• Chile’s Central Bank reported that the flow of foreign direct investment received between January and July of this year reached US$13.661 billion. The figure is the third highest for this period between 2003 and 2022. 

Chile’s Banco Central reported that the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) received between January and July of this year reached US$13.661 billion. The figure is the third highest for this period between 2003 and 2022 and 67% above the average for the last five years (US$8.179 billion).  

The accumulated flow to July of this year was 9% less than the total recorded for the same period in 2021, when FDI reached US$14.985 billion. InvestChile, Chile’s Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, explained that this drop in investment is circumstantial, considering the high basis of comparison – motivated by an unusual FDI flow of US$5.823 billion in February 2021 – related to specific procurement operations.  

The FDI flow reached US$2.144 billion for July, a figure that is above the US$1.161 billion monthly average for the last twelve months.  

The most important component of FDI flow during the period was the reinvestment of profits, which registered US$5,277 billion. Equity holdings reached US$5.236 billion and debt securities reached US$3.147 billion.  

Dynamic foreign investment  

Executive director of InvestChile, Karla Flores, gave a positive assessment of the figures, in particular because “they have occurred in a context of high uncertainty in the global economy.” Furthermore, she pointed out that the agency’s efforts during this period of the year are being focused on attracting investment. In addition to the economic effect, this generates a positive impact on the population, as they are giving priority to investment projects related to clean energy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and technological infrastructure, which can contribute to creating quality jobs. 

“This month, we will go on an investment promotion tour to Europe, and in December we will hold the VI InvestChile International Forum. Through these two events, we want to continue encouraging the arrival of quality foreign investment to our country,” Ms. Flores said.