Trade, SMEs and gender, key issues of the new agreement between Chile and the EU

The role of SMEs in the economy and the inclusion of women in international trade are some of the key points of the modernization of the association agreement between Chile and the European Union (EU).

Santiago de Chile, Nov 23 (EFE) .- The role of SMEs in the economy and the inclusion of women in international trade are some of the key points of the modernization of the Association Agreement between Chile and the European Union (EU).

"The objective of the modernization of this agreement is to bring it back to the level of the current world," said the EU ambassador. in Chile, Stella Zervoudaki, who this Thursday participated in a seminar organized by the EU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile.

The objective of the meeting, in which Chile's deputy foreign minister, Edgardo Riveros, was to analyze the modernization of the association agreement between Chile and the EU, a process that began on November 16 in Brussels.

According to the EU ambassador, the update of the association agreement, which dates from 2002, includes "taking into account the important role of SMEs in the economy, inclusion of women in international trade and the contribution of free trade to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals. "

The Chilean vice-chancellor, meanwhile, said that the South American country and the EU have "changed a lot" since 2002 and at the same time the bilateral relationship has been strengthened.

"In these 15 years of the agreement, the EU became our third commercial partner, "Riveros said, adding that other aspects of their relationship remain unchanged, such as mutual commitment to international security and peace.

In the In the area of �??�??trade, the current association agreement has helped to increase trade flows - bilateral trade reached 18.8 billion dollars in 2016 - and has contributed to the diversification of the Chilean economy.

The General Director of International Economic Relations, Paulina Nazal, highlighted that seminars such as the one held in Santiago allow Incorporate civil society proposals into the negotiations.