Background
Chilean South-South cooperation is coordinated by the Agencia de Cooperación Internacional (AgCI) Chilean Agency for International Cooperation established in 1990 under coordination of the Ministry of Cooperation and Plannification of Chile. In 2005, the agency has passed through reforms and its coordination was given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country strengthening its role in promote technical and economical cooperation with developing world as well with partners in the developed world and international organizations in triangular basis. The objectives of AGCI are to reinforce the national system of international cooperation; to contribute to the compliment of targets of Chilean external policy, to open new opportunities for cooperation in complementation to priorities of national public policies and fourth, to strengthen the formation of high level human capital. Chilean experts contribute with their experiences and failures in distinct areas where the country has succeeded. Key areas of action of AGCI are good governance, reform of state, science and technology, educational development at university level. The Agency also contributes with knowledge on the formulation of projects to other public institutions. Chilean cooperation has benefited mainly Latin American and Caribbean countries among others.
Examples of Key Projects of Chile
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Agriculture
(CAS)
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Chile is a member of the CAS Consejo Agropecuario del Sur (Southern Agricultural Council) which comprises Mercosur countries and Bolivia (associate member) created in 2003 with technical support of IICA Inter-American Council for Agriculture. The CAS is a ministerial forum for consultation and coordination of regional action on the field of agriculture. CAS is providing a valuable platform for dialogue and exchange of experiences and expertise among its members. Chile and its well-know advanced agricultural field plays a key role on this innovative initiative. |
| Education and training |
Chile offers post-graduate students grants for students coming from developing countries in a range of areas. In addition, there are specific programmes such as the Programme República de Chile directed to Latin American Countries and Hispanic Caribbean. Another similar programme is dedicated to the English speaking countries of the Caribbean. Chile also granted scholarships for professionals from the English speaking Caribbean aiming their participation at the International Seminar for Spanish Language which provides methodology for teaching Spanish benefiting professionals from Antigua y Barbuda, Barbados, Belice, Dominica, Jamaica, Santa Lucía, Suriname, y Trinidad y Tobago. Chine organizes also short term courses, especially for regional countries and in triangular cooperation with JICA and the South Korean Cooperation Agency (KOIKA). The course included environment, social inclusion and agricultural issues. |
| Trade and investments |
Chile is one of most inserted countries in global trade which have created opportunities for many developing countries not only on the regional level but also for other parties of the world. Chile is associated member of Mercosur and founding member of the UNASUR- Union of Nations of South America. The country has also developed strong trade relations with Asian countries in a range of sectors, in particular with ASEAN countries. The country has also increased investments in the region. | Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile Homepages: http://www.minrel.gov.cl and http://www.agci.cl
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