Workplace Issues Are Bottom Line Matters

As companies across the region knuckle down during the financial crisis, one survey shows that great places to work are still those that interject fun into the daily slog. Of course, other practices also help companies rank high in the Great Place to Work survey carried out by the institute of the same name based in San Francisco. According to the survey, outlining clear goals and promoting individual/team cooperation to meet those goals are key to providing a good work atmosphere and helping the bottom line. To highlight this annual survey, Managing Editor William Plasencia worked with our correspondents in the region to develop a series of articles about some of the highly ranked companies. To explore these workplaces, our correspondents, Lisa K. Wing in Lima, Peru, Ricardo Castillo Argüello in Managua, Greg Brosnan in Mexico City and Paul Harris in Medellin fanned out to interview employees, managers and analysts. Plasencia meanwhile interviewed experts on workplace issues to round out our coverage. Since employees spend at least eight to nine hours at offices or factories on workdays, a view of these companies is vital.

With a view to the word “trade” in our magazine’s title, we examine port expansion in Latin America in this issue. Rick Eyerdam, a Miami-based journalist who has been covering ports and logistics for several decades, looks at the investments being made to create more efficient and deeper ports for the larger container and bulk cargo ships that will move through the Panama Canal after the wider locks are completed in 2014. Regional trade is expected to fall 13 percent this year – but most of the expansion projects were planned, launched and financed when the rise in exports and imports seemed unstoppable. Still, ports, carriers and terminal managers are all hitching their expectations on a return to robust global commerce.

The 15th Bravo Business Awards took place October 30 with a Latin Trade Symposium and an evening gala where the nine winners walked off with their statuettes symbolizing excellence and achievement in different areas. Photographs of the winners and special guests are featured in this issue.
We also turn to the serious issue of trade policy in our Point-Counterpoint contributions this month. Special commentators examine the possible consequences of the Obama administration’s goal of making the United States a less import-driven consumer economy and weaning other countries off their dependence on export-driven growth.

As always, please feel free to share your thoughts and comments with editorial@latintrade.com

Happy Holidays!

Jane Bussey
Editorial Director