Ignacio Fernández, General Director of ProChile, is one of the central figures leading Chile’s international expansion strategy and promoting its transformation into a global player in innovation, technology, and services. With a long career in foreign trade and economic diplomacy, Fernández has been instrumental in forging the country’s new positioning beyond its traditional exports of copper, wine, and fruit — showcasing Chile as a reliable and innovative partner for markets seeking technological and sustainable solutions.
In this exclusive conversation with LatinGulf.ae, Fernández reflects on Chile’s growing role as an exporter of knowledge and innovation, explains the country’s participation in the Innovation Summit Chile–Dubai 2025, and outlines how the UAE and Gulf region represent the next frontier for Chilean talent, entrepreneurship, and investment.
Chile is advancing in the internationalization of its knowledge economy. How do you assess the country’s global position in the export of technology-based services and innovation solutions, and what opportunities do you see for scaling this offer to markets like the United Arab Emirates?
First of all, it’s important to highlight the remarkable progress Chile has made in exporting services. While the country is globally recognized for its mining, wine, seafood, and fruit exports, these productive sectors — combined with several other factors — have given rise to a wide range of service providers, driving a significant leap in this area.
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