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Argentina To Begin Courting More Asian Tourists

On February 1, 2011, In a-bric, tourism, by InvestBA
Messi Chery

Messi is already an unofficial ambassador in Asia thanks to his sponsorship deal with Chery.

Argentina set new tourism records last year in terms of airline passenger and cruise ship arrivals, but the country isn’t exactly resting on her laureles turi­sticos. In fact, Argentina and Chile are joining forces in a coordinated bi-national campaign to attract more tourists from Australia, South Africa, China and the Middle East.

The new Asian campaign was announced at last week’s Tercera Reunion Binacional de Ministros held in Santiago between Enrique Meyer and Jacqueline Plass, the Tourism Ministers of Argentina and Chile, respectively. The two ministers agreed to work together in attracting more Southern Cone tourists from so-called “long distance markets” which also include Singapore, Israel and Japan.

Events like the recently completed 2011 Dakar Rally highlight the kind of first-class tourist event the two countries can pull off when they co-brand, market and promote their cultural, man-made and natural amenities together. In that spirit, Meyer and Plass vowed more binational cooperation going forward including more sustainable development, skiing, trekking, fishing and outdoor tourism promotion. (Full Story in Spanish)

For more information about Buenos Aires events and Argentina destinations, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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VW Amarok Named 2011 Truck of the Year

On October 7, 2010, In competitiveness, foreign investment, by InvestBA
VW Amarok at Dakar 2010

Proving Grounds: The Amarok earned its stripes at this year's Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile.

Few things are more American than a pickup truck, and there was a time when Ford and Chevrolet were the only names that mattered to serious truck buyers. What a difference globalization, international competition, U.S. government-sponsored bailouts and punitive tariffs make.

UK-based MotorTransport just named the International Truck of the Year and the winner is VW’s Amarok manufactured right here in Buenos Aires. The Amarok, which took home top honors at last week’s IAA Commercial Truck trade show in Germany, is an international success story.

Four years in the making between Argentina and Germany, built exclusively at the company’s General Pacheco Industrial Center and launched domestically in March, the Amarok is now sold on five continents including some of the most competitive truck markets in Europe, Australia and Africa. One notable exclusion: the United States, thanks in part to anti-diesel legislation and a 25% import tariff which PickupTrucks.com lovingly refers to as “the U.S. chicken tax.”

In developing the Amarok, VW invested over US$400 million and logged over 5 million miles of road tests in some of the world’s most extreme conditions including the 2010 Dakar Rally. Ironic then that the most demanding truck owners in the world can’t get behind the wheel, a fact that’s not sitting well with PickupTruck.com readers. “Thank you, U.S. government,” writes Garrett, while Owen bottom lines it for his truck-loving brethren, “They should bring that truck over to North America. Nuff said.”  (Full Story)

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Dakar Rally Inspires Major Coke Deal

On April 20, 2010, In buenos aires events, entrepreneurs, by InvestBA
Red Bull truck used in an elaborate drug deal between Spain and Argentina.

And you thought Red Bull gave you wings. Spanish drug dealers smuggled 800 kilos in this vehicle.

While some stories hit on one or two of InvestBA’s main content categories, sometimes we unearth a gem that covers all the bases: Trade, Foreign Investment, Buenos Aires Events, Entrepreneurs, oh and Narcotrafficking (Still not an official Category).

The Argentina/Chile Dakar Rally kicked off in BA back in January, and the event was a major success for the second consecutive year. What has come to light recently is a massive drug deal that some Spanish traffickers had been plotting for over a year, according to INTERPOL.

The cartel used the Rally as a front for shipping a Mercedes-Benz truck emblazoned with fake Dakar and Red Bull logos to BA, driving it to a private residence in a high-end neighborhood, hiding 814 kilos of cocaine in a sub-floor of the vehicle and shipping the truck back to Spain. While traveling in Argentina, the drug runners donned Dakar t-shirts and even posed for pictures with locals on the highway.

When the truck arrived in Spain, it was driven through a high-tech scanner in the Port of Bilbao and the drugs were discovered. Local authorities say the dealers (7 in custody, one in exile in Chile) invested over US$500,000 in the elaborate scheme, but they stood to reap US$32 million selling the drugs in Europe or possibly 2-3x that amount if the product was moved successfully to Asia.

According to Havocscope, the black market online database, the kilos could have fetched upwards of $88,000 in Japan or $146,000 in Australia. Here in Argentina, the bust is being referred to as Operation White Dakar. While Dakar returns to BA in 2011, still no confirmation if the Spaniards will be back next year for another try. (YouTube video)

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Dakar 2010: The Off-Road Super Bowl Returns to Buenos Aires

On December 15, 2009, In buenos aires events, lifestyle, technology, by InvestBA
Dakar Rally Argentina Chile

The mighty Touaregs return to Argentina on New Year's Day to compete in Dakar 2010.

After two decades of races from Paris to Senegal, the 2010 edition of the Dakar Rally will be unleashed in the Argentine wilderness on New Year’s Day.

Recent political instability in Africa prompted the trans-Atlantic crossing of the annual event to South America last year when the race was first run from Buenos Aires across the Andes into Central Chile, north into the Atacama Desert and back to Buenos Aires. (2009 Course)

This year’s event will take place from January 1-17, and tourists, technology and Twitter will play expanding roles building on last year’s success. There were major public turnouts in 2009 given Argentines and Chileans shared love for motor sports, and this year’s course, a brutal 9,000 kilometer, counter-clockwise loop should pull solid crowds in Cordoba, Antofagasta, Santiago and of course BA. (2010 Course)

As for technology, Adam Hoover of WhoWon.com says “5 pairs of Volkswagen drivers will battle against other competitors in Volkswagen Race Touaregs powered by 280 hp clean diesel, TDI engines. In 2009, Volkswagen scored a 1-2 victory in the Dakar Rally with its Race Touaregs in the car class. The German duo of Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz took the win.”

Arizona native Mark Miller and teammate Ralph Pitchford (New Zealand) finished second making Miller the highest finishing American in Dakar’s history. While 2.9 million unique visitors followed the race last year online, that number should easily exceed 3 million this year thanks in part to Miller who will Twitter his way through the 2010 Rally. (Official Dakar 2010 Site)

For more information about Dakar and other upcoming events in Buenos Aires, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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