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Chile tops the list in Latin America for political security, fiscal policy, transparency and business atmosphere, following 30 years of stable growth and democracy.
Chile also ranks among the world's leading mining nations, producing over a third of the global copper output and a large number of other minerals. Progressive legislation and a healthy investment environment have made Chile the mining capital of Latin America.
- Population: 16,888,760 (July 2011 est.)
- GDP: $257.9 billion (2010 est.)
- Real Growth Rate: 5.3% (2010 est.)
- Exports $64.28 billion (2010 est.)
- Chile's coastline stretches roughly 4300 km in length
- Chile is never more than around 175 km wide east to west
While Alberta, Canada was named as the top destination for investment from mining companies by a Canadian Frazer Institute report published in 2011, survey respondents were also asked to rank current mineral potential assuming current regulations and land use restrictions. Chile ranked number one in that category.
The country is regarded in the Frazer Institute report as "the only jurisdiction outside of North America that consistently ranks in the top 10" for overall mining viability.
The mining sector in Chile is one of the pillars of the Chilean economy and copper exports alone stand for more than one third of total government income. Most mining in Chile is concentrated in the Norte Grande region spanning most of the Atacama Desert. Products other than copper include gold, silver, molybdenum, iron and a series of industrial minerals products.
Chile is a safe and secure place to do business, with strong institutions and laws to protect investors. Investors and economists alike suggest that Chile is the best place in Latin America to do business.
The Chilean Economic Development Agency, Corfo, is a useful source of information and support for foreign investors (external website).
Some Chilean Advantages:
- Highly productive Andean geology receptive for a wide variety of "World Class" deposits -- not least for copper and precious metals
- World's top producer and exporter of copper by volume and value
- Also world's top producer of natural nitrates, iodine and lithium, the world's 3rd largest producer of molybdenum, and the world's 7th largest producer of silver
- The Atacama Desert of northern Chile, where most mining activity takes place, is sparsely populated and mining is the principal activity
- One of Latin America's fastest growing economies
- Stable political and fiscal environment that encourages foreign investment
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