Flanders and Chile have a lot in common. They are small countries on their respective continents, they enjoy political, social and economic stability, and SMEs play a crucial role in both economies, hence the excellent relations between the two.
During the period of the military dictatorship (1973-1989), thousands of Chileans came to our country. Only Sweden and France welcomed more Chileans. However, the Flemish-Chilean link goes back before that. In the 1950s, the University of Leuven received many students from this Andean country. Many of them later tried to remove the ministry.
During the military dictatorship, relations were frozen, but after the restoration of democracy in 1990, the links were forged once more. In 1995, a framework agreement for international cooperation was signed between the Flemish and Chilean Governments. This led to an intense cooperation in the field of the environment, rural development, care of the elderly, science and innovation, and university cooperation, to name just the principal areas.
- Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its member states, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part
- Framework Cooperation Agreement leading ultimately to the establishment of a political and economic association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Welfare, Public Health and Family Policy area (Government of Flanders) and the Agency SENAMA (Republic of Chile)
- Framework Agreement on Cooperation between IFOP and VLIZ