Today, ongoing developmental plans of the Port of Valparaiso present tremendous opportunities for Chinese investors, port operators and infrastructure developers.

The Port has been awarding concessions to leading global firms to operate and expand Terminals 1 and 2; allowing the Port to serve four Post Panamax vessels simultaneously.

Future projects include a new world-class passenger terminal, an inter modal station to handle increased transshipped rail cargo and a third 2.2 million twenty-foot equivalent (TEU) unit capacity terminal.

“These significant projects may eventually require a concessionaire to build and operate them,” says Davagnino. “We feel these projects could be attractive for Chinese investors looking for opportunities in Chile as both countries continue to strengthen their already very close relationship”.

With nine wineries across Chile amongst them, San Pedro, Tarapacá, Leyda and Santa Helena,VSPT Wine Group has become the leader of fine wine sales in the country. The Group is the second largest exporter of Chilean wine and today delivers some of Chile’s best wines to Asia.

The Group’s Viña San Pedro winery, founded in 1865, is the oldest Chilean large-scale winery. 2015 marks 150 years of viticulture with the winery’s renowned brands including Altaïr, 1865 Single Vineyard and GatoNegro. The winery commercialized its wines for the Asian market in 1940 when the Group first exported wines to Japan.

Viña Tarapacá, founded in 1874, is the number one winery for Ultra-Premium wines in Chile and its “Gran Reserva” has become a leading wine in Chile and abroad.

VSPT Wine Group’s Viña Leyda winery has won numerous awards and gained international recognition. The winery’s location in the region’s cool, coastal climate produces highly sought-after Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noirwines.

The Group continues to strengthen its ties to Asian markets and has significantly increased its sales in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.

“We have built our business on our solid business strategy,strong brands and quality products,” says Pedro Herane, VSPT Wine Group’s CEO. “As a global producer, we are today recognized both for our processes and the high quality of our wines”.

The Group currently exports wines to more than 80 countries and this year invested USD 35 million in vineyard plantations and the expansion of its main bottling plant – set to be the most modern in South America.
“This investment will allow us to double our production capacity,” says Herane. “Combined with our world-class infrastructure and technology, we look forward to competing more efficiently within the established and growing international wine markets”.

service firm, Carey is an effective bridge between jurisdictions and is committed to being the first point of contact for Chinese investment into Chile.

“The opening of our representative office in Beijing symbolizes our commitment to our China practice,” says Carey. “We are focused onopportunities in the Chinese market and fully expect Chile and China to further increase their business and trade ties in the years to come.”

Capricorn also has offices in Lima, Peru and Medellin, Colombia and will set up a new office in Sao Paulo, Brazil in the coming months.

Capricorn’s office in Guangzhou is dedicated to quality-control to ensure products are tested before they are shipped to Chile. “We support many large South American companies with offices in China who ask us to support them in monitoring suppliers from a quality and delivery perspective,” explains Argy. “We share our expertise and experience in China while connecting Chinese companies to partners in South America.”

As demand for Chinese products in South America continues to increase, Argy constantly evaluates suppliers looking to serve his customers in the region. “We are planning to establish joint venture projects with Chinese companies in Chile and are in discussion with large groups in China,” says Argy. “Today, Chinese companies are being encouraged to enter international markets and to import more foreign products into China. In both cases, they need international partners and we can fulfill that role for them.”

With a firm strategy in place Capricorn looks set to strengthen its relationship with China. Argy concludes, “The quality of Chinese made products continues to improve. In the beginning, we simply imported basic raw materials – today, we import high technology products. We will continue to grow in line with the reputation and quality of Chinese products.”

One of the largest forestry companies in the world employing over 13,000 people, ARAUCO has 30 global production facilities and a sales presence in over 80 countries. Charles Kimber, Arauco’s Senior Vice President of Commercial and Corporate Affairs shares his thoughts on business in China.

When did ARAUCO establish its business in China and how has it evolved?

ARAUCO started doing business with China in 1977 with sales of saw logs for the saw timber industry and wood pulp for the paper industry. Our annual pulp sales have increased to over one thousand million dollars, and important volumes of saw timber have been added to our product offering. When ARAUCO entered the Chinese market, our export products were shipped to only one port in China. Today, we have over 200 customers and deliver products to paper producers and wood product processors across the country.
ARAUCO is currently one of China’s main pulp suppliers and our continuous presence in the Chinese market for over 38 years has helped us build steady and trustworthy relationships in China.

What factors contributed to ARAUCO’s successes in China?

Gaining the trust of the Chinese market takes years of work and ARAUCO was able to pass that hurdle. However, maintaining trust is no less of a challenge. Since we have been in China, we have experienced the changes in the market. Initially we saw China as a spot market with significant variations. Today, customers in the Chinese market require agreements from suppliers that translate into annual sales programs. A key factor for our success in China has been the Country’s sustained growth rate. Chile and China have also driven and promoted alliances and agreements which have contributed to our strong and stable trade relationship.

What does the future hold?

China is ARAUCO’s largest market and our presence here is very important. The Chinese market has the greatest growth rates in the world in terms of wood pulp, paper consumption, and wood products in general. In addition to the Country being an exporter of finished products that require importing raw materials, there is huge potential in China for growth right across the domestic end-consumer market. Following our strategy and long term vision, ARAUCO will continue to support the growth of the Chinese paper and wood products industries with quality products and our reliable commercial partnership approach to doing business.

Viña Carta Vieja’s proud family heritage dates back to 1825 when Carlos Adolfo del Pedregal brought European grape vines from his native Asturias, Spain and planted them in Chile’s Loncomilla valley.

“Our family history can be found in every bottle of wine we produce,” says José Manuel del Pedregal Labbé, CEO of Vina Carta Vieja. “Our family lives and breathes the business and our quality wines are appreciated by our customers.”

‘Since 1825,’ ‘Origen’, ‘Aves del Sur’, ‘Carta Vieja’ and ‘G7’ are the Del Pedregal brands. Ninety-five percent of the wines produced are for exportand a third of these reach China and the rest of Asia.

“China was our first export destination in Asia and we established an office in Shanghai about three years ago as a result of the growth in the market,” says José Manuel del Pedregal Mujica, an eighth generation family member, son of the CEO and the Export Director of America and Europe. “Last year, we recognized the potential of the rest of Asia and moved our operations to Hong Kong.”

In China, the ‘Carta Vieja’ and ‘G7’ brands are gaining popularity. ‘Carta Vieja’ is the most emblematic brand while ‘G7’ represents the pride of seven generations of wine-making.

“We have changed the taste of these wines to make them even more enjoyable” says del Pedregal Labbé. “Our wines reveal the identity of Chile: cool, fresh whites and warm, intense reds.”

With anticipated growth in China and the rest of the world, the family recently bought a new farm and increased their total land area to 1,300 hectares.

“This increase in capacity means we are now self-sufficient in terms of grapes and technology,” says del Pedregal Mujica. “We intend to build our wine brands and deliver excellent wines to our customers in China and the rest of the world”.