<\/p>\n
En medio de reuniones tendientes a fortalecer los v\u00ednculos comerciales y pol\u00edticos con Estados Unidos, el nuevo Embajador de Chile en ese pa\u00eds, Juan Gabriel Vald\u00e9s, se dio un tiempo para participar, el 24 de abril pasado, de la Junta Anual de Socios de AmCham. La ceremonia estuvo presidida por la presidenta de la C\u00e1mara Chilena Norteamericana de Comercio, Kathleen Barclay, quien dio a conocer la cuenta anual, refiri\u00e9ndose, adem\u00e1s, a la nueva estrategia de modernizaci\u00f3n de AmCham.<\/p>\n
El diplom\u00e1tico, por su parte, comenz\u00f3 recordando lo que hab\u00eda sido su participaci\u00f3n en las negociaciones del Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) y reflexion\u00f3 sobre c\u00f3mo hab\u00eda cambiado nuestro pa\u00eds en este per\u00edodo. A diez a\u00f1os de haberse firmado el TLC, el embajador reconoci\u00f3 los beneficios obtenidos por el tratado, como as\u00ed tambi\u00e9n los logros alcanzados en materia econ\u00f3mica. Sin embargo, aclar\u00f3 que a pesar de los avances, existen demandas sociales actuales, vinculadas a la desigualdad, que es necesario atender.<\/p>\n
\u201cNecesitamos dejar claro que estamos haciendo un esfuerzo muy grande por cambiar. Pienso que es muy importante que un pa\u00eds amigo nuestro, como lo es Estados Unidos, con la importancia que tiene en el mundo, perciba que el esfuerzo nuestro por reducir la desigualdad constituye no solamente un hecho \u00e9tico, sino tambi\u00e9n un hecho esencial pol\u00edtico y econ\u00f3mico\u201d, enfatiz\u00f3 Vald\u00e9s minutos despu\u00e9s de terminar su discurso.<\/p>\n
Manifest\u00f3, adem\u00e1s, inter\u00e9s en que Estados Unidos comprenda el programa de gobierno de la presidenta Michelle Bachelet, pues, a su juicio, ese entendimiento servir\u00e1 de base para el trabajo en conjunto. A pesar de que existe una intenci\u00f3n, por parte del gobierno, de integrarse mayormente a Am\u00e9rica Latina, Vald\u00e9s asegur\u00f3 que esto no significa en ning\u00fan caso que van a descuidar las relaciones con Estados Unidos. \u201cAl contrario, me atrevo a decir que no hay posibilidades para Chile de incrementar su influencia en la regi\u00f3n latinoamericana sin una relaci\u00f3n profunda y consolidada con Estados Unidos\u201d, sostuvo.<\/p>\n
Para afianzar el trabajo en conjunto, hizo hincapi\u00e9 en la necesidad de seguir fomentando alianzas como las del Plan Chile-California y Chile-Massachusetts, tendientes a potenciar redes de trabajo a nivel gubernamental, empresarial y acad\u00e9mico, como as\u00ed tambi\u00e9n estimular el desarrollo en educaci\u00f3n, ciencias, energ\u00eda y biotecnolog\u00eda. El hecho de que Chile se haya integrado al Programa de Exenci\u00f3n de Visa (Visa Waiver Program) fue destacado por el embajador como una forma de potenciar planes como los se\u00f1alados.<\/p>\n
De igual forma, se detuvo en el Acuerdo Estrat\u00e9gico Transpac\u00edfico de Cooperaci\u00f3n Econ\u00f3mica (TPP), tratado de libre comercio multilateral que Chile valora como iniciativa comercial propia del siglo XXI. \u201cEs evidente que a nosotros no nos gustar\u00eda que cuestiones que conseguimos en el TLC sean de alguna manera modificadas en la negociaci\u00f3n del TPP y eso es algo que a Chile razonablemente le preocupa. La situaci\u00f3n hoy d\u00eda es que no hay ning\u00fan tema cerrado en el TPP\u201d, se\u00f1al\u00f3 Vald\u00e9s.<\/p>\n
Finalmente, el embajador chileno se refiri\u00f3 a la necesidad de fortalecer lazos con Estados Unidos con el fin de afianzar otros \u00e1mbitos de la producci\u00f3n, como la energ\u00eda y la agricultura. Respecto del primero, aclar\u00f3 que el gobierno pretende tener conversaciones con el pa\u00eds del norte, tendientes a impulsar una pol\u00edtica de energ\u00eda. \u201cEntendemos que elshale gases fundamental para Chile; sin embargo, seg\u00fan lo que me explicaba el embajador Michael Hammer, no es algo f\u00e1cil de hacer, ya que Estados Unidos est\u00e1 tomando decisiones sobre c\u00f3mo trabajar y c\u00f3mo comerciar el gas y, por lo tanto, hay ah\u00ed no solamente un proceso de persuasi\u00f3n, sino que tambi\u00e9n hay que entender que detr\u00e1s del gas, hay temas geopol\u00edticos de gran importancia\u201d.<\/p>\n
En cuanto a las exportaciones agr\u00edcolas chilenas, confes\u00f3 que se trabajar\u00e1 para que \u00e9stas lleguen a Estados Unidos en una situaci\u00f3n de seguridad completa y tambi\u00e9n para hacer crecer nuevas redes de trabajo.<\/p>\n
Junta Anual de AmCham<\/strong><\/p>\n En la Junta Anual de Socios se dio a conocer la cuenta anual 2013, plante\u00e1ndose, adem\u00e1s, los desaf\u00edos para 2014. En la ocasi\u00f3n, se present\u00f3 al nuevo gerente general de AmCham, Roberto Matus, explicando que su nombramiento obedec\u00eda a una estrategia de modernizaci\u00f3n de la C\u00e1mara que ya est\u00e1 en curso. Asimismo, se present\u00f3 al nuevo equipo de gerentes que lo acompa\u00f1ar\u00e1 en este trabajo.<\/p>\n Matus destac\u00f3 que AmCham lleva 95 a\u00f1os de trayectoria, promoviendo el libre comercio y los negocios entre Estados Unidos y Chile y quiere continuar en esta v\u00eda, siendo referentes a nivel nacional en esta materia.<\/p>\n Entre los logros mencionados, destaca la duplicaci\u00f3n del n\u00famero de misiones respecto de 2012, formaciones de asociaciones y organizaci\u00f3n de exitosos eventos.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the middle of a series of meetings aimed at strengthening commercial and political ties with the United States, the new Chilean Ambassador in Washington, Juan Gabriel Vald\u00e9s, took the time to participate in the AmCham\u2019s Annual Members Meeting, held on April 24. The event was led by the president of the Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce, Kathleen Barclay, in which she presented the annual report and discussed AmCham\u2019s new modernization strategy.