• Chilean authorities presented the country’s concessions portfolio in Rome, highlighting the tender for the Alto Hospicio-Iquique cable car, a key project for urban connectivity in northern Chile.

As part of InvestChile Week Europe 2025, Chile’s Minister of Public Works, Jessica López—together with InvestChile Director, Karla Flores, and Acting Director of Concessions, Claudio Soto—led a full agenda of investment promotion activities in Rome, focused on the development of public infrastructure through public-private partnerships.

These included the seminar “Opportunities for Italian Companies in Chile: Infrastructure Focus,” held at the Embassy of Chile in Italy, which outlined the opportunities that Chile offers to European investors, particularly in the area of public concessions. The event was attended by Italian authorities, representatives from the construction sector, and companies interested in expanding into Latin America.

In her remarks, Jessica López highlighted the launch of the international tender for the Alto Hospicio-Iquique cable car, a milestone marking the first official step toward implementing this urban connectivity project in northern Chile. With an estimated investment of US$126 million, the cable car will span 3.5 miles and connect Alto Hospicio with Iquique in just 16 minutes, benefiting thousands of people daily and significantly reducing travel times.

This project forms part of the Ministry of Public Works’ 2025–2026 concessions portfolio, which covers 15 new initiatives valued at over US$7.8 billion including roadworks, prisons, urban transport, and the Valparaíso-Santiago train.

Dialogue between Italy and Chile

InvestChile Director, Karla Flores, gave a presentation on the country’s economic outlook and competitive advantages, highlighting Chile’s institutional stability, openness to trade, and the government’s sustainable growth strategy. Meanwhile, Claudio Soto, provided a detailed overview of Chile’s concessions system and its upcoming tenders, highlighting its solidity and over 30 years of experience, with clear rules and extensive participation of international companies.

In this regard, the Director of InvestChile highlighted the recent release of the World Competitiveness Ranking, in which Chile climbed two positions, reaching its highest level in five years. “This is excellent news, and it also reflects the feedback we’ve received from our conversations with foreign investors during this roadshow. Chile is the most competitive country in the region, and it offers outstanding conditions for foreign investment. Combined with our investment opportunities in high-potential sectors, this presents a strong case for companies looking to relocate their operations in Latin America,” she remarked.

The event was inaugurated by the Chilean Ambassador to Italy, Ennio Vivaldi, and the Director General for the Promotion of the Italy Country System, Mauro Battocchi. Also participating were Juan Eduardo Chackiel, Head of the Financial Analysis Division at the General Directorate of Concessions, and Francisca Müller, InvestChile’s Investment Commissioner in Italy, together with officials from Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and Orlando Sillano, Vice President of the Chilean Chamber of Construction, who discussed reforms, regulatory frameworks, and collaboration opportunities.

During the event, López held bilateral meetings with leading Italian companies in the infrastructure sector, such as Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Fincantieri Infrastrutture Sociali, and ACWA Power, among others. She also had an institutional meeting with Italy’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, to strengthen public sector cooperation.

The agenda in Rome forms part of InvestChile Week Europe 2025, an investment promotion roadshow organized by InvestChile featuring more than 40 activities in London, Paris, Berlin, Zurich, Milan, Rome, and Madrid with the goal of positioning Chile as a strategic destination for foreign investment in key sectors such as infrastructure, green hydrogen, electromobility, and critical minerals.