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Martin Porcel Managing Director of the Ohio Department of Development International Trade Division in Buenos Aires, visited Ohio.
As part of the yearly trip to Ohio, Martin Porcel visited the State for one week meeting different “Buckeyes” companies interested in doing business in Argentina. This trip included two presentations at seminars in Midford and Cincinnati.
Also Mr. Porcel met with Governor Strickland and Lieutenant Governor Fisher, both recently elected officials to head the Executive Power of the State of Ohio.
As part of the programmed events, Mr. Porcel attended a reception at The State House with more than five hundred invitees. Lieutenant Gov. Fisher was also present at the reception. Lieutenant Governor Fisher, Thank Director Porcel for all the work done in Argentina on behalf of Ohioan companies.
——————————————————————————————————————— LATINLIBER - The Highway Approach in South American Politics - Will Uruguay sign a free trade agreement with the US? By Martin Porcel In a highway the motorists overpass slower cars using the left lane but once they pass the obstacle, they move back to the right lane. Politicians in South America do the same: they advance on the left and govern on the right!
If not, how can we explain the conduct of the most prominent political personalities in South America? The ultra leftist President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, verbally attacks the US every time he has a opportunity -leading a pack of Castro admirers- while keeping the US as his biggest source of Oil income and a great partner to do business with. In Brazil, President Lula came into power with the support of the “without land movement” and a coalition of left parties, but just a few days ago paid in full the national debt that Brazil had with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The same happened in Argentina, where President Kirchner, gained popularity with an anti IMF speech and, in a move without precedent, paid in full and in advance the entire debt with the Washington based organization.
Another significant example is the newly elected President of Bolivia. Mr. Evo Morales received during the campaign, the support of all the Socialist Presidents in South America, but as soon as he won the elections raised by more than 100% the cost of the natural gas sold to the neighboring countries. That was both, a kiss goodbye to the solidarity gas price for the “South American Hermanos”, and a good capitalist move.
In Uruguay, Socialist President Vazquez will have to make a hard decision: remain in MERCOSUR (Common Market of the South) or sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with their largest export partner, the US. If the incentive is a commercial one, the reason is very simple; but in political terms, it might be hard to justify signing an agreement with “The imperialists “.
It is hard to justify the agreement if we consider that President Vazquez gained office with the support of a leftwing coalition. His own Cabinet is a good sample of “campaign commitments”. The Minister of Foreign Relations is the leader of the Socialist Party. The Minister of Economy is the head of “ASAMBLEA URUGUAY”. The Minister of Agriculture is the leader of the “Tupamaro Movement” – a Maoist Terrorist Group very active during the 70’-. The Minister of Social Development is the head of the Communist Party in Uruguay; and the Minister of Education is the President of the left coalition: FRENTE AMPLIO.
Also signing an FTA with the US means trouble with the MERCOSUR partners, since their agreement is to negotiate as a block and not independently. That is why the MERCOSUR-European Union Agreement is on hold and the MERCOSUR-FTAA agreement failed during the last Summit of the Americas, in the beach resort of Mar del Plata. Also President Vazquez will have a lot to explain to his leftwing voters whom during the campaign heard his anti-imperialist speech over-and-over again.
Last year President Vazquez asked Minister of Industry Jorge Lepra to prepare his visit to the US and the encounter with President Bush. The request was logical since the Minister prior to joining the Government was a regional executive for Texaco Oil and a Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Uruguay. The trip was a total success.
Now the Minister is the leading voice in the promotion of an FTA with the US and it is understandable because the US is the first destination for Uruguayan exports. Also the Uruguayan Congress recently approved the Investment Treaty with the US, a treaty that had a great political cost for the leftwing government, but passed.
Surprisingly, the Minister of Industry is not the only Cabinet member supporting the US-Uruguay Free Trade Agreement, many of the old guard leftwing Ministers support it as well, off the record.
They might be able to go on the record and push the agreement for the benefit of both countries and the region if they just in plain words explain to the voters the Highway Approach in South American Politics!
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WORLD TRADE CENTER NEWS - New York, USA And The Winner Is ... By Martin Porcel
For the first time in the history of Argentina, the result of a Presidential election is a runoff. On May 18, Argentineans will have to decide among former Argentina's President Carlos Menem and the Governor from the oil-rich Santa Cruz Province Nestor Kirchner.
In the land where soccer is passion, politics runs close. The decision is not expected to be an easy one. This passionate South American country will have to decide among two candidates that differ on how Argentina should move forward, even though they belong to the same political party.
But not only will the future be decided, the past will be taken into consideration when casting the final vote. Menem is blamed for sowing the seeds of the economic troubles by borrowing heavily, keeping the peso overvalued, and a serious suspicion of corruption on the people that surround him. Kirchner has the image of a prudent Governor, who made it to the runoff thanks to the political support received by the outgoing President Eduardo Duhalde, the question in mind is how much is Kirshner in debt for this support.
Menem is a liberal who favors close ties with the United States and the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, and Kirchner will give priority to the MERCOSUR (South American Common Market, composed of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with two associate members, Bolivia and Chile) wanting a closer relationship with Argentina's South American neighbors.
Despite the tension of the electoral process, there are several things to point out as a result of this election. None of the candidates that supported breaking with the IMF and the world made it.
The election was transparent and without incidents. The day after, the market opened without pressure on the dollar, and no economic downfalls are expected if either candidate wins.
Argentina continues recovering, slowly but steady, from the worst economic crisis in history, exporting more, importing capital goods, with deposits returning to banks, and without social tension.
Any one that knows this part of the world understands the value of all this, that's why we can say: And the winner is ... Argentina!
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The Business Review, New York - USA Trade focus on Argentina The Capital Region World Trade Center will host a roundtable discussion on Argentina, the second of two roundtables on Latin America, at 10:30 a.m. May 9 in the Activity Forum at Schenectady County Community College. The guest expert is Martin Porcel, director of the New York State Economic Development Trade Office in Argentina. Porcel will lead a discussion of the prospects for U.S. businesses in Argentina. Mr. Porcel has an incredible experience in International commerce and will be visiting Buffalo just for one day. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from a “Guru” in international Trade. Register now, vacancies are limited. |
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