Minister Prokurica meets with 23 SMEs that use copper in novel ways, encourages them to export know-how
ProChile also participated in the meeting, which addressed the need to enhance innovation and promote the health applications of copper as well as the possibility of opening new markets for Chilean SMEs that use copper nanoparticles or microparticles to fight COVID-19.
Chilean entrepreneurs and SMEs are exploring limitless possibilities for health applications of copper, including research and innovation to produce copper nanoparticles or microparticles, manufacturing general and personal hygiene supplies, plaques for door handles, face protectors, masks, key chains, mobile phone cases and even clothing.
To support and raise awareness of this emerging industry, Mining Minister Baldo Prokurica, Undersecretary Iván Cheuquelaf and Director-General for ProChile Jorge O’Ryan met with 23 representatives from Chilean SMEs to address the challenges ahead and the possibility of opening international markets for these made-in-Chile products.
The entrepreneurs are already exporting their products containing copper nanoparticles to other countries, including the United States, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Seven SMEs applied to a business matching forum with Dubai. The city needs to disinfect public spaces and government offices and is interested in hiring Chilean companies.
“We have seen entrepreneurs who have taken copper, a product that is so much a part of who we are, and added know-how to fight the pandemic and diseases and to protect human health,” said Minister Prokurica following the meeting.
The Mining Minister emphasized “President Piñera’s administration is making a tremendous effort to go from being a country that exports raw materials to a country that also exports know-how. That is what we want to do in Chilean mining: export to suppliers and export this type of product, which is higher on the value chain. From a technological point of view, these products are a significant leap in Chilean technology and know-how.”
The Director-General for ProChile, Jorge O’Ryan noted that the entity “aims to increase and diversify our exportable offer, adding value through innovative, high-technology products. Expanding the offering to include the health applications of copper fully upholds and aligns with this purpose and has piqued interest in international markets. We have already had some concrete positive experiences.”
He added that 20 Chilean companies have had preliminary talks with Spain and Germany, “markets, in addition to Australia, where we will be working in 2021 to create opportunities for these innovative Chilean products.”
Mining Undersecretary Iván Cheuquelaf added that “opportunities like this, where we can learn about some of the challenges facing Chilean entrepreneurs, are essential to developing better mining. The meeting was held in the context of drafting the 2050 National Mining Policy, a roadmap that aims to move toward increasingly sustainable mining where innovation and adding value to copper, our main export material, are essential factors.”
Through the Sustainable Development Division, led by Patricio Valdés, the Mining Ministry will aim to guide entrepreneurial ventures that research, innovate, produce and manufacture copper-based products and/or services with health applications as they venture into the domestic or export market.
The Ministry will also aim to highlight the added value in the products and/or services that have been created and to coordinate with other public and private institutions to position Chile as an expert producer of copper products with health applications.