Business Delegation from Peru

I spoke at the CII meeting with the Peruvian business delegation on 21 November 06 at their Hqrs. I mentioned the four typical and unique businessplus attractions Peru offers; to drink, to eat, to see and to read:

-Pisco sour is the famous Peruvian drink.

-Ceviche, raw fish marinated in lime is a healthy and delicious food

-Machu Pichu is a must- see tourist destination.

-Mario Vargas Llosa is the famous writer of Peru and my favourite Latin American author. I have read 15 of his books.

Bonus offers of Peru: pima cotton( extra long staple and fine one) and Alpaca wool( from llama found in high altitude).

Peruvian market is medium-size with 28 million people, 90 billion GDP, 17 billion exports and 12.5 billion imports in 2005. Inflation in 2005 at 1.8 % was the lowest in the whole of latin America. Growth over 6%. Politically Peru is becoming mature and pragmatic. Peru's importance increase with its membership of Andean Community and FTA with USA.

There is scope to significantly increase our exports of 122 million $( 2005). There is potential for investment and joint ventures in energy, mining and metallic industries. Reliance is scouting for energy. Ranbaxy, NIIT, APTECH and bajaj have presence there.

Bharti group ( Airtel) has exported over a million telefone instruments to Peru. Apparently, every second fone instrument in Peru is that of Bharti. Bravo Bharti !!!

This is the first ever visit of a business delegation. Credit for this goes to Kishore Gupta of Indo-peruvian chamber in Lima.

Mr Natarajan CEO of BEML, who presided over the meeting was upbeat about his company's bz with peru.

Victor Munoz acting Ambassador of Peru in Delhi is proactive and issues business visas readily for Indian bzmen.

Mr A. Ramesh, Ambassador-designate to peru and Bolivia ( reaching there in january) was also present in the meeting.

Delegations from Latin America

The season of Latin America is here...

A 50 plus member Brazilian delegation was here 14-19 November.

Visit of Minister of IT from Dominican Republic 16-25 November
Minister Eddy Martinez will visit Chennai, Mumbai,Cochin and Delhi. This is his fourth visit to India in the last two years. CII organised an interactive meeting with him on Thursday 16 Nov at their Hqrs.
contact : gaby@dr-embassy-india.com

Visit of delegation from peru 19-25 November
This is the first time a business delegation is coming. Delegation has over 15 members.
CII organising a meeting on Tuesday 21 November at their Hqrs.
Delegation going to Bangalore and Mumbai too
contact: Gunveena Chada from CII and Victor Munoz from Peruvian embassy.

Jamaican business delegation 20-29 November
A seven member delegation visiting India, for the first time, as per following programme. Interested in software.
November 20 - 23 Delhi
November 23 – 26 Mumbai
November 26 – 29 Bangalore
Contact: Ambassador( retd) Malik asian_com@hotmail.com

CII meeting on Dominican Republic 16 November

The meeting was in honour of Mr Eddy Martinez, Minister of IT and Investment promotion. This is his fourth visit to India. He is the one who took the initiative to open the Dominican Embassy in Delhi. In his speech, he said DR and Latin America, in general consider China as a challenge but India as a partner. He ponted out that DR lost thousands of jobs as a result of Chinese competition. This positive attitude towards India is good news for the Indian businessmen.

In my speech I said Dominican Republic(DR) offers scope for pleasure and business. The beautiful beach resorts, great golf courses, merengue music and the warm and friendly people make DR as an attractive destination.

DR imports in 2005 were 10 billion dollars and exports 6 billion dollars. Even if India gets one percent of their total imports, it should come to 100 million dollar exports. Per capita income of DR is over 6000 dollars. Growth rate in 2005 was over 9 percent. Number of tourists who visited DR in 2005 were 4.2 million. The macroeconomic fundamentals are becoming strong.

With its FTA with USA, it is an attractive destination for investment. An Indian IT company and a medical equipment company have invested already.

