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.

BA Mayor Shares His Vision in Miami

BA Mayor Mauricio Macri speaks at the Miami Herald's Americas Conference 2009

BA Mayor Mauricio Macri speaks at the Miami Herald's Americas Conference 2009

Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri spoke yesterday at the Miami Herald’s Americas Conference 2009 and shared his vision for Argentina’s future. Macri, who appeared in a panel discussion with journalist Andres Oppenheimer and Buenos Aires Province Governor Daniel Scioli, was critical of mistakes made over the past 20 years. According to Poder Magazine, “Macri told those present that his work will be concentrated on ‘trying to reverse two decades of neglect and lack of investment.’” Macri pointed to Brazil and Chile as regional models and cited the need for increased food & mineral production, greater tourism promotion and stronger, more transparent institutions if Argentina is going to be competitive going forward in the global marketplace.

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