PHDCCI Indo–South America Trade & Investment Conclave 2025 Strengthens Economic Engagement

New Delhi, December 15, 2025: The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) successfully organized the Indo–South America Trade & Investment Conclave 2025 on 15 December 2025, bringing together senior government officials, diplomats, industry leaders, and key stakeholders from India and South America. The conclave served as a focused platform to deepen economic engagement and explore new avenues for trade, investment, technology collaboration, and people-to-people linkages between the two regions.
 
Addressing the conclave, Dr. K. M. Praphullachandra Sharma, Joint Secretary (South America), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, highlighted the steady expansion of India–South America relations. He emphasized the importance of political trust, strong trade frameworks, cooperation in critical minerals and technology, improved connectivity, and the need to expand institutional mechanisms and industry partnerships to unlock the region’s vast economic potential.
 
The diplomatic community from South America underscored their countries’ strong economic fundamentals and openness to Indian investment.

Juan Angulo, Ambassador of Chile, highlighted Chile’s stable and open economy, leadership in minerals, clean energy, agri-exports, and innovation, and the progress of India–Chile CEPA/SEPA negotiations, with opportunities in lithium value chains, green hydrogen, fintech, startups, and pharmaceuticals.
 
Dharamkumar Seeraj, High Commissioner of Guyana, outlined Guyana’s rapid economic growth driven by energy discoveries and invited Indian investment in agro-processing, renewable energy, digital public infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, and infrastructure.

Juan Goldnick, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Venezuela, reaffirmed Venezuela’s readiness to attract international investment across oil, gas, critical minerals, agriculture, and manufacturing through special economic zones and strengthened bilateral cooperation.

Enrique Descalzi, Counsellor, Embassy of Peru, showcased Peru’s strengths in mining, critical minerals, agri-exports, and rare earths, supported by investor-friendly policies and ongoing India–Peru trade agreement negotiations.
 
Juan Carlos Rojas Arango, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Colombia, highlighted Colombia’s strategic location, strong FDI inflows, robust infrastructure, and growing opportunities in manufacturing, services, agribusiness, tourism, and Industry 4.0.
 
Jorge Anrango Cabascango, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Ecuador, emphasized Ecuador’s strategic location, dollarized economy, stability, and opportunities for Indian investment in renewable energy, mining, agri-industry, infrastructure, tourism, and pharmaceuticals.
 
Welcoming the participants, Sanjay Singhania, Vice President, PHDCCI, reiterated the Chamber’s objective of building a structured and sustainable platform to promote trade, investment, and technology collaboration, highlighting the strong complementarities between South America’s resource strengths and India’s capabilities in manufacturing, digital technologies, healthcare, and innovation.
 
Nishant Berlia, Chair, International Affairs Committee (Americas), PHDCCI, noted South America’s significance as a USD 4 trillion economy with over 430 million people and stressed the need for improved trade facilitation, stronger trade agreements, investment-led partnerships, and knowledge collaboration.
 
Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, emphasized the strategic relevance of India–South America cooperation in addressing global priorities such as food
security, energy security, and access to critical minerals. He highlighted India’s emergence as a global manufacturing and innovation hub and reaffirmed PHDCCI’s commitment to facilitating trusted, long-term business partnerships.
 
The session was moderated by Naveen Seth, Deputy Secretary General, PHDCCI, who expressed sincere gratitude to all speakers and participants.
 
The conclave reaffirmed that India and South America are natural partners with strong economic complementarities. PHDCCI reiterated its commitment to actively support trade missions, investments, and industry collaborations to translate diplomatic goodwill into tangible and mutually beneficial outcomes for businesses on both sides.