CHILE UPDATES #11
Everywhere You Look
Everywhere You Look
August 15, 2013
It really is non-stop down here in Chile these days. I’m not talking about people being workaholics though, compared to your average America, Brit, or Northern European, people in Chile still like to take their time with things.
I’m talking about the country’s continued development and popularity, which is becoming more and more apparent everywhere you look.
Foreign Investment
-Just a couple of weeks ago, Chile registered the largest amount of Chinese foreign direct investment through the D.L. 600 law in the country ever.
-This month BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are beginning work on a $3.43 billion USD desalination project that will take 4 years to construct and provide a LOT of new engineering jobs.
-First Solar has announced it will be building 1.5 gigawatts worth of solar capacity in Chile’s northern desert over the next several years (I know solar isn’t always the most cost effective solution but with the unique dynamics of energy costs in Chile’s Atacama desert, it’s actually quite competitive).
Connectivity
-It’s been announced that last year, wireless internet connection in Chile increased by 62% and should be making a significant jump again this year.
Construction and Road Improvements
-With the winter season more than half over, a lot of projects are getting prepped for work to be started or resumed and the amount of construction is absolutely astounding. This is all good news for those with real estate investments scattered throughout the country, particularly the central regions.
Next week, a LONG list of private equity, real estate, and investment firms will be visiting Santiago for the Chilean Investors Forum, put on by Latin Markets. Attending will be one of Chile’s ex-presidents, Start-Up Chile’s executive director, the vice presidents of Chile’s Foreign Investment Committee and CORFO, as well as yours truly.
I’ll send out a quick message next week as to how it went.
I’m talking about the country’s continued development and popularity, which is becoming more and more apparent everywhere you look.
Foreign Investment
-Just a couple of weeks ago, Chile registered the largest amount of Chinese foreign direct investment through the D.L. 600 law in the country ever.
-This month BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are beginning work on a $3.43 billion USD desalination project that will take 4 years to construct and provide a LOT of new engineering jobs.
-First Solar has announced it will be building 1.5 gigawatts worth of solar capacity in Chile’s northern desert over the next several years (I know solar isn’t always the most cost effective solution but with the unique dynamics of energy costs in Chile’s Atacama desert, it’s actually quite competitive).
Connectivity
-It’s been announced that last year, wireless internet connection in Chile increased by 62% and should be making a significant jump again this year.
Construction and Road Improvements
-With the winter season more than half over, a lot of projects are getting prepped for work to be started or resumed and the amount of construction is absolutely astounding. This is all good news for those with real estate investments scattered throughout the country, particularly the central regions.
Next week, a LONG list of private equity, real estate, and investment firms will be visiting Santiago for the Chilean Investors Forum, put on by Latin Markets. Attending will be one of Chile’s ex-presidents, Start-Up Chile’s executive director, the vice presidents of Chile’s Foreign Investment Committee and CORFO, as well as yours truly.
I’ll send out a quick message next week as to how it went.
