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The Race for Numero Tres: Argentina, Colombia Competing for Foreign Investors

On January 30, 2012, In competitiveness, foreign investment, by InvestBA
PBI Argentina y Colombia

2014: The biggest South American battle might not be the World Cup in Brazil. (Click to enlarge)

During the 1990s, Argentina reported annual GDP numbers over US$150-200 billion greater than South American rival Colombia. Argentina’s financial crisis proved to be a great equalizer a decade ago leaving both Argentina and Colombia with 2002 GDP numbers of approximately US$100 billion.

The ensuing decade has been a story of tremendous growth and nearly lock-step movement as the two economies buck the global malaise and attract more foreign investment. And while Argentina may not be looking in the rearview mirror at the suddenly-surging chivita, Colombia definitely has its sights set on Argentina’s bumper and is easing into the passing lane, according to Jaume Viñas of CincoDias.com.

With mounting deficits, 23% unemployment and social unrest in Spain, Spanish companies are  ramping up their investments in Colombia to the tune of US$274 million in the first 9 months of 2011 alone compared to just US$119 million in all of 2010. Simultaneously, Spanish companies exported US$668 million in goods to Colombia between January and November 2011, a 32% increase over the same period in 2010.

“We believe we are going to surpass the GDP of Argentina in 2014,” says Colombian Minister of Industry Sergio Díaz-Granados, leaving little doubt about who Colombia considers their leading regional rival for the hearts and wallets of foreign investors. The economic stability and positive public image of Colombia created during the unflappable Uribe presidency has carried over to the Santos administration.

Regional investors in Colombia are drawn to the same growth story, consumption patterns and youthful demographics that exist in Argentina. And while Brazil plays host to the World Cup in 2014, the biggest regional battle may in fact be Argentina vs. Colombia for the title of Latin America’s third-largest economy. (Full Story in Spanish)

For more information about investment opportunities in Argentina, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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Staycations: Hoteles.com Report Shows More Argentines Want to Vacation at Home

On January 20, 2012, In competitiveness, foreign investment, lifestyle, tourism, by InvestBA
Busquedas de Hoteles.com en la Argentina

Half of the Top 10 are Argentine destinations according to Hoteles.com (Click to enlarge)

A new report from Hoteles.com sheds some interesting light on the most sought-after vacation destinations among Argentines. The worldwide leader in hotel reservations just published the Top 20 list of global destinations with the largest one-year increase in search requests among Argentines, and destinos argentinos dominated 3 of the Top 5 and 6 of the Top 10.

Cordoba ranked #1 with a whopping 496% increase in search requests between December 2010/2011 followed by El Clafate at #2 with a 489% increase and Iguazu Falls at #5 with a 447% increase over the same period. Other Argentine destinations on the Top 20 list were Tafi del Valle (#6, up 419%), Carilo (#7, up 418%), Tilcara (#9, up 405%) and Mendoza (#16, up 348%).

The Argentina Staycation movement was #7 on our 2011 list of Top 10 Trends and Market Movers, and it puts these Hoteles.com-triple-digit surges in interest in perspective. Currency controls and higher prices in both Brazil and Uruguay are making summer vacations across the river suddenly less appealing, while the US government wants to facilitate the tourist visa process for real-toting Brazilians but not for Argentines.

In response, Argentine tourists are beginning to follow the flow of smart money into the interior of the country to unspoiled provinces like Cordoba, Mendoza, Rio Negro and Salta where luxury developments are sprouting up with enough golf courses, gourmet cuisine and gorgeous views to help them slowly forget their international wanderlust. Add in the overall quality of life, affordability and safety which Argentina offers, and this Hoteles.com Top 20 ranking makes perfect sense. (Full Story in Spanish)

For more information about Argentina vacations and travel destinations, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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Argentina & Uruguay Rank Among The Safest Countries in Western Hemisphere

On January 18, 2012, In competitiveness, lifestyle, uruguay, by InvestBA
Homicidios Global Ranking

In terms of homicides per capita, Argentina and Uruguay share the same category as Canada and Western Europe.

