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Health Lean Logistics announces partnership with Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute

Company Press Release

Michael Komanski

Health Lean Logistics USA announced their participation in the Leaders in Logistics program at Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute (SCL). Georgia Tech will deploy its resources and expertise to complement the know-how developed by HLL and apply solutions in the American Healthcare supply chain sector.
Health Lean Logistics is a pioneer in the design, implementation and management of solutions for logistics and procurement in the health sector. HLL has extensive sector expertise, having provided solutions to more than 80 hospitals in Portugal, Brazil, Chile, Panama and Spain, managing a global volume of over 300 million Euros.
“Health Lean Logistics USA is pleased to leverage the state’s collaborative working relationships with Georgia Institute of Technology”, said Dr. Albert Tarrats, CEO of Health Lean Logistics. “HLL partnership with Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute enables us to share our mutual expertise and strengthens our respective leadership position in the Healthcare supply chain sector. Our prominent presence in the global marketplace will also allow us to expand our collaboration to Georgia Tech’s international footprint.”

Current News
07.25.11Health Lean Logistics announces partnership with Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics InstituteHealth Lean Logistics USA announced their participation in the Leaders in Logistics program at Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute (SCL). Georgia Tech will deploy its resources and expertise to complement the know-how developed by HLL and apply solutions in the American Healthcare supply chain sector. Health Lean Logistics is a pioneer in the design, implementation and management of solutions for logistics and procurement in the health sector. HLL has extensive sector expertise, having provided solutions to more than 80 hospitals in Portugal, Brazil, Chile, Panama and Spain, managing a global volume of over 300 million Euros. Read More
07.20.11ISOFOTON announces new chairman for North AmericaISOFOTON, SA announces that Michael A. Peck, MAPA Group founder, has been named Chairman, ISOFOTON North America and will lead ISOFOTON’s North American delegation. Read More
07.06.11Spanish-Based Energy Technology Manufacturer Lands in OhioIsofoton, a leading solar energy technology company, chose Napoleon, Ohio, as the new home for its North American manufacturing facility. Contingent upon state approvals, the Ohio Department of Development will offer assistance of $15.8 million to leverage Isofoton’s pledged $16.4 million investment in Ohio. “This statewide collaboration demonstrates Ohio’s focus on the strengths of our regions and targeted industries, and utilizes our available resources to enhance Ohio’s reputation as a leader in the energy sector,” said James A. Leftwich, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Making Ohio the base for Isofoton’s first U.S. footprint, strengthens our state’s manufacturing supply chain, and creates jobs statewide.” The Isofoton-Napoleon factory initially will consist of a 50 MW crystalline silicon PV module assembly line with fully automated REIS technology. Isofoton expects a short-term ramp-up to a 100 MW assembly line, with plans then to add a 100 MW cell line. The factory will start off creating 121 clean energy manufacturing jobs and ramp up to 330 direct jobs within three operational years. Indirect job creation, a vital part of the Isofoton’s “all-Ohio” economic development strategy should amount to 1,000 additional jobs beginning in 2012. Read More
04.13.11Health Lean Logistics picks ATL for U.S. HQBarcelona, Spain-based healthcare logistics and distribution company Health Lean Logistics (HLL) will put its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, creating 100 jobs. Read more: Health Lean Logistics picks ATL for U.S. HQ | Atlanta Business Chronicle Read More
04.13.11Spanish Health Care Logistics Firm Chooses AtlantaA health care logistics and distribution company with operations in Spain, Portugal, Panama, Chile and Nicaragua has opened its first U.S. office in Atlanta. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced the opening of the office of Health Lean Logistics SL, which is based in Barcelona, Spain, April 13, during a press conference at the state Capitol that was attended by the company’s CEO, Albert Tarrats. The U.S. affiliate of Health Lean Logistics is a member of the Gesaworld Group composed of a number of consulting companies also based in Barcelona. Jose Ignacio Gonzalez, president of Hemisphere Trade Services Inc., is the company’s official representative for the U.S. Mr. Gonzalez has actively promoted business throughout Latin America from Atlanta. Read More
03.02.11Big Challenges Remain for U.S. Offshore WindThe U.S. could see as many as 10 GW of offshore wind capacity installed by 2020. But it won't be easy, say industry experts. Read More