<\/p>\n Ambassador Vald\u00e9s began by recalling his role in having negotiated the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), reflecting on how the country had changed during this period. Ten years after having signed the FTA, the diplomat referred to the benefits derived from the treaty, as well as the overall economic advancement of the country. However, he warned that despite the progress, there are a number of pending social demands relating to inequality which need addressing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to clarify that we\u2019re making strong efforts to introduce change. I think that it\u2019s very important that an ally of ours like the United States, which is so important around the world, views our efforts at reducing inequality not only as ethical, but also as an essential political and economic undertaking\u201d, Vald\u00e9s emphasized towards the end of his speech.<\/p>\n He also declared his interest in how the United States is understanding of the program of President Michelle Bachelet\u2019s government, as, in his opinion, such comprehension will serve as the basis for joint efforts. Despite the government\u2019s efforts to forge closer relations with Latin America, Vald\u00e9s gave assurances that this in no way means the relationship with the United States will be ignored. \u201cQuite the opposite, I dare say that it\u2019s impossible to increase our influence in the Latin American region without a deep-seated relationship with the United States\u201d, he noted.<\/span><\/p>\n To strengthen joint efforts, he emphasized the need to keep building alliances like the Chile-California and Chile-Massachusetts Plans, which are geared towards boosting networks of cooperation at the governmental, business and academic levels, in addition to stimulating development in education, science, energy and biotechnology. The fact that Chile now forms part of the Visa Waiver Program was mentioned by the Ambassador as a means of boosting these aforementioned plans.<\/p>\n Similarly, he addressed the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), the multilateral treaty regarded by Chile as a key trade initiative of the twenty-first century. Vald\u00e9s stated, \u201cIt\u2019s clear that we don\u2019t like the fact that issues achieved in the FTA are somehow modified during TPP negotiations, and this is something about which Chile is rightfully concerned. The present situation is that no issue has been finalized in the TPP\u201d.<\/p>\n Finally, the Chilean Ambassador addressed the need to strengthen ties with the United States as a means of securing additional areas of production, such as in energy and agriculture. Regarding the former, he noted that the government plans to hold talks with the US relating to the driving forward of an energy policy. \u201cWe know that shale gas is crucial to Chile; however, as Ambassador Michael Hammer has explained to me, it is not an easy process, since the United States is taking decisions about how to produce and sell the gas and, therefore, it\u2019s not just a case making the argument, but also the need to understand that behind the gas itself lie geopolitical issues of great importance\u201d.<\/p>\n With regard to Chilean agricultural exports, he explained that work will be done to ensure these products arrive safely and securely in the United States, while also guaranteeing the growth of new networks of cooperation.<\/p>\n AmCham Annual Members Meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n Not only was the annual report presented during the AmCham\u2019s Annual Members Meeting, but so too were the challenges for 2014. The new General Manager of AmCham, Roberto Matus, was also introduced to the members. He took the opportunity to explain how his appointment was part of a modernization strategy already underway in the Chamber. Likewise, the new management team assisting him in this task was introduced.<\/p>\n Matus highlighted AmCham\u2019s 95 years of history in promoting free trade and business between the United States and Chile. He also confirmed his wish to continue in the same direction, helping to ensure the Chamber remains a point of reference at the national level on matters of trade and business.<\/p>\n Notable among the achievements mentioned were the doubling of the number of missions compared to 2012, the formation of associations and the organization of a number of successful events.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" <\/p>\n En medio de reuniones tendientes a fortalecer los v\u00ednculos comerciales y pol\u00edticos con Estados Unidos, el nuevo Embajador de Chile en ese pa\u00eds, Juan Gabriel Vald\u00e9s, se dio un tiempo para participar, el 24 de abril pasado, de la Junta Anual de Socios de AmCham. La ceremonia estuvo presidida por la presidenta de la C\u00e1mara Chilena Norteamericana de Comercio, Kathleen Barclay, quien dio a conocer la cuenta anual, refiri\u00e9ndose, adem\u00e1s, a la nueva estrategia de modernizaci\u00f3n de AmCham.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n En medio de reuniones tendientes a fortalecer los v\u00ednculos comerciales y pol\u00edticos con Estados Unidos, el nuevo Embajador de Chile en ese pa\u00eds, Juan Gabriel Vald\u00e9s, se dio un tiempo para participar, el 24 de abril pasado, de la Junta Anual de Socios de AmCham. La ceremonia estuvo presidida por la presidenta de la C\u00e1mara Chilena Norteamericana de Comercio, Kathleen Barclay, quien dio a conocer la cuenta anual, refiri\u00e9ndose, adem\u00e1s, a la nueva estrategia de modernizaci\u00f3n de AmCham.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","news_tax":[],"user_type":[],"class_list":["post-5187","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n