Under Salvador Allende Chile had maintained diplomatic relations with the socialist countries of Eastern Europe, including the German Democratic Republic.

[5] Direct communication links between Finland and Chile were first established around 1850, when Finnish "Sitka clippers" started serving Russian America and Kamchatka, with regular stops in Valparaiso.

Other companies serving the Chilean mining industry include Metso, Tamrock and Larox and Outotec, formerly the technology division of Outokumpu.

[9] In May 2009, the Finnish Stora Enso and Chilean Celulosa Arauco y Constitución announced a €253 million deal that would make their joint venture the largest landowner in Uruguay.

[10] In 1993, Finnish researchers were sent to Chile to collect data on logging operations, which began a continued relationship of Finnish-Chilean cooperation on forestry.

[11] In 2003, both countries met several times to discuss business opportunities and "the Chilean economy and investment prospects to major Finnish companies".

[12] Chile is the second-largest Latin American trade partner for Finland, after Brazil, with its main import being copper ore, followed by fruits and wines.