02.11.11McDonnell: Northrop-Gamesa partnership a 'tremendous vision'Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica SA, Spain’s largest wind-turbine maker, expects to test an offshore turbine in the U.S. next year. Gamesa and shipbuilder Northrop Grumman Corp. opened today their Offshore Wind Technology Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, and said in a statement that they expect to install a prototype 5-megawatt offshore turbine by the fourth quarter of 2012. The companies first announced plans to collaborate in October. Read More
10.21.10EPM of Colombia acquires EEGSA of GuatemalaAlcalde de Medellín celebró el negocio de energía más grande y sólido de Centroamérica logrado por Empresas Públicas de Medellín La histórica inversión, por un monto que supera los $635 millones de dólares, se logró con la emblemática Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala EEGSA, con una trayectoria de 116 años, y que cuenta con otras empresas asociadas a la generación, transmisión, distribución, comercialización de energía y servicios conexos. El Alcalde de Medellín, Alonso Salazar Jaramillo, celebró el negocio que consolidó EPM, el jueves 21 de octubre en Nueva York, Estados Unidos, con representantes de Iberdrola Energía S.A., para adquirir, por valor de US$605 millones, el 100% de la sociedad guatemalteca Distribución Eléctrica Centroamericana II S.A. – DECA II-, que gestiona los negocios de distribución, transmisión y comercialización de energía eléctrica. Read More
09.06.10Gamesa to supply turbines to Iberdrola Renewables for 9 Brazilian wind farmsA total of 129 of Gamesa G8X-2MW wind turbine systems. Gamesa's first supply contract in Brazil, where the company just opened its first subsidiary in the Mercosur, and fits within the framework of its recent strategy for venturing into new markets. Gamesa will be the designated supplier of wind turbines, totalling 258 MW of installed capacity, for nine wind farms Iberdrola Renovables will develop in Brazil. See related story below. Read More
09.03.10Iberdrola Wins 258 MW Contract for 9 Brazilian Wind FarmsRio de Janeiro, Brazil Iberdrola Renovables, in a consortium with local energy company Neoenergia, is to supply Brazil with electricity from 9 wind farms over 20 years for €60 million ($77 million) a year. The contract was awarded in a recent tender for renewable energy, organised by Brazil's Agencia Nacional de Energia Electrica (Aneel), which determined contracts for 50 wind farms (1,520 MW), five hydroelectric plants (101 MW) and a biomass facility (64 MW). Read More
09.02.10Turkish Renewable Energy May Feed EU GridUsing GE smart grid technology, Turkey plans to connect to the EU grid, expanding the reach of renewable energy and economic opportunity for all parties involved. Turkey plans to connect to the European electrical grid this month using GE's smart grid technology. The Turkish Electricity Transmission Company (TEIAS) will now be able to buy and sell power in the European electricity market, hopefully expanding the reliability and availability of energy, especially renewable energy, throughout all of Europe. Read More
09.01.10Peace Corps to Tackle Grassroots Energy IssuesWashington, DC, United States -- The Peace Corps announced late last month that the U.S. Department of State will provide $1 million to fund the program in support of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). The money will help Peace Corps efforts that increase rural access to energy, mitigate the effects of climate change, and support the use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in Central and South American communities. Read More
08.30.10Chile Becoming a Hot Geothermal MarketThe Chilean government is getting serious about geothermal. Last week, the country's energy minister said that Chile will support over $200 million in geothermal investments over the next two years. Ricardo Raineri announced that Chile will grant over 170 concessions to geothermal developers through 2012. He expects the concessions to result in hundreds of millions of dollars in investment from international companies. Raineri also said he will work with the legislature to help make the regulatory process smoother for companies wanting to develop projects in the country. Read More
08.25.10Abu Dhabi To Build 100 MW CSP PlantThis week, a major Masdar project moved one small step toward development: The companies Total and Abengoa were selected to build and operate the Shams 1 concentrating solar power plant, a 100 MW facility will be the largest single field of CSP mirrors in the world. At 354 MW, the SEGS projects in the Mojave Desert are bigger, but they are split up into seperate fields. The joint venture between Masdar (60%), Total (20%) and Abengoa Solar (20%) will develop the plant, which will be located in Madinat Zayed, approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Read More
