Dear Reader,


Greetings. More and more Indian companies are showing interest in doing business with Latin America as they seek exposure to growing markets across the world. The reputed Wall Street Journal, quoting R. Viswanathan, India's Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, said that investment by Indian companies in Latin America has touched $9 billion so far and some of them have begun to expand through mergers and acquisitions across the region. The cover story of the current issue of Indo-LAC Business carries a report on the lure of Latin America as a secure investment destination for Indian companies. We also highlight the importance of an up-coming summit on corporate governance at which the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies top the agenda. We present a report sharing the optimism expressed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, whose budget for 2010-11 projects 9.0 percent GDP growth for the Indian economy. In the Focus section, we present a study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), estimating the cost of rebuilding the earthquake-devastated Haiti at a whopping $14 billion. In a touching tribute to the courage and undaunted spirit of Jose Musica, a one-time guerrilla, who has now become the President of Uruguay, Ambassador Viswanathan says the democratic journey of the South African leader should be an eye-opener to the dogmatic Indian Maoist militants. We also carry a report on how the IDB is working closely with the governments and private sector companies of the Latin American and Caribbean region by providing them additional financing and policy advice in order to lessen the impact of the recent global financial crisis. The approvals of the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) went up by 17 percent to touch a record $9.2 billion in 2009 despite the year being a difficult one due to the global economic crisis. We carry a report. We present a study by the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on how the recession-hit leather industry is recovering. In another analytical study, the Exim Bank says that the Indian gem and jewellery exports have risen despite recessionary conditions in the major markets of the US and Europe. The decade 2010-20 belongs to Brazil, one of the fastest developing nations of the world. Brazil, the cradle of football, will be hosting the 2014 World Cup soccer. In 2016, Rio de Janeiro, an exciting Brazilian city, will be hosting the summer Olympic Games. Both events are expected to give a big boost to Brazilian tourism. We carry a feature. There is the regular Spanish section besides plenty of news and other features.

Wish you happy reading

 

Satya Swaroop
Managing Editor
satya@newmediacomm.biz