NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, March 13, 2026, extended his congratulations to José Antonio Kast on his inauguration as the President of Chile. In a message shared on social media, the Prime Minister expressed a strong desire to collaborate with the new Chilean leader to elevate the “warm and friendly” bilateral relations between the two nations, with a particular focus on trade, technology, and energy.
“Warm congratulations to José Antonio Kast Rist on assuming the office of the President of Chile,” the Prime Minister stated. “I look forward to working closely with him to further strengthen our relations and to deepen our cooperation across trade, technology, and energy.”
Diplomatic Representation and Bilateral Momentum
India was formally represented at the inauguration ceremony in Santiago by Kirti Vardhan Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs, who visited Chile from March 10 to 12.
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High-Level Meetings: During his visit, Minister Singh held a bilateral meeting with President Kast and also interacted with the outgoing President, Gabriel Boric.
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Presidential Greetings: Singh conveyed best wishes from President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi, reaffirming India’s commitment to a robust partnership with the South American nation.
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Expanded Agenda: Both sides reached an agreement to broaden cooperation in several critical sectors, including health and pharmaceuticals, traditional medicine, science and technology, mining (specifically mineral exploration), space, and agriculture.
Focus on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
A significant highlight of the diplomatic exchange was the progress made in negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that both nations expressed satisfaction with the current trajectory of the talks, which are aimed at significantly boosting trade and economic ties.
Beyond traditional sectors, the discussions also touched upon emerging areas of collaboration, such as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), innovation, and green energy. This strategic engagement underscores Chile’s importance as a key partner for India in the Latin American region, particularly as both nations look to diversify their mineral and energy supply chains.
