Friday, January 18, 2007

On behalf of the Government of Canada, we are pleased to invite you to participate in a Trade Mission for Businesswomen to Jamaica and Barbados January 20-25, 2008. The Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, will lead the mission. As one of her priorities Secretary of State Guergis champions the involvement of businesswomen in international trade.

The trade mission will focus on opportunities in the following sectors: Agriculture (including food and beverages); Technology and Equipment; Apparel; Bio Industries (including biotech); Building Products and Construction; Education and Training; Environmental Services and Technologies; Financial Services; Health Industries (including healthcare); Information and Communications Technologies (ICT); and, Investment Services (especially banking, insurance and capital projects).

In addition, we see many opportunities in International Human Resources and Staffing Services.The program will consist of seminars and site visits, hospitality events and networking opportunities designed to introduce participants to local government decision-makers and business leaders, as well as Canadian business people active in the region with experience to share. Officials at the Canadian Embassies in Jamaica and Barbados will also work with you to identify potential business partners and set up one-on-one meetings.

Carrie Marr
Business Development Officer, International Trade Missions Division
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-9293
carrie.marr@international.gc.ca

Brigitte Martin
Business Development Officer, International Trade Missions Division
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-944-7072
brigitte.martin@international.gc.ca

Rosie Zolla
Trade Commissioner, Central America, Latin America and Caribbean Division
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-943-8807
rosie.zolla@international.gc.ca

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6th Latin American Leadership Forum - 'Building the Global Network for Sustained Competitiveness & Opportunity'

Save the date! April 1-3, 2008 in Miami, Florida (just prior to the Annual Meetings of the Inter-American Development Bank).

Strategic Projects - The 6° Annual Leadership Forum hosts the Top 50 strategic infrastructure projects in Latin America, across 10 sectors - electricity generation, water/wastewater, ports & logistics, mining, urban mass transit, tourism, highways, oil & gas, 'new' infrastructure and strategic projects (those that most transform the region's competitiveness). The theme - "Building the Global Network for Sustained Competitiveness & Opportunity" - focuses on bringing global resources - and a vision of where the world is going - to the design and financing of the next generation of projects. 50 Project Presentations, each of 10-12 minutes, over two days!

CEO Forum - A new and innovative feature of the 6° Leadership Forum is the participation of 10 key infrastructure decision-makers from around the globe, including 5 CEO's and an equal number of heads of state. Presentations will be both live and interactive, and pre-taped, focusing on why Latin America needs to quadruple its investment in infrastructure, how that is going to happen, and who is going to benefit - over 30 years!

Private Meetings - Private Meetings will go live on January 31, 2008. Each registrant in the Forum has the right to schedule up to 15 private meetings, each of 15 minutes in length, with project presenters, sponsors, and participating CEO's. This evolving model has proven highly successful. As one participant in our recent Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum said "this works great, I make my numbers every year at your meetings - and since you started our revenues have grown 20 times!"

"Deep Dives" - Increasingly the Leadership Forum provides context for private sector participants, and a strong feedback loop for the public sector, through workshops, roundtables and breakfasts, all organized by sponsors and focused on specific topics. Last year's successful workshops included a World Economic Forum event on infrastructure financing; for this year the 'deep dives' will focus on Brazil, South American and IIRSA, "What is Really Going on in the Region's Infrastructure - Winning and Losing Sectors, Countries and Regions," and "Making the DR/Cafta Competitive."

World Class Sponsors - Key sponsors for the 6° Annual Latin American Leadership Forum include the following: Platinum - Banco Centro-Americano de Integración Regional, CEI-RD Gold -- Banco do Brasil, CitiBank, Export Development Canada; MIGA - World Bank Group, and Panalpina.