The dynamic Dominican Ambassador Hans Dannenburg and Miss Canela give one year multi entry visas with a smile and handshake and cigar and rum!!

Brazilian Business delegation 13-19 November

A 55- member multiproduct Business delegation from Brazil will be in Delhi to visit/participate in the India International Trade Fair. They can be contacted thru the Brazilian embassy in delhi.

Here is the list

1 M/s Gravatas e Acessórios Imp. e Com. Ltda
Mrs. Marcia Maria Saraiva
e-mail: marciamaria@schiafine.com.br
Address: Rua Xavantes, 719 – Sala 724 – Zip Code: 03027-000
Phone: 5511 6096 6799
Garments


2 M/s Gravatas e Acessórios Imp. e Com. Ltda
Mrs. Vilma Santana
e-mail: marciamaria@schiafine.com.br
Address: Rua Xavantes, 719 – Sala 724 – Zip Code: 03027-000
Phone: 5511 6096 6799
Garments

3 Ms Elvi Cozinhas Industriais
Mr. Cristiano das Neves Sola
Phone: 5511 4341 4466
Address: Rua Oneda, 300 – SBC – SP – Zip Code: 09895-280
e-mail: cristiano@elvi.com.br
website: www.elvi.com.br
Stainless Steel

4 M/s Elvi Cozinhas Industriais
Mr. Luciano das Neves Sola
Phone: 5511 4341 4466
Address: Rua Oneda, 300 – SBC – SP – Zip Code: 09895-280
e-mail: cristiano@elvi.com.br
website: www.elvi.com.br
stainless steel

5 M/s Foxlux Ltda
Mr. Paulo Sérgio Velloso Ribeiro
Phone: 5541 3344 8090
Address: Rua padre Estanislau Trzebiatowski, 96 – Boqueirao Zip: 81750-390 Curitiba- PARANÁ
e-mail: paulo@foxlux.com.br
website: www.foxlux.com.br
Electrical Material and Hand Tools

6M/s Letande Indústria e Comércio Ltda
Mr. Orlando Luiz Toqueton
Phone: (5519) 3881.7670 / 3881.7676
Address: Benjmain de Paula Franca 604 – Valinhos – Zip Code: 13279-014
Website: www.letande.ind.br
e-mail: comex@letande.ind.br
automobile electrical parts

7 M/s Letande Indústria e Comércio Ltda
Mr. Rafael de Oliveira Carvalho
Phone: (5519) 3881.7670 / 3881.7676
Address: Benjmain de Paula Franca 604 – Valinhos – Zip Code: 13279-014
Website: www.letande.ind.br
e-mail: comex@letande.ind.br
Automobile and Electrical parts

8 M/s NEOFORM PLASTICOS
Mr. Luciano Morganti Ribeiro
Phone (5551) 470 6789
e-mail: canaldocliente@neoform.com.br
Website:www.neoform.com.br
Address: Trav. João Tavares n° 245 - RS 118 KM 11,4 - Costa do Ipiranga – Gravataí - Rio Grande do Sul – Zip Code: 94010- 970
Furniture and Decorative Items

9 M/s NEOFORM PLASTICOS
Mr. Sergio Mendes Ribeiro
Phone (5551) 470 6789
e-mail: canaldocliente@neoform.com.br
Website:www.neoform.com.br
Address: Trav. João Tavares n° 245 - RS 118 KM 11,4 - Costa do Ipiranga – Gravataí - Rio Grande do Sul – Zip Code: 94010- 970
Furniture and Decorative Items

10 M/s NEOFORM PLASTICOS
Mr. Felipe Mendes Ribeiro
Phone (5551) 470 6789
e-mail: canaldocliente@neoform.com.br
Website:www.neoform.com.br
Address: Trav. João Tavares n° 245 - RS 118 KM 11,4 - Costa do Ipiranga – Gravataí - Rio Grande do Sul – Zip Code: 94010- 970
Furniture and Decorative Items