08.23.10Gamesa Shipping Turbines to HondurasThe Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa is working with the U.S. Export-Import Bank to help the company finance a large wind project in Honduras. The turbines are being shipped from Gamesa's headquarters in Pennsylvania. Ex-Im Bank's $159 million direct loan to the project sponsor, Energia Eolica de Honduras S.A., will finance its purchase of 51 Gamesa G87 2-MW wind turbines for the 102-MW wind farm, which will be the largest in Central America. It is the second major wind farm to be supported by Ex-Im Bank in fiscal year 2010 and the Bank's first wind project in Central America. Read More
08.12.10Supply Chain Issues Dominate Offshore Wind IndustryLiverpool, UK -- Supply chain, supply chain, supply chain. That was the message at this year's UK Offshore Wind conference, which took place in Liverpool for two days earlier this summer. "Onshore the turbine is the majority of the cost so it's easy to focus on. Offshore its more like fifty-fifty so you can't lose sight of half of your costs." -- Richard Reno, Senior Executive, GE Whereas previous conferences might have looked at turbine manufacture or the technical challenges of a wind farm, this year’s discussion was all about how to get in place the vast range of components that will be necessary to construct the 32 GW of new offshore wind power capacity recently licensed in the UK Crown Estate’s Round 3. (The UK government has leased areas of the seabed for wind farm development in three phases. Round 3 is the latest and largest). “Ramping up the supply chain with the necessary quality is going to be a challenge,” said Richard Reno, a Senior GE Executive. This new focus was borne out in the range of companies at the meeting, with many more offshore service providers than before, everything from boats, to light fittings and offshore training. It was also reflected in the views of the participants. Read More
08.12.10Partnership Tests New Remote Sensing Tool for Evaluating Energy Potential of South Carolina's OffshoOn a U.S. Coast Guard platform off the coast of Georgetown, S.C., the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI), and their partners have begun testing technology to provide insight into how much energy potential South Carolina's offshore winds offer. The ultimate goal is the deployment of offshore wind energy technology to diversify South Carolina's energy resources and significantly increase the region's energy independence. Read More
06.13.10Solar industry challenges Georgia PowerThree years ago, when Congress tried to set national standards for the power industry’s use of things like solar energy, Atlanta-based Southern Co. fought back with singular ferocity. Read More
04.09.10Solar project a first for Georgia PowerGeorgia Power Co., criticized for being hesitant in its embrace of renewable energy, plans to build its first large-scale solar power development — one that could light up about 1,250 homes. Read More
03.30.10Georgia Power Buys Landfill GasGeorgia Power recently signed a long-term contract with Waste Management that will produce electricity from landfill gas. The agreement will provide Georgia Power with 100 percent of the renewable energy annually from Waste Management's 6.4 megawatt facility in Savannah, Georgia, as well as the associated renewable energy credits. One megawatt is enough energy to supply approximately 250 Georgia residences. Read More
03.30.10First Solar Panels to Power 26 MW Spanish Solar ParkThe Spanish system integrator, Assyce Fotovoltaica, is constructing the largest First Solar free-field solar power plant in Extremadura, with a capacity of more than 26 MW. The power plant,with a land area of 69 hectares, is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will generate more than 42 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. "The area offers very good conditions for photovoltaics," explains Luis Garrido, managing director of Assyce Fotovoltaica. "Due to the high level of solar radiation in the south of Spain, we can expect a very good yield of electricity." The site will support 36 transformer stations and 337,000 First Solar Modules. Assyce Fotovoltaica, is currently the only First Solar system integrator in Spain. The construction of the free-field solar power plant began at the end of January. Assyce Fotvoltaica says the whole power plant will be completed by the end of the year. Read More
03.26.10ZF Industries puts energy behind new Gainesville plantMichigan manufacturer ZF Industries will build a roughly 250,000-square-foot plant in Gainesville to make transmissions for wind turbines. Read More
03.22.10Offshore Awakening: US Investment Flows to Offshore WindThe US is starting to look beyond the initial cost of offshore wind energy and consider its huge long-term benefits. Offshore wind energy isn't cheap. In fact, it can cost twice as much as land-based wind power. Yet, several state and provincial governments vied in 2009 to attract North America's first offshore wind farm – as well as its second, third, fourth and on. Oddly, many of these states are in the Northeast of the US, where political leaders are wary of raising energy costs. Consumers there pay among the highest electricity rates in the nation, and policymakers are on the lookout for ways to lower costs. Read More
