On 15th September 2023, Mark Heinzel, Head of Division North and Latin America of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), welcomed the more than 150 participants of this annual forum organized by the Competence Center Mining and Mineral Resources of AHK Chile at the Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft in Berlin/Germany (Figure 1).
This time, the keynote speakers were Susanne Szech-Koundouros, sub-department head of raw materials policy, circular economy, resource protection and environmental law at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), Magdalena Atria, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to Germany, and Wolfgang Niedermark, board member of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
After their opening speeches, the three keynote speakers participated in a conversation panel that addressed the question of whether we are currently at a geopolitical turning point for German-Chilean cooperation in the raw materials sector. Cornelia Sonnenberg, General Manager of AHK Chile, moderated the panel.
Other panels and presentations covered topics such the German import and export interests, environmental protection in mining and sustainable supply chains. On behalf of Chile speakers and representatives from Antofagasta Minerals, SQM, Aclara Mining and MIRS Robotics participated. From Germany there were expert contributions on behalf of Aurubis, AMG Lithium, Geiger Edelmetalle, Deutsche Rohstoffagentur/BGR, WISMUT.
Also present was a Chilean mining delegation consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Mining, Codelco, Corporación Alta Ley, APRIMIN, Autoterm, Baker McKenzie, Bosch, CAP, Glencore and RED INVECA – including four experts from Women in Mining Chile. During their stay, in addition to Berlin, they visited Düsseldorf, Hambach, Hamburg and Salzgitter, where they toured the facilities of SMS Group, ThyssenKrupp, RWE, Aurubis and PowerCo (Volkswagen Group).
The long-standing close cooperation between the two countries, particularly with regard to technology transfer and the exchange of experience and best practices with the aim of making mining as environmentally friendly as possible, was consolidated in 2013 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
Since then, AHK Chile has hosted the Competence Center Mining and Raw Materials, a platform that further develops this strategic partnership and acts as a bridge to connect the experience, technologies and innovations of both countries.
The AHK Chile team organized both the forum and the delegation as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of this bilateral mining cooperation, which was deepened at the beginning of 2023 to include the aspect of the circular economy during the official visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Santiago. (AHK Chile/Si.)
