Luxembourg’s Chamber of Commerce, together with the Embassies of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay as well as the Belgian Economic & Commercial Attachés, is hosting a seminar on investment opportunities in the three South American countries at the Chamber on 14 June.
In advance of a multi-sectoral trade mission to Latin America in the first half of 2018, the seminar aims to give a chance to companies to find out what business potentials lie there.
Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are part of the Southern Cone, with high life expectancy, the highest Human Development Index of Latin America, high standards of living, significant participation in the global markets and the emerging economy of its members make the Southern Cone the most prosperous macro-region in Latin America.
Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world and the third largest economy in Latin America, with a GDP of $583 billion and 43 million inhabitants. Due to the high education and qualification levels of its workforce, it also has the second highest GDP per capita in Latin America. The country is a founding member of MERCOSUR, South America's most important trade bloc, and a G-20 member. It has signed 58 bilateral investment treaties (BIT), including one with the Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union. Even though there are still some macro-economic imbalances to be tackled, the new administration's leadership is managing an inherited complex situation and the introduction of important structural reforms to liberalise trade and attract investment flows are positively viewed by the international business community and other stakeholders.
Chile is a safe place to do business as confirmed by risk ratings agencies which have increased or maintained their high ratings for the country, highlighting its low level of public debt, the health of its financial system and its solid institutions. Its competitive edge and solid economic foundation makes Chile OECD’s first and only South American economy. It is a nation that breathes a dynamic business culture and displays the highest GDP per capita in the region. Chile is one of the world’s most attractive countries for investment in non-conventional renewable energy projects (NCRE), after USA, China and India. More than 60 multinational companies have chosen Chile as a platform from which to export services to their clients worldwide.
Uruguay is a reliable country to do business in in one of the most economically attractive regions in the world. It offers a favourable business climate with social and political stability. The country has a BBB investment grade ratings from the main credit rating agencies (Standard & Poor´s, Fitch Ratings,…). Investors distinguish Uruguay´s world class telecom infrastructure and excellent quality of life. Uruguay´s attractive tax system for services exports, including free trade zones, investment law, free port and airport, qualified and multilingual talent (Spanish, English, and Portuguese), competitive costs, as well as its regional trade agreements, make it one of the best Latin America’s business gateways.
Pablo Grinspun, Ambassador of Argentina to Belgium and Luxemborg and Carlos Pérez del Castillo Artagaveytia, Ambassador of Uruguay to Belgium and Luxembourg will be attending the seminar, which is open to all sectors.
Anyone wishing to attend needs to fill in the online registration form before Monday 12 June: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXJUs_UKpmNtfryn4e7CD4IMNSPCHxbGV8SSOSRWx5tZRsjQ/viewform
For further information, contact Violaine Mathurin or Sabrina Aksil by telephone: 42 39 39-481/374, or email: latinamerica@cc.lu.
PROGRAMME
08:30 Arrival of the guests - Welcome coffee and breakfast
08:55 Group picture of all the speakers and signature of the Golden Book
09:00 Welcome address
Carlo Thelen, Director General, Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
1st part: Argentina
09:05 Opening speech about Argentina
HE Pablo Grinspun, Ambassador of Argentina to Belgium and Luxembourg
09:10 Business Opportunities in Argentina with a focus on ICT, financial services, space and renewable energies
Pablo Castagnino, First secretary, Embassy of Argentina to Belgium and Luxembourg
09:25 Cultural & business approach of the Argentinian market
Martin Cardoen, Economic & commercial Attaché, AWEX, Buenos Aires
2nd part: Uruguay
09:40 Opening speech about Uruguay
HE Carlos Pérez del Castillo Artagaveytia, Ambassador of Uruguay to Belgium and Luxembourg
09:45 Business Opportunities in Uruguay with a focus on logistics, financial services and ICT
Fiorella Bafundo, Business Services Specialist, Uruguay XXI, Uruguay Investment and Export promotion agency
10:00 Cultural & business approach of the Uruguayan market
Jimena Villar, Economic & commercial Attachée, Brussels Investment & Trade, Montevideo
10:15-10:30 coffee-break
3rd part: Chile
10:30 Opening speech about Chile
Juan Fierro Cereño, Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs to the EU, Embassy of Chile to Belgium and Luxembourg
10:35 Business Opportunities in Chile with a focus on Global Services and Energy
Susana Véliz, Commercial Representative, Prochile, Brussels
10:50 Cultural & business approach of the Chilean market
Liliana Herrera, Economic & commercial Attachée, AWEX, Santiago
11:05 The support programs of Eurochambers for European companies in Latin America: ELAN Network/IPR Helpdesk
Nicoletta Favaretto, Senior Project Officer, International Affairs, Eurochambers
11:25 Testimonial of a Luxembourg company active in Latin America
Marc Tkatcheff, Senior Associate, in charge of the Luxembourg-LatAm desk, Avocat à la Cour, Allen & Overy, Buenos Aires
11:40 Panel discussion and Q & A session: “Why should the Luxembourg companies be interested in the Southern Cone region? What are the usual misconceptions about the region?...”
Moderator: Jeannot Erpelding, Director, International Affairs, Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
• HE Pablo Grinspun, Ambassador of Argentina to Belgium and Luxembourg
• HE Carlos Pérez del Castillo Artagaveytia, Ambassador of Uruguay to Belgium and Luxembourg
• Pablo Castagnino, First secretary, Embassy of Argentina to Belgium and Luxembourg
• Juan Fierro Cereño, Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs to the EU, Embassy of Chile to Belgium and Luxembourg
• Susana Véliz, Commercial Representative, Prochile, Brussels
• Fiorella Bafundo, Business Services Specialist, Uruguay XXI,
Uruguay Investment and Export promotion agency
12:30-14:00 Networking lunch in presence of the two Ambassadors.
Time for individual bilateral meetings upon request with the Ambassadors of the three countries, together with the respective Economic & commercial Attachés. Meetings will be organised on a “first come, first served” basis for the companies, who will be requested to ask their questions in advance. Those bilateral meetings should last more or less 30 minutes, depending on the number of requests the Chamber receives.