03.09.10Solar Industry To Hit US $77B in 2015As the books close on what was a turbulent 2009 for the solar industry, Lux Research said that the solar market will soon see the lopsided supply and demand that characterized much of the last year return to equilibrium. According to the new report Solar's Shakeout: Europe Loses Leadership as China Rises," strong demand growth in Asia and the U.S. will push the market to 9.3 GW in 2010, hitting a dollar value of US $39 billion. Building from there, continuing price reductions for all types of solar technology are expected to open new markets and help the solar industry reach $77 billion in revenue and 26.4 GW in capacity by 2015. A large portion of the growth is expected to come from China, which in the last few years has become large manufacturer of solar modules and materials, but not yet a large buyer of them. Lux said it expects China to be the world's largest solar market in 2015. Read More
01.15.10The Way Forward for the Spanish: More InternationalizationThe Spanish economy became too dependent on internal, as opposed to external, demand as the driver of growth, particularly the construction sector. The collapse of this sector brutally exposed the shortcomings of the lopsided economic model and caused unemployment to skyrocket. The economy needs to become more internationalisedthrough exports and direct investment abroad by its companies and banks in order to create jobs on a more sustainable basis andemployment of a higher quality. Read More
10.21.09Obama nominations update Oct 21, 2009 - business groups press SenateContents of a letter sent by the organizations listed below, to urge the US Senate leadership to act on several pending confirmations for nominations to senior trade and diplomatic posts. Business Council for International Understanding, Business Roundtable, Council of the Americas, Coalition of Service Industries, Emergency Committee for American Trade, National Association of Manufacturers, National Foreign Trade Council, United States Council on International Business, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Read More
10.19.09Central Americans Propose Strengthening Integration to Revert Economic Crisis (In Spanish)Los países centroamericanos deben fortalecer la integración y aprovechar oportunidades que se presenten para salir de la crisis, estimaron este lunes, en San Salvador, funcionarios de organismos regionales, en el marco del foro "Crisis global: retos, desafíos y oportunidades para el proceso de le integración regional", patrocinado por el Parlamento Centroamericano (Parlacen). Read More
10.19.09Ortega's Re-election Aspirations Reconciles and Unifies Past Foes (In Spanish)Nicaragua: el intento de reelección de Ortega reconcilia a Alemán y Montealegre El pacto Alemán-Montealegre tratará de evitar que Ortega logre la reelección •Arnoldo Alemán: "Somos una oposición real...el único pacto que tenemos es el de la no reelección de Ortega". •Eduardo Montealegre: "o se está con la democracia o se está con el orteguismo". •Obispo Mata: "Lo digo de otra manera más cruda y más dura: parece que se nos quiere implantar una nueva dictadura". Read More
10.18.09Honduras: Political Crisis Hinders Growth of FDI (In Spanish)La crisis política de Honduras provocó una ligera fuga de capitales, pero sobretodo afectó el flujo de la inversión extranjera. Al primer semestre del año se registraba un monto de $274,4 millones de inversión foránea, con una caída de $252,3 millones en relación con el primer semestre del 2008 ($526,8 millones). Read More
10.16.09Anne Slaughter Andrew, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica, Department of StateAnne Slaughter Andrew is currently the Principal of New Energy Nexus, LLC, Of Counsel at Bingham McHale. Andrew is past Co-Chair of the Environment/Energy Team at Baker & Daniels and partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Patton & Boggs. In addition, Andrew co-founded a medical bio-tech consulting company, Anson Group LLC. Read More
09.10.09LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEANVoters could give Latin America, Caribbean a political makeover A dozen presidential and parliamentary elections in the next 14 months could halt the swing to the left and boost moderates. In Chile, right-of-center businessman Sebastian Piñera, one of the owners of the LAN airline, is running for president. Read More
09.08.09As Cheaper Chinese Tires Roll In, Obama Faces an Early Trade TestALBANY, Ga. -- At the vast Cooper Tire plant here, workers heard for years about their rivals in Chinese factories. In meetings, managers urged employees to run production lines faster and more efficiently to help the company keep up. Read More
09.02.09Up the green revolution: It could revive the U.S. and world economyWhen the leaders of the G-20 nations arrive in Pittsburgh, I want them to know I am fomenting revolution. Industrial revolution. Specifically, a 21st-century burgeoning of green manufacturing in the United States. Read More
