Many of Latin America's high-net-worth individuals are repatriating their funds and an increasing number of foreign investors are targeting the region, thanks to its rapidly expanding economy. With such demand for local product providers, domestic firms are finding themselves having to pit their specialist knowledge against the international reach of large foreign banks, making competition tough.

A year on from a devastating earthquake and the delayed impact of the international financial crisis, banks in Latin America's most stable economy now need to focus on supporting the expansion of the middle class.

The Chilean government has ambitious plans to double growth and – ultimately – eradicate poverty, all while contending with currency appreciation.

The finance minister of Chile discusses the country's "very exceptional" fiscal situation, and tells how it is recovering from an earthquake that shattered the country earlier this year. Writers Jane Monahan and Brian Caplen

Chile's new right-wing government has promised to sustain the country's growth trajectory with a series of reforms, aimed at diversifying its economy, which is highly dependent on the copper industry, and improving conditions for SMEs. Writer Jason Mitchell

With one of the most liberalised economies in the world, prudent policies, and trading links with the Far East, Chile is poised to emerge from the downturn as a Latin American front-runner. Writer Jason Mitchell

Chile's prudent fiscal policies have enabled it to weather the global recession well. The county's finance minister explains the thinking behind them. Writer Jason Mitchell