October 21, 2013

EXCLUSIVE Latin America and the Cloud
IBM's David Zimmerman discusses potential for cloud technology in the region

Cloud computing technology is rapidly changing the ability of business throughout the world to operate better, more cheaply, and more efficiently.In this interview, IBM Worldwide Cloud Leader for Banking and Financial Markets, David Zimmerman discusses with Latin Business Chronicle how the cloud can change business practices, how the cloud is best adopted, and which countries are at the forefront of adoption.

Chinese firms to battle for century's biggest oil find in Brazil
Required investment for Libra well is estimated at $185 billion 

China's Cnooc and China National Petroleum Corp. are among 11 companies registered to bid for what may become one of the world’s two largest deep-water fields, requiring an estimated $185 billion investment. Libra holds as much as 12 billion barrels, or three years of China’s consumption, Brazil’s oil regulator estimates, Bloomberg reports.

Fire in key Brazil port jolts sugar prices
Porto de Santos exported 12.8 million tons last year

A fire in Santos, Brazil's largest port (left), burnt some 180,000 tons of raw sugar, causing international prices to rise to a one-year high. Sugar prices in New York future markets went up by 6 six percent when news of the fire broke, dropping later in the day. "International markets react because they know there will be a temporary drop. But other terminals will certainly make up for the accident," sugar market analyst Plinio Nastari said, BBC reports.

Ibero-American countries agree to reduce frequency of summits
Event needs new direction and renewal to adapt to changes, said Spain's Mariano Rajoy

This year's Ibero-American summit, held in Panama, ended with participants agreeing to hold the event every two years, starting from next year's event scheduled to take place in Veracruz, Mexico. Only half of the invited leaders attended, including, for the first time, Spain's King Juan Carlos, citing medical reasons, Business Recorder reports.

Mercosur weighs impact of European Union-Canada trade accord
Analysts: Latin America will be hard put to secure a beneficial agreement with Europe

The Canada-European Union trade agreement adds new pressure on Latin America to secure a long-delayed free trade deal with European partners, analysts said. Despite European incentives, a divided Mercosur has yet to put forward a joint position that could benefit its founding members, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, plus numerous other associate members and observers, UPI reports. 

MOREOVER

Parque Arauco gains in Chile Bloomberg

Nicaragua named best for low carbon emission investment Today Panama

Argentina to pay $500 million to resolve disputes with foreign firms Reuters

Peru appoints new deputy trade minister Andina

Hilton targets Mexican attractions market InterPark

Miami's Redmas digital ad network opens Colombia office World City Web

Region's mobile ad industry needs more innovation Voxxi