“We are very proud of Gold Fields and Anglo American… they are not only investors in Chile, but they are good corporate citizens.” This was stated by the South African ambassador to Chile, George Motlatjo Monyemangene, who in particular regarding the first of these mining companies, which started its gold operation this year, highlighted that “Gold Fields has been very exemplary in demonstrating what South African companies can do,” adding that “we are very happy that they are not only investors here in Chile, but that they are also good corporate citizens of this country, through their contribution in the investments they have made,” which also applies to an emblematic South African company such as Anglo American, which despite its name was founded in the African nation and has strategic assets there such as Kumba Iron Ore and Anglo American Platinum.
In turn, Gold Fields – which has had problems with the Chilean environmental authorities due to the existence of colonies of chinchillas, an endangered species, in the vicinity of the site – is the last major investment of the African nation in Chile, which disbursed US$1.2 billion in Salares Norte in the Atacama region of Chile.
“We will continue to increase two-way trade and investments between our countries. These are very large investments in mining, but we also cover a full range of sectors.”
According to the diplomat, this will not be the last foray of South African companies into our country. “We absolutely like investing in Chile,” a country with which “we have a very good bilateral relationship with Chile; we are also very happy because our trade and investment relations continue to grow.”
He added that “therefore, we will continue to increase two-way trade and two-way investment between our two countries.”
With trade in 2023 reaching US$185 million, but at the beginning of the decade reaching US$300 million, South Africa is also investing much more than our country in the African nation. The latest available figure for 2022 indicates a capital inflow during that year of US$905 million versus the US$47 million that Chile disbursed in South Africa in that year.
Ambassador George Motlatjo Monyemangene pointed out that we have investments in almost all sectors, although by the way they are “very large in mining”, but also “we have large investments in agriculture, large investments in pharmaceutical products… we cover a complete range and complete sectors” .
Motlatjo Monyemangene also highlighted the powerful presence of Chilean companies in South Africa, starting with Arauco, Sigdo Koppers, Enaex, Duratray, “therefore, the inflows and outflows of investments between the two countries are going very well.”
An emblematic company for South Africa is Anglo American. “We are very proud of Anglo American. We have a very good and strategic relationship between the mission and Anglo American. We interact regularly with Mr. Hidalgo (CEO of Anglo American Chile) and Mr. Somavia (External Affairs and Government Relations Manager – Copper for Anglo-American) in terms of commitment, and both, in fact, both Anglo and Gold Fields have been involved in our national day and in some of the activities that we are going to have.”
The diplomat has nothing but good words for Anglo, which was the subject of three offers from BHP, which sparked the annoyance of the authorities of the African country. About Anglo, Motlatjo Monyemangene said: “They are fantastic and they do it well. “We are very proud because they are also an important company with their roots in South Africa.”
