Turning the ship.
By far the hardest part of making a business work is dealing with
change. Competitors come and go, market conditions flip-flop--even the
weather can make or break a harvest, a shipment, and retail . . .
Waiting room.
Four months: That's how long a recent public-health
workers' strike lasted in Nicaragua. Meanwhile, a three-year-old
waits for treatment in Managua. The strike paralyzed 32 public hospitals
and 100 . . .
Wallet watch.
The New Year will be a properous one for many Latin Americans.
Salaries in 2007 are expected to climb. According to a poll conducted by
Mercer Human Resource Consulting, salaries worldwide will . . .
Venezuela: running on empty.
Beginning in 2003, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez went on a
spending spree, channeling much of the country's oil money to his
administration's many social programs. Now Venezuela is . . .
Indicators.
BOLIVIA
THE ANDEAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, a multilateral lending agency,
approved US$42 million for Bolivia to build the Riberalta-Guayaramerin
highway on the Bolivian-Brazilian border.
. . .
Community center: tips from the concierge at the Hotel Sol Melia
in Brasilia.
Can you recommend a restaurant for a business lunch or dinner
(besides your own)?
The hotel is strategically located next to the city's two main
tourism areas and good restaurants. Next to the . . .
Brazilian Polynesia: a once sleepy Pernambuco beach goes
five-star, but not everyone is happy.
Over the last few years, Brazil's northeast coast has
witnessed an investment boom in its tourism sector. The number of
European retirees visiting the region has grown, fueling demand. At the
end . . .
Power employers 2006: where to work in Latin America and
why.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Few young people would say
"middle manager," but that is, in fact, where many of them end
up. It can be a frustrating experience. Companies are . . .
The reformer.(Entrevista)
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias is a man blessed with a clear,
strong vision. While many countries in the region are busy stockpiling
weapons, Arias is leading a global force to stop them. His . . .
On the radar: as free trade kicks in, Central American
governments compete for investor dollars.
While relatively small markets and a history of political turmoil
have kept Central America off the radar for many investors, the region
is heating up. The DR-Cafta free trade agreement with the . . .
Box bonanza: private investors plan to open a new container port
to handle Brazil's growing trade.
Over the last few years, Brazil has broken record after record in
terms of cross-border business. Now the country's ports, the main
channels to foreign markets, struggle to move the heavy flow of . . .
How not to compete: economic growth need not come at the cost of
worker pay, health or safety.
In theory, free trade between the United States and Latin America
is supposed to lift millions out of poverty. In spite of several
regional trade pacts in recent years, however, nearly 40% of . . .
Doing better at doing good: social entrepreneurs are alchemists
with a sprinkle of engineering.
Modern social entrepreneurs are several decades removed from the
person who inspired many of them: Mahatma Gandhi. Murdered in 1948, the
Indian leader showed the world that the price of a dream is . . .
Problem solver.
Jose Miguel Insulza became Secretary General of the Organization of
America States (OAS) in 2005. Since then, he has mediated conflicts
among member states and battled poverty, corruption and lack . . .
Big bank watch.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
DEAR SHAREHOLDER ...
* Banco Bradesco
Brazil's largest private bank earned US$740.2 million during
the second quarter of 2006, 22.9% more than it did a year earlier. . . .
Upscale retail.
The big-money fashion retail world is making a bet on Latin
America. U.S. retailer Saks Fifth Avenue is coming to Mexico City's
Santa Fe shopping center in September 2007.
You can already find . . .
Mixed signals.
The economies of Latin America have been booming lately due to
record-high prices for raw materials like oil, copper and soy. But the
party could soon be over--or not, depending on whom you ask. . . .
Get it done.
Doing business became easier in most of Latin America in 2006.
Surprisingly, underdeveloped economies like Nicaragua fared well in the
ranking while giants such as Brazil ranked poorly. The World . . .
By the bunch.
Booming economies in Central America--along with stiff new free
trade rules--are pumping up a U.S. agriculture export" grapes. The
DR-Cafta free trade deal immediately lowered tariffs on U.S. . . .
Trickling down.
Chile is the world's largest producer of copper. After several
years of high prices, the country is swimming in money. The whole
country, not just in the capital: In the small northern, . . .
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