11 M/s Mendes & Uchôa Consultoria Empresarial Ltda.
Mrs. Thaysa Santos Uchoa
Endereço: Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 351 sala 922, Ipanema
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, CEP: 22.410-003
Tel.: 5521 9826-6762
E-mail: mendesuchoa@onda.com.br
Consultant

12 M/s Irgovel – Industria Riograndense de Óleos Vegetais Ltda
Mr. Gilson Teixeira do Amaral Brito
E-mail – nureaps@sistemafieg.org.br
gilsonamaralbrito@hotmail.com
Phone/fax: ++5562 3311—5565
Anápolis – Goiás
vegetable Oil

13 M/s Alm Brazil International Ltda.
Mrs. Marlucia Gusmão dos Santos Martire
e-mail: marluciagsm@hotmail.com
e-mail: almbrazilinternational@hotmail.com
Phone 5521 2669 2600 / 5521 9613 7332
Address: Rua Carmen de Freitas Salgado, 368- Nova Iguaçu - RJ
Zip 26220-470
Consultant

14 ZAK Importação e Exportação e Representaçoes Comerciais Ltda
Mr. Paolo Zaccagnini
Rua Padre Anchieta, 2454 CJ 1802
CEP 80730-000 Curitiba -PR
Tel./Fax 0055 41 3335 7605
E-mail info@zakimex.com.br
www.zakimex.com.br
Marbles and Granites to India


15 M/s Silk Route Com. e Representações
Mr. Luis Cabral
Adress: Rua Dr. Jose de Moura Resende 428
Jardim Caxingui – Near to Butantã
Phone/Fax: 5511 3368 0389
Mobile: (11) 8147 4037
E-mail: silkroutebycabral@ig.com.br
Silk Textiles

16 M/s Filó
Mrs. Angelica Schwingel Markus
e-mail::asmarkus@gmail.com
Phone: 5511 3285-0297
Mobile: 5511 9483-0108
e-mail::asmarkus@gmail.com
Address: Alameda Ribeirão Preto, 410, Apt. 1107 - Bela vista – São Paulo - SP
Belts, Flip Flops, Necklaces and Rings

17 M/s Filó
Mrs. Erika Akemi Hino
e-mail::asmarkus@gmail.com
Phone: 5511 3285-0297
Mobile: 5511 9483-0108
e-mail::asmarkus@gmail.com
Address: Alameda Ribeirão Preto, 410, Apt. 1107 - Bela vista – São Paulo - SP
Belts, flip flops, necklaces an rings

18 M/s Q & A
Mr Russell Dowding
Mobile: 5511 8491 4238
Rua Martins Francisco 678 – Zip Code: 01226-000 –São Paulo - SP
e-mail: cmativa003@terra.com.br
Joint venture with Pavilion Construction Companies

19 M/s Gouvêa de Souza & MD Desenvolvimento Empresarial Ltda
Mr. Marcos Souza
www.gsmd.com.br
Address: Av. Paulista, 171 – 10th Floor - Zip Code: 01311-000
São Paulo - SP
Tel.: 55 11 3262-0666
Fax.: 55 11 3263-0066E-mail: gsmd-de@gsmd.com.br
Consultancy
20
M/s SEBRAE/RJ
Mr Orlando Diniz -
President, Board of Directors, SEBRAE/RJ
Tel.: 55 21 2563-4681 Fax: 55 21 2563-4040
Address: Rua Santa Luzia 685 - Centro 9th Floor - Rio de Janeiro - RJ
E-mail: sonia@sebraerj.com.br
Website: www.sebraerj.com.br
Brazilian Small and Medium Size Companies Association

21
M/s SEBRAE
Mr. Sergio Malta -
CEO, SEBRAE/RJ
Tel.: 55 21 2563-4681 Fax: 55 21 2563-4040
Address: Rua Santa Luzia 685 - Centro 9th Floor - Rio de Janeiro - RJ
E-mail: sonia@sebraerj.com.br
Website: www.sebraerj.com.br
Brazilian Small and Medium Size Companies Association

