As part of the historic state visit to the Republic of Chile, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca together with Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change José Herrera visited the offices of Start-Up Chile in Santiago.

Start-Up Chile is the most innovative organisation in Latin America as well as one of the top 5 start-up accelerators in the world, according to Fast Company and Gust. The programme, which is known worldwide, intends to create an economic impact in the country by supporting entrepreneurs all over the world, the Department of Information said.

Whilst thanking the management for a detailed overview of the programme, President Coleiro Preca said that Start-Up Chile is truly an innovative way of encouraging new entrepreneurs to create their own start-up, with a global approach and outlook.

“I feel truly grateful to have been given the opportunity to visit Start-Up Chile, and whilst I augur them every success, I also want to commend the work which they are doing to empower female entrepreneurs,” President Coleiro Preca said.

The President said she hopes that Maltese start-ups will join this innovative programme, especially now that Start-Up Chile is collaborating with MITA, Malta Enterprise, and MIMCOL. These collaborations will soon see the first Maltese-owned start-up operating in Chile.

With 19 companies with Chilean shareholders already in Malta, technology advances show that distance is no longer a barrier when it comes to business ventures in South America, added the President.