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Chileans keen to muscle in on Australia

A NUMBER of Chilean contractors and government representatives are attending Mining & Engineering Western Australia in Perth this week.

Kristie Batten

Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, will be exhibiting on stand 1105 at the conference, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday this week at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The country is aiming to show its strength in mining services.

"Both mining history in Chile and collaboration with large international mining companies has enabled mining services based companies to export their experience and expertise,” Senior Trade Commissioner of Chile in Australia Silvana Gattini said.

“Given the high standard of the industry in Chile, these companies have a strong advantage: experience and knowledge."

Gattini says mining services account for around 10% of the country’s labour force, representing three times the employment generated by mining companies.

"This sector features higher levels of professional qualifications than that of the industry average, which grants the providers a larger potential for development and innovation,” she said.

“Chile has the talent and ambition to become a world class industry, not only in terms of mining resources but also across the entire value chain.

“From the government's perspective, we are supporting them in their internationalisation."

Three Chilean companies are participating in M&E WA – engineering firm Novamine, conveyor belt and tyre repair company Fourthane and mining consultancy Vantaz.

Gattini said Australia and Chile had a strong business relationship and cooperation, particularly in mining.

“This, in addition to initiatives such as the World Class Supplier program supported by BHP Billiton, the installation of the CSIRO Centre for Mining Excellence in Santiago and the opening of a Sustainable Minerals Institute from the University of Queensland in the south of Chile, generates an environment as to encourage more Chilean companies to do business in Australia and vice versa,” she said.

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