09.01.09It’s the trade, stupidLong-term economic and employment recovery must include market liberalization Read More
08.13.09Infrastructure: A Latin American Priority?Is investing in infrastructure the best road to recovery for Latin America? Three experts share their insights. Read More
08.02.09Capitalists venture back into cleantech arenaVenture capitalists increased investments in alternative energy by 73 percent over the past three months, according to Ernst & Young LLP, an indication that the horrible market conditions from earlier this year may have abated. Read More
07.21.09Latin America Wireless: Central American BoomWIRELESS GROWTH: Honduras posted Latin America's third-highest wireless growth rate last year. Latin America's largest wireless market Brazil leads real growth, while the smallest one, Cuba, leads in percentage growth. Read More
07.19.09China rising in Latin America, but won't overtake United StatesThe latest figures showing that China is emerging from the global crisis sooner -- and more vigorously -- than anticipated is triggering speculation that China will soon overtake the United States as Latin America's top business partner. Sounds very interesting, but don't bet on it. Read More
07.03.09Obama, Uribe Cover Pending FTA As Part Of Range Of IssuesFollowing this week’s meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, U.S. President Barack Obama predicted that the outstanding issues blocking passage of a bilateral free trade agreement, such as labor and human rights violations, could ultimately be resolved. Read More
06.30.09Latin America and the Economic CrisisIn Latin America, 2008-2009 will be recorded as a profound crisis that took the wind out of the sails of important regional economies, many of which had strung together years of significant growth. But the good news is that most of these nations have adhered to market solutions, rejected protectionism, controlled spending, contained inflation, and kept their economies open to more foreign trade and investment. Read More
06.21.09U.S. Trade freeze could be slowly thawingAfter months of little U.S. action on trade, there are signs the issue could become more important for President Barack Obama, who heads to Italy in early July to meet with major trading partners. Read More
06.17.09Crisis: Latin America's OpportunityThe global crisis may be recalled as the event that ended Latin America's bonanza. It may also be recalled as the event that finally unleashed the region's enormous potential. Read More
06.09.09Globalisation: Latin America has been the stepping stoneIn a business park on the outskirts of Madrid, Spanish inspection and certification company Applus is celebrating a milestone. For the first time in its 13-year history, the company this year will derive more than half of its estimated €900m ($1.2bn) turnover from outside the domestic market. Read More
05.20.09US Free Trade Promises Must Be HonoredWhen Washington enacted its $787 billion stimulus bill in February with "Buy American" provisions, the law promised—at the urging of President Barack Obama—that the language "shall be applied in a manner consistent with US obligations under international agreements." That is not happening. Read More
05.15.09Trade Wars Brewing In Economic MalaiseOutrage in Canada as U.S. Firms Sever Ties To Obey Stimulus Rules Is this what the first trade war of the global economic crisis looks like? Ordered by Congress to "buy American" when spending money from the $787 billion stimulus package, the town of Peru, Ind., stunned its Canadian supplier by rejecting sewage pumps made outside of Toronto. Read More
05.14.09Free trade as a stimulus strategyMost people agree that, when it comes to economic recovery, more economic activity is better than less. When companies buy and sell more goods and services, we get more jobs and growth. Read More
05.13.09Caribbean economy: Hit by a triple whammyThe small nations of the Caribbean region have been hit by a combination of consequences from the global recession: plummeting tourism receipts, lower remittances inflows and reduced income from commodity exports. Read More
05.12.09US: Free Trade Makes A ComebackLike crocuses blooming after a harsh winter, polls suddenly show a dramatic rise in support for free trade. This bodes well for an acceleration in the direction the Obama administration is headed. Read More
05.11.09Trade Battle Looms for DemocratsWhile House Democratic leaders are scrambling to unify their Caucus on major energy and health care reforms, a smaller but explosive intraparty battle awaits as Congress girds for its first big trade fight under President Barack Obama. Read More
05.04.09Arias' brilliant response to anti-American leadersNow that we are getting some details of what was said in the closed-door sessions at the recent 34-country Summit of the Americas in Trinidad, it's becoming clear that Costa Rican President and Nobel Laureate Oscar Arias gave the most impressive speech at the meeting. Read More
