Querétaro and Chile Expand Trade Ties
Querétaro is one of the Mexican states offering opportunities to strengthen trade relations between Chile and Mexico, said Chile's ambassador to Mexico, Francisco Chahuán Chahuán. The goal is to increase bilateral trade by 20% and double it within four years.
As part of the embassy's efforts, the diplomatic mission analyzed the country's 32 states and identified potential areas of opportunity. Based on this assessment, it seeks to establish a sister-state relationship between Querétaro and Chile's Magallanes region, given the similarities between their economic ecosystems.
Potential areas for collaboration include science, technology, innovation, non-conventional renewable energy, aerospace, conservation, and tourism.
The embassy has initiated the process of establishing a sister-state relationship between Querétaro and Magallanes and has already requested authorization from the respective foreign ministries. The ambassador expects the relationship to help strengthen trade ties, with both sides planning to develop a roadmap to advance the initiative.
As part of the assessment, the embassy identified several factors in Querétaro that could support the partnership, including long-term plans with a 2050 vision, legal certainty, and a shared vision for economic development. The Magallanes region's economy grew 4.4% in 2025, exceeding Chile's national growth rate of 2.5%.
The ambassador also explained that the embassy intends to foster cooperation between the Querétaro Wine Cluster and Wines of Chile. This effort led to the signing of an agreement between the Mexican and Chilean wine industries aimed at increasing their market share.
A delegation of approximately 20 Chilean business leaders also visited Querétaro, including representatives from the National Petroleum Company (ENAP), the hotel industry, airlines, and salmon producers, among others.
Against this backdrop, the ambassador and other representatives participated in the third Coparmex Querétaro Foreign Trade Conference. Beatriz Hernández Rojas, president of Coparmex Querétaro, highlighted the opportunities created by the relationship between the two countries through the Free Trade Agreement, the Pacific Alliance, and other cooperation agreements.
Genaro Montes Díaz, Querétaro's deputy state director of Economic Development, highlighted tools such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which can benefit both Mexico and Chile.
“We have several complementary agreements with Chile. We have logistical capabilities in the Bajío region, production capacity in Querétaro, and an inland customs office that enables extremely fast customs clearance,” he said.
Currently, 961 Chilean companies export to Mexico.
