A memorandum of understanding was signed in Sudbury last week by Governor Jorge Molina of Chile?s Antofagasta region and Mike Castron, president of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA), agreeing to boost trade between the two mining jurisdictions.
Molina led a 12-member delegation of Antofagasta mining supply and service companies to Sudbury and North Bay to establish partnerships, joint ventures and technology exchanges with local companies.
More than 100 local community leaders and representatives of mining supply and service companies witnessed the signing at a SAMSSA dinner held at Cambrian College.
Several Sudbury mining and supply companies have been exporting their products and services to Chile?s booming mining sector and the agreement could pave the way for more trade between the two countries.
The city of Antofagasta, located in Chile?s northern desert region, has a population of 300,000 and is the world?s leading copper producer.
Like Sudbury, Antofagasta is pursuing a mining cluster strategy. The region is currently the world?s leading copper producer, said Molina, but when the ore runs out, it wants to be in a position to export knowledge.
?This is an important first step,? said SAMSSA executive director Dick DeStefano. ?We keep the doors open, we keep shaking hands, we keep visiting each other and everyone ultimately benefits.?
Also attending the dinner were Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) officers from a variety of countries, including Chile, Columbia, Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa and China. The Chilean and DFAIT delegations made the side trip to Sudbury after attending the annual Prospectors and Developers show in Toronto last week.
