JAN. 1, 2019

President Piñera attends the presidential inauguration in Brazil and meets with President Jair Bolsonaro

The President of Chile met with the newly inaugurated President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday. The two discussed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and promoting regional development.

On Tuesday, President Sebastián Piñera traveled to Brazil to attend the inauguration of President Jair Bolsonaro. He also had a bilateral meeting with the new president - the only one granted to another president that day.

“We are making progress on a collaboration agreement for matters related to clean and renewable energy, as well as making better use of water,” said President Piñera. He added, “we have already agreed to build a bi-oceanic corridor that begins in Puerto Murtinho, runs through Paraguay and northern Argentina, and reaches three ports in northern Chile.”

The President also announced an agreement “for a Free Trade Agreement with Brazil and we will work with President Bolsonaro to expedite Congressional approval in both countries”.

Brazil is Chile’s third largest trade partner, its biggest in Latin America. In 2017, trade between Chile and Brazil exceeded US$9 billion.

President Piñera announced that President Bolsonaro would be visiting Chile during a day marked by bilateral meetings with other presidents.

On his way to Brazil, President Piñera met with the President of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, aboard the presidential aircraft, and then, in Brasilia, with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.