22
M/s SEBRAE
Mr. Fabio Braga -
Executive from the Government of State of Rio

Tel.: 55 21 2563-4681 Fax: 55 21 2563-4040
Address: Rua Santa Luzia 685 - Centro 9th Floor - Rio de Janeiro - RJ
E-mail: sonia@sebraerj.com.br
Website: www.sebraerj.com.br
Brazilian Small and Medium Size Companies Association

23
M/s SEBRAE
Mr. Mauricio Chacur -
Secretary of Economic Development of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Tel.: 55 21 2563-4681 Fax: 55 21 2563-4040
Address: Rua Santa Luzia 685 - Centro 9th Floor - Rio de Janeiro - RJ
E-mail: sonia@sebraerj.com.br
Website: www.sebraerj.com.br
Brazilian Small and Medium Size Companies Association

24
M/s Zipping

Mr. Geraldo Aguiar

e-mail: zipping@zipping.com.br
Phone: 5511 3868 4141
Mobile: 5511 9759 3137
Address: Rua Guaricurus, 1200 – Lapa – São Paulo – SP –Zip: 05033-002
Website: www.zipping.com.br
Carpets

25
M/s Zipping

Mrs. Maria Cândida

e-mail: zipping@zipping.com.br
Phone: 5511 3868 4141
Mobile: 5511 9759 3137
Address: Rua Guaricurus, 1200 – Lapa – São Paulo – SP –Zip: 05033-002
Website: www.zipping.com.br
Carpets

26
M/s KLEMAX

Mr. Claudio Fisch

E-mail: klemaxindia@yahoo.com.br
Phone: 5511 7244 4080
Address: Rua Maestro Elias Lobo, 796 – Jardim Paulista Zip:01433-000 SP – São Paulo
Consultant
27
M/s Ordene


Represented by Mr Claudio Fish
Of M/s KLEMAX
Phone: (55-51) 3473-4888
e-mail: wreid@terra.com.br
Address: Rua Dois s/n° - Novo Esteio Industrial - caixa postal 83 - CEP 93270-260 - Esteio /RS
Website: www.ordene.com.br
Plastic Home Products

28
M/s Grupo Bettanin
Represented by Mr Claudio Fish
Of M/s KLEMAX

WWW.BETTANIN.COM.BR
Address: AV INDEPENDENCIA 8885 ESTEIO - RS - CEP 47395 70
Phone: 55 51 4736499
Home Cleaning Products
29
M/s San Remo - Home Ware
Represented by Mr Claudio Fish
Of M/s KLEMAX
WWW.SANREMO.COM.BR
Plastic Products
30
M/s SORVETES LIPS LTDA

Represented by Mr Claudio Fish
Of M/s KLEMAX
WWW.SORVETESLIPS.COM.BR
Address: R COUTINHO E MELO , 196
VAUREA - SP CEP 08411 090
TEL 55 11 6553 7000
Ice Creams
31
M/s GOOC RAIZ LTDA
Represented by Mr Claudio Fish
Of M/s KLEMAX
WWW.GOOC.COM.BR
Address: R FORTE DOS FRANCESES , 248 PQ S LOURENÇO - SP
CEP 08340-150
TEL 55 11 3383 3195
Foot Wears and accessories
32
M/s MARTINS SISTEMAS MÉDICOS

Mr. Daniel Martins

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Hospital Equipments
33
M/s Crown Telecomumications
Mr. Fernando Lima
www.crowntelecom.com
e-mail: fernando.lima@crowntelecom.com
Telecommunication
34
M/s Atico Brasil.
Mr. Nick Thomas
www.eaticobrasil.com.
e-mail: nick@aticobrasil.com.