We already know how favorably Buenos Aires ranks collectively in the Citi and Mercer global indices, while Argentina and Uruguay are consistently #1 and #2 in International Living’s Quality of Life Rankings for Latin America. Now comes a new global ranking and fortunately Argentina and Uruguay were a complete no-show: The Most Dangerous Cities in the World.

Mexico-based Seguridad, Justicia y Paz (Security, Justice and Peace) compiled the ranking based on homicide rates per capita in global cities with populations greater than 300,000. Not a single city in Argentina or Uruguay made the list of most dangerous cities in the world. In contrast, the countries with the most cities in the Top 50 were Brazil (14), Mexico (12), Colombia (5), the United States and South Africa (4 each).

The analysis of crime rates at the country level is equally positive for both Argentina and Uruguay which rank among the countries with the lowest homicide rates per capita in the Western Hemisphere. (Click image above). Both countries ranked just below the United States (#91) in terms of homicide rates per capita: Argentina with 2,465 homicides in 2011 ranked #92, while Uruguay with 183 homicides in 2011 ranked #93.  (Full Story in Spanish)

For more information about retirement and relocation opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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InvestBA Presents Argentina’s Top 10 Wine Export Markets

On January 11, 2012, In a-bric, competitiveness, lifestyle, wine & vineyards, by InvestBA

An excellent analysis today by MDZ Online’s Federico Manrique of the growth in Argentine wine exports and a closer examination of the Top 10 in terms of the US$ value of Argentine wine shipments abroad and total volume shipped in liters. The only problem is you would need a super-spy-secret-decoder-ring to decipher the blurred ranking from Wines of Argentina.

Ah, but fear not, brave Argentine wine enthusiast. We peeled the juicy data grapes and re-worked the country-by-country skinny in beautiful shades of Rosé, Bonarda and Gran Reserva Malbec. We even added annual wine consumption statistics to highlight the tremendous untapped upside in BRIC nations like Brazil (1.6 liters) and China (1.2 liters), two of Argentina’s hottest export markets posting annual gains of 22% and 73%, respectively. Now there’s something to toast in the New Year. Salud!  (Full Story in Spanish)

And for more information on Argentine wine and vineyards, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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Buenos Aires Real Estate Costs A Fraction of NYC, Paris And Now…Even Brazil

On January 9, 2012, In a-bric, competitiveness, foreign investment, real estate, by InvestBA
Imóveis em Sao Paulo e Rio de Janeiro estão mais caros que em Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires real estate is the most affordable of these 5 metros. (Click to enlarge)

But don’t take our word for it. This report comes from the Jornal Florianópolis in the Southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. The article written by Beatriz Thielmann of Jornal Floripa was intended to emphasize just how expensive real estate in Brazil is today, especially in Rio and Sao Paulo.

The headline, Real Estate in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro is More Expensive than European Cities, was the launching pad for an average cost comparison of an 860-square foot (80m2), two-bedroom condominium in some of the best neighborhoods of five global megacities: Buenos Aires, New York, Paris, Rio and Sao Paulo. ”Research shows that housing prices in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are something for the rich,” Thielmann writes adding, “It would be cheaper to have a view of the Eiffel Tower from your window.”

Of the five chosen cities, New York tops the list with a price of US$ 849,762 (R$ 1,572.060) followed closely by the Leblon Beach neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro at US$ 741,881 (R$ 1,372,480). The City of Lights clocks in at number three with an average price of US$ 648,649 (R$ 1,200,000) making it more affordable than Rio de Janeiro but still more expensive than Sao Paulo. The average two-bedroom apartment in the Jardim Paulista barrio of SP costs US$ 414,486 (R$ 766,800) or US$ 481 per square foot (US$ 5,175 per m2).

Buenos Aires real estate is the cheapest of Thielmann’s Fab Five with an average price of US$ 181,504 (R$ 335,782). Compared to Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo properties are 128% more expensive, Paris 257%, Rio 308% and New York 368%. (Full Story in Portuguese)

For more information about investing in Buenos Aires real estate, check out the current issue of Luxury Latin America and download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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