Chilean Trade Commission office in Dubai

The new Chilean Foreign Trade Commission office in Dubai was opened this week by a delegation from the South American nation, which also met with members of the Dubai Chamber.

The delegation was led by Alicia Frohmann, Director of Foreign Trade Promotion at Chile's Ministry of Foreign Relations, and included Jean-Paul Tarud-Kuborn, Trade Commissioner of Chile in Dubai.

The delegation was received at Dubai Chamber by Director-General Hamad Buamim who said: "We welcome the new Trade Commission Office in Dubai and see this as a positive means of further developing trade ties with Chile.

"I also feel it is the right time now for the Chilean officials to open their Consulate General in the emirate of Dubai."

"It is also time we looked at exploring air and sea routes between Dubai and Chile as there is still no direct flight to the South American country," he said.

Buamim also said Dubai Chamber was planning a trade mission to Chile and other South American countries by the beginning of next year.

Dubai's non-oil foreign trade with Chile reached Dh406.3 million in 2007.

Although there are no direct Chilean-owned companies currently operating in Dubai, the country still ranked 84th on the list of Dubai's trade partners last year.