Super Market Products
35
M/s Gouvêa de Souza & MD Desenvolvimento Empresarial Ltda
Mr. Marcos Souza
www.gsmd.com.br
Address: Av. Paulista, 171 – 10th Floor - Zip Code: 01311-000
São Paulo - SP
Tel.: 55 11 3262-0666
Fax.: 55 11 3263-0066E-mail: gsmd-de@gsmd.com.br
General Products
36
M/s Sada
Mr. Eduardo Rigo
Av Nicola deMarqui 1500 SBC SP
097 700 -000
Phone: 5511 4396 8181
eduardo.rigo@sada.com.br
www.sada.com.br
Automobile Parts
36
M/s Sada
Mr. Edson Luiz Pereira

Av Nicola deMarqui 1500 SBC SP
097 700 -000
Phone: 5511 4396 8181
eduardo.rigo@sada.com.br
www.sada.com.br
Automobile parts
37
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Mrs Carolina Christo

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Consultant
38
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Mr. Leonardo Ananda

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: leonardo@indiabrazilchamber.org
Consultancy
39
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Mrs. Patrícia Lages

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
E-mail:
Consultancy
40
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Mrs. Verônica Winter

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org
:
Consultant
41
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Mr. Mauro Federici

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Consultant
42
Honorary Consulate of India in Minas Gerais
Mr. Élson de Barros Gomes Jr.

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Honorary Cônsul
43
M/s Rama Empreendimentos

Represented by Mr. Élson de Barros Gomes Jr.

India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
International Business Company
44
M/s FIDENS

João Andrade

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Engineering and Construction
45
M/s ATK

Mr. José Eduardo Kury de Oliveira Coelho
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Consultant
46
M/s SANTA CLARA

Mr. Ricardo Maia
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Steel Company
47
M/s G&P

Mr. Armando Oliveira
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Software
48
M/s VEPRO

Mr. Daniel Martins
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Electronic Equipments
49
M/s ITATIAIA

Mr. Marcelo Avanci
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Kitchen Items & Furniture
50
M/s SCHINCARIOL
Represented by Mr. José Carlos Vieira Jr.
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Beverage
51
M/s GREMAFER
Represented by Mr. José Carlos Vieira Jr.
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Chemical Items
52
M/s CASAS BAHIA

Represented by Mr. Jair Rodrigues
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Furniture
53
M/s SABÓ
Represented by Mr. Jair Rodrigues
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Automobile Parts
54
M/s SURYA

Mrs. Renata Mello

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Cosmetics
55
M/s SAAD

Mrs. Luciana Saad

www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Clothing Accessories and Shoes
56
M/s Letaflex Ltda
Mr. Rafael
www.indiabrazilchamber.org
India Brazil Chamber of Commerce in Minas Gerais
Phone: 5531 3264 5444
E-mail: carolina@indiabrazilchamber.org

Auto Mobile Parts

IMF report on Latin American economies

The November 2006 regional economic outlook report of IMF has positive things to say about the latamerican economies, like the recent reports of other sources. Highlights:

• robust growth of Latamerican and caribbean economies around 4.75 percent in 2006- making the ongoing expansion as the most vigorous in decades. Growth rate in 2007 projected to be 4.25%.
• Domestic demand is buyont, driven by public spending, private consumption and investment
• Inflation in 2006 will average to 5.25% and is likely to decline to 5% in 2007. countries with high inflation in 2006; Argentina 10.9%, venezuela 13.7%, costa Rica 13% and Haiti 14%
• external current accounts and primary fiscal balance are in surplus, exchange rates flexible and public debts safer
• Exports booming adding to trade surplus in many countries
• Reserves reached 300 billion dollars in 2006
• unemployment and poverty have been declining.
• IMF's assistance to the region fell dramatically from about 18 billion dollars per year in 2002-3 to just 0.5 billion dollars in 2006. outstanding credit to the region decreased from 48 billion $ in end 2003 to 3.1 billion in july 2006.

Of course, these are subject to the usual risks including growth and interest rates in USA and commodity prices.

