Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile

Six years of Pacific Alliance (AP) were celebrated this morning in the Citizenship Plaza. The alliance is a regional integration mechanism that includes Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.

The celebration act was led by President of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz, and General Director of International Economic Affairs, Paulina Nazal.

The entrance of La Moneda Palace was decorated with colourful Pacific Alliance paper windmills. During the day there was an exhibition of the Alliance process. And this night the Palace of the Government will be illuminated with colours of the Alliance. At the same time, in Colombia, Mexico, and Peru there will also be activities commemorating the Alliance.

The PA is a regional integration initiative created by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru on April 28, 2011. Now 49 countries have been included as Observer countries.

President Bachelet stated, "protectionist barriers reflect there is an uncertain international economic and political scene right now." However, the Pacific Alliance has kept its position and has proven that integration is the key to advance towards a sustainable social and economic development".

The main objectives of the block are to build an area of free circulation of goods, services, capital, and people, to increase the quality of life, overcome social and economic inequalities, boost social inclusion, and transform into a platform projected to the world. The PA will emphasize on the Asia Pacific region but will also build bridges to other regional processes such as Mercosur.

The PA groups more than 220 million inhabitants, which means 36% of Latin American and the Caribbean population, 0,3% of the global population and 2,3% of the world economy. Because of this, the Pacific Alliance is an excellent initiative to motivate joint businesses. It also gives opportunities for foreign investments and is open to new entrepreneurship and innovation in different areas.

Chile has Pro Tempore Presidency of the PA since July 1st, 2016. Therefore, Chile has to coordinate the international agenda for the Alliance and ensure the relationships with the 49 Observer States.

The Pacific Alliance also includes scholarships, gender issues, and SEMs. For example, the PA has benefited more than 1.400 students that have been able to do internships and exchanges between the four countries.