Jadoon, Chilean FM discuss bilateral cooperation in mineral, petrochemical
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon, who is currently visiting Chile called on Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto Van Klaveren in Santiago and discussed ways and means to further strengthening the existing level of bilateral cooperation in diversified fields particularly, in minerals and petrochemicals.
Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Jam Muhammad Yousaf and other members of the delegation were also present, said a press release received here on Monday.
Welcoming the delegation, the Chilean Foreign Minister termed the visit as high point of bilateral relations which would further strengthen the already existing ties between the two countries.
He said that government of Chile attaches great importance to the Reko Diq copper project being undertaken by the best reputed Chilean Company - M/s Antofagasta.
Government of Balochsitan holds 25% shares in the said project whereas Antofagasta of Chile and Barrack Gold of Canada hold the rest 75% in equal proportion.
This immense investment which could be more than a billion dollars by the Chilean private sector copper mining company and the other joint venture partners is reflective of Chile’s faith in the political and economic stability of Pakistan and appreciation of the economic reforms of liberalization and deregulation by the Government of Pakistan.
This could be trailblazer for greater investments from Chile as well as other countries of Latin America, the Chilean Foreign Minister said. Reciprocating his sentiment, the Minister for Petroleum expressed the hope that the implementation of the Reko Diq project would firmly place Pakistan on the world mineral map and open new vistas of mutually beneficial cooperation between countries.
He was sanguinely optimistic in his views that the success of the project would even lead to attract investment from the other Latin American countries and bring Pakistani people closer to the people of thispart of the world.
The Reko Diq venture would prove a flagship project of the Chilean private sector company and this would provide tremendous amount of opportunity to move further in the neighboring countries for exploration of mineral resources with their hard earned par excellence technical expertise and experience in the copper mining spread over several decades.
The Chilean Foreign Minister stressed the need for opening up of resident missions in both the countries which would promote enhanced people to people contact and overcome problems in issuance of visa.