04.30.09Latin America's economies: Pain but no panicA traditionally crisis-prone region is belying its reputation. But that has not spared it from the world recession UNTIL recently many Latin Americans saw the financial crisis and the global recession as events happening somewhere else. But in the past six months the region’s economies have swiftly slumped along with the rest of the world, showing double-digit falls in industrial output. Read More
04.28.09Solar-powered airports? It could happenJet contrails may be adding to global warming but on the ground, many airports are getting very green. Read More
04.20.09Obama Closes Summit, Vows Broader Engagement With Latin AmericaPORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 19 -- President Obama concluded a summit of the hemisphere's leaders Sunday by articulating a broad new agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean, having gained momentum in his bid to repair relations with some of the region's shrillest critics of the United States. Read More
04.09.09Exports Fall, and It’s Felt on the FarmOnly a year ago, all the stars appeared to be aligned for American farm exports. China and other developing countries were fattening up growing herds of cattle on American corn, and they were importing record amounts of foods to meet the appetite of their expanding middle classes. A drought in Australia meant a shortage of wheat on world markets. The price of dairy products soared across the globe because of shortages. Since then, all that has changed. The developing countries are slowing their food imports, it is raining again in Australia, and the price of dairy products is slumping. A strengthening dollar in recent months has made United States farm exports less competitive. “What a difference 12 months can make,” Joseph Glauber, chief economist of the Department of Agriculture, noted in Congressional testimony last week. “We have seen prices for most commodities fall 40 to 50 percent from their midyear peaks. The global economic slump has cast a pall on most markets.” Read More
04.06.09Pistachio Recall Signals Tough Stance on SafetyAs the nation’s second-largest processor of pistachios agreed Monday to recall its entire 2008 crop despite no confirmed illnesses, the Obama administration issued a tough warning to all food makers that sloppy manufacturing practices would no longer be tolerated. With the warning, the administration signaled that it was substantially changing the way the government oversees food safety. Food-handling practices that in the past would have resulted in mild warnings may now lead to wide-ranging and expensive recalls, even before anyone becomes ill from contaminated food. Read More
04.02.09Home truthsTHEY govern in very different continents, but there is a degree of ideological kinship between some of the centre-left governments in South America, Europe and now the United States. All are trying to mix the economic efficiency prized by the right with the social justice championed by the left. Read More
03.31.09Biden meets with Latin American leaders, pledges new era of relationsAt a small weekend gathering here -- in preparation for next month's Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago -- Biden met with the presidents of Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama, as well as representatives from Honduras and Nicaragua and the Prime Minister of Belize. Read More
03.28.09Joe Biden's visit to Chile shows renewed interest in Latin AmericaVice President Joe Biden arrived in Chile for a series of high-level meetings that help underscore a renewed interest in the hemisphere by the Obama administration. Read More
03.24.09Obama Lays Out Clean-Energy PlansPresident Obama yesterday outlined plans to spend about $59 billion in economic stimulus funds and $150 billion from the federal budget to promote what he calls America's "clean-energy future." Read More
03.23.09Foreign Firms Eye Stimulus DollarsU.S. firms are not the only ones hoping to cash in on the $787 billion stimulus program. Foreign nations and companies are stepping up their lobbying efforts in Washington and in state capitals, hoping to gain vital business in hard times. Hundreds of foreign-owned companies, many of them with significant operations in the United States, are selling their expertise in clean energy, high-speed transit and other technologies that undergird key aspects of President Obama's stimulus efforts. Read More
03.18.09Trade Barriers Could Threaten Global EconomyAt least 17 of the 20 major nations that vowed at a November summit to avoid protectionist steps that could spark a global trade war have violated that promise, with countries from Russia to the United States to China enacting measures aimed at limiting the flow of imported goods, according to a World Bank report unveiled yesterday. The report underscores a "worrying" trend toward protectionism as countries rush to shield their ailing domestic industries during the global economic crisis. It comes one day after Mexico vowed to slap new restrictions on 90 U.S. products. That action is being taken in retaliation against Washington for canceling a program that allowed Mexican truck drivers the right to transport goods across the United States, illustrating the tit-for-tat responses that experts fear could grow in coming months. Read More
