Other News & Events

Concession for additional Peruvian airports to be awarded soon, 1 August 2010

LIMA: ProInversion, the private investment promotion agency of Peru, is likely to award the concession to build additional airports in the country during the fourth quarter of this year, according to Business News Americas, citing an un-named official from the agency.

A total of six airport terminals in southern Peru are planned. The concession had been expected to be awarded in June or July but this was delayed because the final version of the contract took longer than expected to be drawn up, according to the official.

The document is being reviewed by the comptroller general, the official said.

Although authorities have not established a definite date, the official says the contract is expected to be approved by the end of August.

The entity will call for technical and financial bids to be submitted once the contract is officially approved, the official added.

The terminals included in the package are: Apurimac region's Andahuaylas airport, terminals in regions Arequipa and Ayacucho, Puno's Juliaca, Puerto Maldonado in Madre de Dios and Tacna.

The 25-year concession will require an estimated US$237 million investment that will be co-financed by the state. The recipient of the concession will operate and maintain the airports, as well as design, finance and carry out improvement works.

Source: Business News Americas

Uruguayan land prices lift, 1 August 2010

MONTEVIDEO: Land prices rose in Uruguay in the first half of 2010 according to La Nación.

The average price is currently $US2519 per hectare, up from $US2426 per hectare at the start of the year.

From January to June 2010, a total of 180,000 hectares were sold for $US 451 million - an 8 percent increase over the same period in 2009.

The main purchasers were soy producers from Argentina and Brazil, along with European and American forestry companies.

Source: La Nación

Chile exports its first shipments of organic meat, 18 august 2010

SANTIAGO: Chilean company Frigorifico Osorno of Coyhaique is exporting its first shipment of organic meat to Germany, local newspaper El Mercurio reported.

The company is promoting organic pasture feeding to farmers in southern Chile, El Mercurio reported, and is also undertaking market studies to implement the production of organic meat in Chile to be exported to markets in the US, Asia and Europe.

Promoting organic pasture feeding to domestic farmers has taken the company 24 months, and the cattle were only allowed to be fed on land that was certified by IMO Chile, the country’s official organics certifier.

“In the future it is possible for producers to opt to feed the animals 50 percent on organic pasture and 50 percent using organic concentrates but at the moment this type of feed is not available,” El Mercurio said.

Chile currently has 1,395 hectares certified as 100 percent organic and is hoping to obtain certification for another 13,000 hectares also in Coyhaique and a small parcel of land in Osorno.

Source: El Mercurio

Benefiting from Latin American Baby Boomers, 16 August 2010

BRASILIA: Manufacturers of consumer packaged goods need to re-think how they market products to Latin America’s baby-boomers, according to research and business intelligence firm Nielsen.

Nielsen said that while the trend of lower birth rates combined with longer life expectancies in Europe and the United States had been well documented, the trend also extended to Latin America.

Analysis from Nielsen showed that people aged 50+ currently made up 19 percent of the population in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Puerto Rico. However those numbers are expected to rise to 26 percent by 2025 and 38 percent by 2050, according to Nielsen.

“In the next 10 to 12 years, one of every four consumers will be over age 50, and as in other countries around the world, older Latin Americans are defying the traditional stereotypes. They are more affluent, spend more money and are open to new brands and products,” Mary Paz Roman from Nielsen in Latin America said.

“As competition for a greater share of consumers’ pesos, reals and dollars grows more intense, retailers and manufacturers should re-assess how they view this consumer group if they hope to seize the opportunities this new reality offers.”

According to Nielsen, categories that currently attracted a greater preference among more mature Latin Americans include hot and cold beverages, sweeteners/sugar, pet food and hair dyes and coloring, and retailers and manufacturers can expect increased popularity in years to come.

“But other categories that could benefit – if manufacturers innovate and appeal specifically to this demographic – include a number of health and beauty segments such as shampoo, conditioners and deodorants,” Nielsen added.

Source: The Nielsen Company

NZ and Chile commit to energy cooperation, 21 june 2010

Minister of Energy and Resources Gerry Brownlee and Chilean Minister of Energy Dr Ricardo Raineri Bernain met in Wellington today and affirmed the growing importance of the energy relationship between New Zealand and Chile.

“The Trans Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (P4) has provided a strong framework on which to build linkages between New Zealand and Chile in the energy sector,” Mr Brownlee said.

Dr Raineri arrived in New Zealand immediately following the 9^th APEC Energy Ministerial meeting in Japan.  Both Ministers agreed that APEC provided a valuable framework for energy cooperation.

“New Zealand and Chile are geographically similar, with common potential for the development of renewable energies,” Mr Brownlee said.

Sectors of mutual interest include geothermal energy, wind energy, biomass, biofuels, and marine energy.

“We have agreed to build on existing agreements and arrangements to promote strengthened energy linkages, including between relevant government agencies, research and science institutes, universities and businesses,” Mr Brownlee said.

For the full joint statement from Ministers Brownlee and Raineri, visit: www.mfat.govt.nz

Chile redefining agriculture development policy, 21 june 2010

SANTIAGO: Chilean President Sebastian Pinera outlined his vision for the country’s agricultural sector in a speech to Chile’s Congress last month.

In his speech the President said that with over two million Chileans working in the agricultural sector, the government was going to create a ‘state policy in favour of agriculture.’

President Pinera said the challenge was to turn Chile into a true food producing power by ‘taking advantage of increase in demand due to new consumers, and a reduction in world supply due to global warming.’

Documentation supporting the President’s speech outlined 25 specific priorities for the agri-forestry sector development.

Source: Chilean Government

Arrangement on cooperation in the field of new zealand renewable energy between the ministry of economic development of new zealand and the secretariat of energy of the united mexican states, 29 march 2010

The Ministry of Economic Development of New Zealand and The Secretariat of Energy of the United Mexican States

Having identified new and renewable energy as a common area of interest;

Desiring to indentify and establish cooperative activities between the Participants that will allow them to develop and use new and renewable energy technologies;

Nothing the existing collaboration between the Participants on energy matter under the framework of the APEC Energy Working Group and associated Expert Groups;

Taking into account the Basic Agreement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the United Mexican States on Scientific and Technological Cooperation signed in Mexico City on 23 August 1983; and

Desiring to conclude an Arrangement to build upon the Basic Agreement;

Have reached the following understanding in the agreement...

Five Years for NZ Before Latin America et al Catches Up, 19 April 2010

New Zealand agriculture has as little as five years before large-scale intensive farming in South America, western China and central Asia erodes its cost advantage in producing bulk commodities, according to accountant KPMG. Click here to read whole article.