Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 04/2010

Chile's outward FDI and its policy context

Carlos Razo, Álvaro Calderón

March 2010

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Abstract

Despite the recent financial and economic crisis, Chile’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in 2009 surpassed the record level of 2008, reflecting the strength of Chilean firms and the country’s continuous commitment to integrate into the world economy. Two decades ago, Chile was an unlikely foreign direct investor. Today, even with no explicit policies to promote outward investment or the creation of national champions, Chile stands out as the third biggest investor of Latin America in absolute terms and as the first one in proportion to its GDP, even outperforming other emerging economies of similar size in other regions of the world.