03.16.09El Salvador politics: Historic election winMauricio Funes, of the former Marxist rebel FMLN, has won El Salvador’s presidential election, bringing 17 years of right-wing rule to a close. Mr Funes’s moderation jars with the radicalism of the FMLN’s leaders, yet parliamentary arithmetic will oblige them to co-operate with rightist parties. Despite US disquiet at the prospect of a Funes win, the new president is likely to be a pragmatic leftist in the manner of Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, rather than an anti-American radical in the mould of Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez. Doubts over economic policy remain, however. Read More
03.16.09In power, El Salvador ex-rebels seek U.S. tiesEl Salvador's President-elect Mauricio Funes said he wants strong relations with Washington after his party of ex-Marxist guerrillas ousted their right-wing civil war foes in a tight election victory. A former TV journalist who never took up arms, Funes' peaceful past helped the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, or FMLN, win power through the ballot box for the first time on Sunday years after it fought one of the Cold War's nastiest conflicts. Read More
03.14.09Obama, Brazil leader focus on economy, energyPresident Barack Obama and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed the economy, energy and the environment Saturday during their first White House meeting. Both leaders said the Oval Office sit-down was productive and they looked forward to seeing each other at the Group of 20 nations meeting in London early next month, followed by the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad in mid-April. Read More
03.13.09Push to Reduce Greenhouse Gases Would Put a Price on Emitting PollutionPresident Obama's endorsement of climate legislation to clamp down on greenhouse gases has set off a lobbying rush in Congress and made the air thick with rival proposals. Coal companies, utilities, economists and environmentalists are vying to shape legislation that could rechannel hundreds of billions of dollars from one part of the economy to others. The sense of urgency has been heightened by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman's push to have a bill ready by the end of May; the California Democrat plans to circulate a draft in about two weeks. Read More
03.13.09El Salvador: Central American Tiger?El Salvador is showing Latin America how economic freedom can pave the way for development..... El Salvador is becoming an economic success story in Central America. Since the end of the civil conflict in 1992, which left the country in ruins, El Salvador has transformed its economy by implementing a far-reaching liberalization process undertaken by democratic governments, which has included the privatization of state enterprises, deregulation, trade and financial liberalization, privatization of the pension system, and the adoption of the U.S. dollar as its official currency. Read More
03.10.09Mr. Obama's Trade AgendaTrade will play an important role in the world’s eventual recovery, transmitting economic growth from one country to the next. Protectionism leads to further protectionism, and yielding to its temptation could unleash destructive trade wars that would crush any chance of recovery. In recent months, Russia has jacked up import barriers on cars, farm machinery and other products. The European Union has reintroduced subsidies on dairy products. Europe, India and Brazil raised tariffs on imported steel. Read More
03.06.09Global Trade: Implications of the Current CrisisSpeakers: Jagdish N. Bhagwati, University Professor at Columbia University, CFR Senior Fellow in International Economics; Carla A. Hills, Former U.S. Trade Representative and Chairwoman, CEO of Hills & Company Presider: James Bacchus, Chair, Global Practice Group, Greenberg Traurig, LLP Read More
03.05.09Nicaragua: Exportaciones han caído cuatro mesesLas ventas de Nicaragua al exterior empezaron a bajar en noviembre y esa parece ser su tendencia este año Economista considera “muy grave” la caída de éstas, por ser el motor de la economía nacional Read More
03.03.09No Surprise: the Spotlight Will Be On Obama in Trinidad and TobagoWhen the Western Hemisphere’s 34 democratically elected leaders gather in Port of Spain on April 17 for the fifth Summit of the Americas, many of them will vividly recall the tense proceeding and unhappy outcome of the previous Summit in Mar del Plata some three and one-half years ago. Read More
02.11.09Protectionism: Where Does Obama Stand On Trade?The president would probably like to avoid the subject right now. He can't. Tucked inside the roughly $800 billion stimulus legislation moving through Congress is a short, four-paragraph provision that all the iron and steel used in the project be produced in America. Read More
