By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: As Malaysia prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, one of its most promising partners from across the Pacific — Chile — is quietly but steadily strengthening its presence in the region. From food and agriculture to aquaculture, clean energy, and innovation, Santiago views Kuala Lumpur as a crucial bridge into Asia’s fast-growing markets.

ProChile General-Director Ignacio Fernández expressed confidence in the future of bilateral cooperation between the two countries: “Malaysia is the third largest destination for Chilean exports within ASEAN,” he explained. 

“Nearly 40 percent of our exports already go to Asia, yet ASEAN as a whole represents less than one percent of our total trade. That means the potential for growth is tremendous — and Malaysia, with whom we already have a Free Trade Agreement, is at the center of that opportunity.”

ProChile is the export promotion agency of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dedicated to strengthening the country’s commercial presence in international markets. Through a global network of trade offices and representatives, ProChile supports Chilean companies in expanding abroad, diversifying exports, and attracting foreign investment. The agency plays a central role in promoting Chile’s goods and services — from agriculture, aquaculture, and mining to innovation and technology — while fostering international cooperation and sustainable trade practices that reflect Chile’s commitment to open, rules-based commerce.

Chile’s trade relationship with Malaysia, while modest in size, is dynamic and full of potential. It sits within a broader strategy that sees Chile diversifying its trade links beyond traditional partners in the Americas and Europe, toward Asia and the Pacific. Fernández said that the goal now is to deepen that engagement, particularly in areas where Chile has long been recognized as a global leader particularly in food, agriculture, aquaculture, and clean energy.

Chile is known around the world for the quality of its produce and seafood, a reflection of its vast and diverse geography which stretches from the arid Atacama Desert to the icy waters of Patagonia. Fernández said he hopes to see more Chilean flavors reaching Malaysian consumers. 

“We’d love Malaysians to enjoy more Chilean fruits, seafood, wines, and pisco which is our traditional grape-based spirit from northern Chile,” he said.

Chile is the world’s top exporter of fresh cherries, prunes, and plums, and ranks among the leading suppliers of walnuts, hazelnuts, peaches, and grapes. 

These products already enjoy strong demand in Asia’s established markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea. Malaysia, with its expanding middle class, diverse culinary culture, and growing demand for high-quality imports, represents the next logical step in Chile’s Asian growth strategy.

However, the partnership Chile envisions is not limited to commodities. Increasingly, the country is also exporting knowledge and technology with Fernández noting that Chile exported over USD 2.9 billion worth of services worldwide last year.

“We’ve built a network of specialized companies offering cutting-edge technologies in precision agriculture, clean mining, aquaculture management, and renewable energy. We believe many of these can benefit Malaysia.”

This transition from a resource-based economy to one driven by innovation has given Chile new confidence on the global stage. It also creates a stronger basis for long-term cooperation with Malaysia, one that extends beyond trade and into sustainable development and industrial modernization.

In the fisheries and aquaculture sector, for example, Chile is one of the world’s leading producers of farmed salmon and has decades of experience balancing productivity with environmental responsibility. 

Malaysia, which has ambitions to expand its own aquaculture industry, could gain valuable insights from Chile’s experience in fish breeding, feed technology, and disease management. “There are huge opportunities for cooperation,” Fernández said. 

“We’ve tested and refined many technologies in Chile that are now ready to be shared with Malaysia — especially in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries,” he added.

Both nations are also moving toward greener futures. Chile’s success in developing solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects has made it a model for clean-energy transformation, while Malaysia continues to invest heavily in renewable energy and sustainability. 

Fernández said this shared commitment to clean growth offers another natural area of collaboration.

Chile’s record of open, rules-based trade is another point of pride. With trade agreements covering about 88 percent of global GDP, the country has built a reputation as a reliable and transparent partner. 

“Chile has strong institutions and a business-friendly environment, and we want our partners including Malaysia to see us as reliable, transparent, and forward-looking. We believe that rules-based trade benefits everyone,” Fernández emphasized.

While ProChile’s mandate is primarily to promote exports, Fernández noted that Chile also imports a range of Malaysian goods, including fertilizers, rubber, furniture, and electronic equipment. This two-way exchange, he said, is what healthy trade relationships are built on.

Ultimately, the Chile–Malaysia connection is about more than commerce. It reflects a broader trend among nations of the Global South seeking to strengthen their own economic relationships in an increasingly multipolar world. 

Fernández said both countries share a common belief that cooperation, innovation, and mutual trust are the foundations of sustainable prosperity.

“Our two nations may be oceans apart,” he reflected, “but we share the same belief that cooperation, innovation, and trust are the foundation for a better, more secure future.”

As Malaysia takes on the ASEAN Chairmanship and Chile expands its reach across the Pacific, both countries appear poised to build a partnership that goes beyond trade. 

Together, they are laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration in food security, technology, and sustainability, helping bridge the Pacific not just through commerce, but through shared purpose and vision.