wordpress CMS theme

Report Card: BA Government “Making Up For Lost Time”

On December 14, 2009, In arts & entertainment, competitiveness, culture, foreign investment, lifestyle, technology, visionaries, by InvestBA
All first graders in BA schools study English today; only 2 schools offered classes in 2001.

All first graders in BA schools study English today; only 2 schools offered such classes in 2001.

December is usually the time for making resolutions for the year ahead, but the Government of the City of Buenos Aires is looking back and celebrating the many achievements since December 2007 when conservative Mauricio Macri was elected Mayor. “In 2 years, we accomplished more than in the last 10,” declares the city’s microsite, “We’re making up for lost time.” The accomplishments are numerous and organized into eight broad categories including Health (20 new Health Centers, 35 new ambulances), Education & Culture (Broadband connectivity in 98% of schools, record attendance at Buenos Aires festivals), Economic Development (an emerging Technology District, the opening of an Investor Assistance Center for foreign investors), and Security (the new Metropolitan Police force, a state-of-the-art Urban Monitoring Center). Another noteworthy achievement is designed to prepare the next generation of porteños for a more competitive global environment: English as a Second Language is now being taught in all first grade classes in the City; second and third grades will be added in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The website is a shining example of transparency and accountability for a city government that has delivered on many 2007 campaign promises, is working today to improve the quality-of-life in Buenos Aires  and is preparing for Bicentennial celebrations in 2010. Hence, the new website’s tagline: Hicimos, Hacemos, Haremos (We Did It, We Are Doing It, We Will Do It).

0 Comments
Leave A Response

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • •
 

Subtes, Strikes & The “Anything Goes” Culture

On November 19, 2009, In competitiveness, foreign investment, by InvestBA
BA subway workers threw debris on the tracks to block service November 10.

BA subway workers threw debris on the tracks to block service November 10. (Source: Clarín)

One of the primary goals of InvestBA is to promote trade and investment opportunities in Buenos Aires, but in order to maintain credibility (and not come across as a Chamber of Commerce site), it’s important to highlight the occasional negatives as well. For that reason, “competitiveness” is one of the site’s main categories and these posts typically highlight the challenges Argentina faces in embracing economic transformation and competing on the global stage. Yesterday’s Brazilian article offered a laundry list of things that make BA great including a first-class subway system. Unfortunately, a Subte worker’s strike last week plunged the city into total chaos. The Miami Herald’s Andres Oppenheimer says the hidden costs of these strikes–440 so far this year–probably outweigh the millions of pesos in lost business. On a deeper level, the government’s willingness to let these strikes continue unabated is tantamount to embracing an “anything-goes” culture where chaos reigns and the political agendas of a few penalize millions of hard-working porteños. According to Oppenhemimer, Buenos Aires Mayor Maruicio Macri criticized the federal government at last month’s Americas Conference in Miami saying such protests and street closures only move Argentina “in the direction of an anarchic society, where there will be fewer investments and more poverty.” He added: “You often have just 10 people blocking traffic, and the police are protecting those 10 people instead of the hundreds of thousands who need to go to work. That’s ridiculous.” Indeed.

0 Comments
Leave A Response

Tagged with: • • • • • •
 

U.K. Investor On Argentina & Competitiveness

On November 5, 2009, In competitiveness, foreign investment, by InvestBA
U.K. Trade Executive Director Andrew Cahn was in Argentina as part of a 3-country tour.

U.K. Trade Executive Director Andrew Cahn was in Argentina as part of a 3-country tour.

Fresh off a tour of Argentina, Chile and Paraguay, the director of the U.K.’s export promotion office, U.K. Trade Investments, sits down with La Nación and engages in a bit of British diplomacy in describing which foreign markets he finds most attractive. “China and India are absolutely critical in overall strategy,” says Andrew Cahn, “There are other emerging markets that are growing rapidly which offer more opportunities like Turkey, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.” When it comes to Latin America, the Q&A probably doesn’t come as a surprise to groups like IDEA regarding Argentina’s global competitiveness vis-à-vis other Mercosur countries. “The big elephants are Brazil and Mexico, and we put more resources there, because they offer more opportunities,” explains Cahn, ” and Chile is growing rapidly and gives investors confidence.” So where does that leave Argentina in the U.K. Trade equation? Well, 30 of the the U.K.’s Top 100 companies have Argentine offices, and there is significant British investment in mining, petroleum, gas, banking and pharmaceuticals. But Cahn says greater transparency and clear rules of the game are needed to put Argentina on the fast track to global competitiveness.

0 Comments
Leave A Response

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • •
 

Argentine Executives Searching for IDEAs

On November 3, 2009, In competitiveness, foreign investment, visionaries, by InvestBA
Attendees of the 45th Annual IDEA Conference in Mar del Plata seek answers on global competitiveness

Attendees of the 45th Annual IDEA Conference seek answers on global competitiveness

One of Argentina’s most prestigious—and probing—private sector gatherings took place last week at the 45th Annual IDEA Conference in Mar del Plata. Over 800 Argentine executives met in the coastal resort town to ponder one giant question: Why is Argentina not more competitive on the global stage? Electronic voting commenced on the Conference’s Opening Day…hands on buzzers…top five answers are on the board. And in a pro-capitalist blast across the bow of the ruling Kirchner administration, an overwhelming 60% of those in attendance said “Public policies that take the life out of macroeconomic gains” were the primary obstacles hampering Argentina’s global competitiveness. According to La Nación, another 30% of respondents shared the blame with their political rivals and chose, “The Inability of Politicians and Businessmen to Adapt to the International Environment.” The IDEA debate and self-criticism comes on the heels of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2009-10 which ranked Argentina 85th out of 133 countries surveyed. According to the Report, the primary negative hurting Argentina’s overall ranking is the lack of confidence in the ethical standards of many of the country’s politicians.  Julián Rooney, VP of Public Affairs at Minera Alumbrera offered a positive spin at IDEA ‘09, “Argentina has incredible opportunities to keep growing. But we need to maintain clear (i.e., political) rules of the game in the long-term.”

1 Comments
Leave A Response

Tagged with: • • • • • •
 
 
© 2010 InvestBA, S.A.