe and Asia.
In addition to facilitating trade in goods, the agreement will also expand trade in services and stimulate new opportunities in the areas of logistics, maritime services, travel, tourism and aviation.
The agreement is also expected to accelerate investment in vital infrastructure, such as roads and ports, and support the UAE’s food security goals by enhancing cooperation in the agricultural sector.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Program forms an essential part of the UAE’s foreign trade strategy, which aims to raise the total value of trade to reach one trillion dollars by 2031, and double the size of the economy to exceed $800 billion in the same year.
Since its launch in September 2021, the program has succeeded in reaching 32 agreements covering 53 countries, which contributed to strengthening trade relations and expanding the access of Emirati companies to markets representing approximately a quarter of the world’s population.
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