Iflex in Latin America

I visited the Iflex Hqrs in Bangalore on 29 Sept.
The building goes with the name... interesting architecture.
The company was started and is still run by professionals. They have achieved global leadership in their niche area of banking solutions with 660 customers in 120 countries.

i-flex began its operations in Latin America in 2002 with a small team of two people and has now 100 professionals working in the region, including a multinational mix of people from India, Colombia, Venezuela , Honduras, amongst others. They have 20 banks in the Latin American and Caribbean region as customers including Banco de Chile, Bladex, Sicredi, Citibank, Inverunion, PanCaribbean Financial Services, and FirstCaribbean International Bank.
Banco de Chile, one of their early customers selected i-flex to replace its entire core processing system and the project is currently underway in Chile. Likewise, Bladex of Panama, a leading 2nd tier bank in the region, selected their solutions to transform their core and business intelligence platforms.

To know more, visit: www.iflexsolutions.com

Talk on Latin America at IIM Kolkata 2 November

My friends laughed... when I mentioned that I was going to give a talk at the IIM. They asked if i was inspired by a colourful politician who gave a talk at IIM recently.

It struck me. Surely the rustic wisdom of Bihar and the lusty Latin America add new dimensions to the otherwise staid and serious business of management. The first one is important to understand the growing rural market of India while the second one will help to reach out to the promising Latin American market. Understanding of the culture is the key to business success in both the cases.

Latin America can surely teach how to have fun and enjoy life to our young managers, who miss out on these, in their unrelenting pursuit of career glory. Salsa and Samba will reinvogorate the management mind.

Of course, our globalising managers need to understand the culture of Latin America to do business with this region which is becoming prosperous and stable and is offering opportunities for Indian business.

IIM Kolkata has a tie up with a management school in Rio and their delegation has come back from a successful trip to Latin America recently.

Mexican Printing Business delegation 18-23 october

This 9- member delegation will stay at taj mahal hotel, New Delhi. The programme is being arranged by the mexican Embassy. contact Luis Gerardo sec.comercial@gmail.com
CII organising meeting on 19 oct. contact Gunveena Chadha
Progr includes meeting with Federation of Printers and Printing machinery Association

Delegation List

Mr. Alfredo Virgen Vallado Director General of Educational Programs S.A. of C.V. and National President Canagraf

Mr. Carlos Almeida HerreraDirector General of Color Cuatro S.A. and National Vice President Canagraf

Prof. Marco Suárez Director General of Commercial Lithography S.A. and Advisory Secretary Canagraf

Mr. Arturo Adona Castro Director General de Cajas Micro, S.A. and National Ex-President Canagraf

Mrs. Maria de los Angeles Cuevas de Virgen Director General of Mexican Publidiza

Mr. Ricardo Macias González Director General of Canagraf

Mr. Eduardo Pérez Abarca Coordinator of Projects for Canagraf

Mr. Araceli Aguerre Balido

Business with the New Latin America- book by Thomas Becker

Doing business in the New Latin America
a guide to cultures, practices and opportunities

by Thomas Becker- 2004

The title of the book is self explanatory. I finished the book(230 pages) in two sittings today. The reason is obvius. The subject is dear to my mind and heart. While many conclusions of the author are similiar to mine, I learnt some new things particularly on the historical roots of Latino business culture.

It is meant for the Americans, who have stereotyped vision about Latin America.
It is useful for the Indian businessmen too.

The author brings out the emerging new Latin America breaking free from its forgettable past.
He is optimistic about the new latino mindset driving politics and business of the region.

The author has dug into the historical reasons for the difference in business approach of Latinos from those of Americans. he has traced it to the Iberian colonial mindset, vertical hierarchy, influence of the sword and cross, unrealistic and rigid royal rules to be flouted in practice and the civil law deriving from the Romans and Napoleonic code. The last is important since it limits what is permissible as those predefined. But in the common law followed in Anglo American world, the right to act exists unless otherwise specified.