CG/LA Infrastructure LLC
1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Suite 707
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 776-0990
Fax: (202) 776-0994
Email: nfa@cg-la.com

Av. Paulista, 2, 202 Cj 61
Sao Paulo, S.P. 01310 300, Brazil
Tel: 55 11 3285-2055
Fax: 55 11 3285-2967

Grupo Modelo, Molson in Joint Venture for Modelo Beer Importation into
Canadian…
( Exec Canada )

Grupo Modelo-Mexico's leading company in the brewing, distribution and sale of beer-and Molson Coors Brewing Co. - owner of the Corona brand –announce venture to market Modelo beer in Canada.

The 50/50 joint venture, known as Modelo Molson Imports L.P., will be to import, distribute and market the Modelo beer brand portfolio in all Canadian provinces and territories.

Modelo brands
Led by Robert Armstrong, previously CEO for Modelo's office in Canada, the venture will consist of six directors, half from Grupo Modelo and half from Molson, including Jose Pares, Vice-president International Markets for Grupo Modelo, and Dave Perkins, Molson Coors Chief Strategy Officer.

The joint venture will build on the existing successful arrangement through which Molson has already been importing, distributing and marketing Modelo brands in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces," said Rodrigo Testas, Director of North America for Grupo Modelo.

The deal came into effect January 1st, 2008.

New foreign minister, Marisol Argueta de Barrillas, was appointed Wednesday by El Salvadorian President Antonio Saca to replace Francisco Lainez.

Xinhua reports that, "Saca told journalists at the Presidential House that Argueta has the ability to strengthen El Salvador's relations with the rest of the world, protect the rights of Salvadorans working overseas and promote trade agreements with other countries."

Lainez resigned Tuesday to partake in the election of the Nationalist Republican Alliance, the current ruling party.

ArcelorMittal to Acquire Venezuelan Steel Pipe Manufacturer Unicon
( Manufacturing Exec)

ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel company, will acquire Unicon, the leading manufacturer of welded steel pipes in Venezuela to strengthen its welded steel pipes business in South America.

Unicon who employ 2,445 people across six pipe making facilities in Venezuela supplies the Oil & Gas and Industrial & Construction sectors both domestically and overseas.

Aditya Mittal, CFO and Member of the ArcelorMittal Group Management Board, said classed the takeover as “complementary,” and would expand Arcelor’s position in the fast growing Americas market.

In a statement, Arcelor said that the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and will release more details once the deal is closed.

Trade unions and representatives of the Finance and Public Credit Ministry announced the increase of minimum salaries to 15 percent Thursday.

The measures coincided with the data given Wednesday by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega during an activity with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez.

Private enterprises proposed an increase of only 12 percent, although they consider the agreement a good one and not far from their objectives.

Recently, spokesmen from the International Monetary Fund warned that if the increase went over 12 percent, Nicaragua would lose the benefits of an existing agreement with that international financial entity.

Argentina's Wheat Shipments Benefit From Closed Corn Registrations
(Brazilian Markets)

In the near term, Argentina's ports will handle a large flow of wheat exports as a result of the government's requirement that all sales be shipped within 90 days.

Registrations reached 7 million tons at the beginning of December 2007 before the government closed registrations indefinitely to assess the condition of the current crop.

Because of the time restriction on shipping registrations, wheat exports will reach levels of at least 2.3 million tons per month from December 2007 through February 2008.

However, since corn registrations are currently closed, sufficient port capacity is available to handle the expected increased wheat export pace. Historical shipments of wheat, corn, and soybeans have been as high as 7 million tons, set in May of 2005.

If the government opens and places time restrictions on corn and wheat registrations, then logistical constraints could follow, especially since soybeans ship during the same period.

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Disclaimer – CCA Update is provided as an information service to our members and key contacts. It is designed to provide the most up-to-date trade information from a variety of sources. The information we feature does not necessarily reflect the Council’s opinion on a given international trade issue. Although we endeavour to disclose accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. The Canadian Council for the Americas cannot assume any responsibility for actions taken solely or principally on the basis of information provided.