The author has vividly portrayed the cultural dimension of latino business. some highlights:
- language of latinos has two more forms besides the verbal. watch out for silence and the body language.
-manana does not mean tomorrow. It means not today.
-Negocios ( business) in spanish means denial of leisure (nego- denial, ocios-leisure).
-trust and face saving more important than a piece of paper called as contract.
- time is construed as cyclical ( another opportunity might come!) by latinos while Americans take it as linear.
- negotiations are spontaneous and impulsive.

I will recommend this book for the Indian businessmen pursuing opportunities in Latin America.

Business Visas for Central America

good news !

Honduras and Guatemala have agreed to give visas for Indian bz visitors, without the need for prior approval from their immigration depts and foreign offices. Prior approval used to take lot of time earlier .

Of course, they do not have embassies in India. But visa application can be made in their embassies in other countries.

Costa Rica has announced that Indian bz visitors do not need visas for entry. Ideal solution !

Credit for this goes to Ambassdor Tomar in Panama, who has been pursuing this vigorously.

We are hoping that Nicaragua and El salvador will also follow this lead soon. There is still no success with panama, which takes months for prior approval for issue of visa. There is also problem with Belize, which has onerous conditions for visa. For belize, visa application can be made with the British High Commission in India.

Latin America Seminar at Bangalore, 29 september

I was the key-note speaker in the seminar. I spoke about the change of mindset of bz and political leaders of India and latin america, which has opened up tremendous opportunities for trade and investments.

-The trade of 6.2 billion dollars in 2005 could be doubled in the next three years. The growth in the coming years is going to be quantum jumps and not just incremental.

-More than trade, the investment of indian cos in latin america have reached close to 3 billion dollars, with plans for additional investment of another billion in the next two years.

- Latest investment is by BEML in Rio de janeiro in a plant for production of railway wagons, mining and earth moving equipments. The 20 million dollar investment in the plant will make it a platform for exports to the other markets of latin america as well.

-Indian brands such as Reliance, Tata, Mahindra, Mittal, Essar, Jindal, bajaj, Thermax, Praj, Maruti are well established and recognised in the region, opening the doors for the entry of other Indian cos.

- Engg products are the leading items of export to mexico and central america, while chemicals and pharma are the main exports to Brazil and south America.

-The exporters should participate in sectoral fairs in sao paulo and mexico, as well as in ITPO fair in march 2007 in sao paulo.

-The exporters should have three distinct strategies for the three different markets of large ( brazil, mexico and argentina), medium size countries( colombia, chile etc) and small markets of central america and caribbean.

-Finally I gave an overview of the latin American market which is becoming stable and prosperous.

The Chilean Ambassador Jorge Heine, Miss Canela from Dominican Republic Embassy and Mr Alonso Gortari, Director General of Foreign Economic Relations of the Mexican foreign office gave presentations on their markets.

Eximbank and ECGC representatives gave details of their schemes for supporting exports to latin america.

Jibu mathew of UL India Ltd gave a useful presentation on the certifications and standards required in the latin american market. His contact: jibu.mathew@in.ul.com and www.ul-asia.com

Deepak Kumar of UTI worldwide spoke about logistics for trade with latin america. contact: dkumar@go2uti.com

I was surprised by the punctuality of the audience, despite the notorious bangaore trafic jams. The 100 plus exporters arrived and took seats well before the starting of the function at 10.45 am. Good bye to IST ( Indian Stretchable Time ) and welcome to the new business mindset, which values time !

During the function, Dr Ravichandran , secy- general of Indo-latin American chamber of commerce , Chennai presented to me a copy of his Ph.D thesis " Differentiated market strategies for business with latin america". He has generously acknowledged my "guidance, advice, inputs and support" for his research.

The seminar was held at Hotel Capitol, Bangalore by EEPC , southern regional office. Credit for the success of the event goes to Ganesan of EEPC Chennai.

CII meeting with Mexican business delegation

This meeting on 26 September, was with the business delegation lead by the Vice Minister of Small Scale Industries, currently visiting India.

The Minister highlighted the growing strength of mexican economy.
- inflation is just 3 percent.
- interest rate 7.3 percent. This is important since interest rates are generally high in other countries of the region and especially in Brazil, where the primary rate is double that of Mexico.
-Fiscal deficit nearing zero
-country risk is a historic low of 111 basic points. In the case of Brazil it is 222 and Argentina 324.
- Forex reserves at a high of 80 billion dollars.
- Mexico has signed FTAs with 43 countries in the world, the largest

The political economy in the next six years is going to be better with the pro-business Felipe Calderon taking over as president on 1 December.

Mexico is expected to take part in the International Engg Fair of CII in feb 2007.

I advised CII to take a bz delegation to mexico, as was done by them in the case of Brasil earlier this month.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Amitabh of Aditya Birla group, which is setting up a carbon black plant in mexico and has other investment plans.

This is the first visit of a software delegation from mexico, which is a virgin mkt for our IT bz.
here is the contacts of some of the mexican delegates and their interests:

1 Eduardo Ruiz Esparza
Director General
IDZ Online
RFID – Tecnología
0181 8363 7260 cel 0181 1277 1508
eesparza@rfidmx.com
Monterrey NL
Small
IDZ is the most active RFID research and development center in Latin America, integrated by a multidisciplinary and RFID certified team with expertise in native and enabled solutions for all stages of RFID projects. We offer: staff outsourcing, consulting services, and build solutions.
Alliances, Developers
2 Dr. Jorge Alonso
Border Tech / Ceni2t
Innovation Center for the Development of Embeded software, Biotecnology, Micro Electronics Projects
664 674 5074
jorge@ceni2t.org
Ensenada, B.C.
Medium
Research and Development in Wireless, software, Biotecnology, Micro Electronics
CENI2T is an innovation center for the development of knowledge-based value. Our main service provides a high-profile research and technical team for the development of intellectual property in high tech projects such as: semiconductors, MEMS, wireless, sensors, biotech, pharmaceutical, embedded software, and IT. A key benefit is supplying the teams, facilities, processes, and infrastructure that our clients need, at a much lower cost than the United States.
Alliances with Research Centers and Innovation Centers.

3 Ing. Mauricio Santillan
Director General
Visionaria
IT Business Consulting
55 5093 0900
mailto:mauricio.santillan@visionaria.com
México, D.F.
Medium
Consulting to High Tech Small and Médium Companies to acellerate their process to introduce new technologies to the market, quality control and Business Models.
Venture Capital Fund in the high tech industry based in Mexico. Provide business acceleration consulting services to small and medium companies. Attract and develop small and medium companies creating ecosystems to cover specific vertical markets i.e. Government, Health, Information technology and banking. Also provides headhunting services for the IT industry in Mexico
Looking for companies interested in landing high tech products in Mexico. Willing to explore investment ventures in Mexico

4 Ing. Claudio Arriola
Director General
Grupo Logistico Mexicano
Logistics
664 647 5787
claudio.arriola@glmex.com
Tijuana, B.C.
Micro
Logistics services to maquiladora companies around the world
Technology and Logistics Software

5 Dr. Raúl Carvajal
Innovation in Small and Medium Size Technology Companies
FUMEC
IT
55 5200 0589
rcarvajal@fumec.org
emondragon@fumec.org
México, D.F.
Medium
India Technology Maps, to have a clear vision of the IT nitch markets and business opportunity areas.

6 Ing. Eduardo Valtierra Padrón
Presidente
CANIETI Noroeste
Electronics, Telecomm and IT
664 686 6646
presidente@canieti.org eduardo@valtierra.com.mx
Tijuana, B.C.
Micro
Education and Certification programs in IT and Multimedia
Educational Software