02.11.09Commodity Price Dive Hits Latin EconomiesGustavo Grobocopatel is called "the Soybean King" here because he oversees a farming empire the size of Luxembourg. Nowadays, that distinction brings more grief than glory. Soybean prices have plunged about 40% since last July amid a global commodities crash. Read More
02.10.09An Attention Deficit South Of The BorderSome Observers Worry That U.S. Neglect Of Latin America Could Continue Under Obama. Read More
02.04.09Brazil to Raise Investment Spending to Spark GrowthBrazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government will seek to increase planned spending on infrastructure projects by 28 percent to spark economic growth in response to the global financial crisis. Read More
02.02.09América Latina, expectante por señales de EE.UU.Hasta el momento el único presidente latinoamericano que ha tenido contacto directo con Obama fue Felipe Calderón, de México.... Tras dos semanas de la llegada de Obama, aún no hay nada claro. Expectativa. Esa es la palabra que resume la recepción de los mandatarios latinoamericanos a Barack Obama. Read More
01.30.09Latin America's Quiet RevolutionThe Mexican government is locked in a vicious war against powerful drug cartels which assassinate public officials seemingly at will. Bolivian President Evo Morales's constitutional rewrites threaten to push the country toward civil war. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez persecutes his political opposition, supports the FARC rebels in Colombia and is training a civilian militia supposedly designed to defend against an impending U.S. invasion. Read More
01.18.09Latin America Looks for a Fresh Start with ObamaImproving relations with the western hemisphere — as an early item on President Obama's diplomatic agenda and not as an afterthought, as most U.S. Presidents approach it — could turn out to be a relatively easy way to prime the pump for better relations with the rest of the world. "Compared with the challenges he faces elsewhere, Latin America's are more manageable," says Michael Shifter, vice president of the InterAmerican Dialogue in Washington. "Strengthening alliances and partnerships in this hemisphere affords him the opportunity to enhance the political capital behind his foreign policy generally." Read More
01.16.09More Free Trade NeededCLEAR MESSAGE: Latin America needs to reach more free trade agreements, as the APEC summit in Peru recently recommended, the author points out. Latin America should use the current financial crisis as an opportunity to reach more free trade agreements. Read More
01.13.09WESTERN HEMISPHERE: Brace for political impact of global economic crisisIt is now clear that Latin America will not be able to insulate itself from the global financial crisis. The International Monetary Fund now predicts 2.5 percent growth in Latin America and the Caribbean next year, in contrast to its earlier prediction of 3.2 percent. Those countries that are most dependent on commodity exports will experience the greatest decline in economic growth, with Venezuela heading the list. Countries whose exports are more diversified, such as Brazil, will see the smallest declines. Read More
01.07.09Brazil well-placed for the economic stormAt the beginning of 2008, Brazil looked to many investors like the model of decoupling. Its financial system had little crossover with US subprime or investment banking in the developed world. Its commodity exports, particularly iron ore, looked strong in an era of rocketing prices. But 2008 also highlighted the importance of Brazilian domestic consumption. Growth remained solid due to flourishing but conservative lending and well run groups in sectors such as retailing and telecoms. Read More
01.05.09LATIN AMERICA: Region may escape worst of recessionAn economic adage asserts that whenever the United States sneezes, Latin America catches a cold. A number of analysts and pundits speculate that given the worsening recession, the cold could quickly turn into pneumonia. Read More
10.03.08US Congress Extends ATPDEAThe US Congress passed legislation to extend the benefits of the Andean Trade Preference Act to Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, which were due to expire at the end of 2008. The extension as to Colombia and Peru expires December 31, 2009 and as to Ecuador and Bolivia expires June 30, 2009, with a possible extension to December 2009 subject to a favorable report by the President of the United States as to the conditions set forth in Section 203 of the Act. See full text of HR7222 Read More
09.18.08Cafta: Trade deal has hidden qualitiesIn May 2004, when government officials from the US, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala gathered in Washington to sign a 2,400-page trade agreement, there was a sense of achievement in the air. Four years later, that early enthusiasm and optimism has come down several notches. Moreover, there have been diverging signals in terms of the benefits. To take just one example, Guatemalan exports grew 6 per cent in 2006, about 7.5 per cent in 2007 and are expected to climb nearly 9 per cent in 2009. Yet imports, which grew 11 per cent in 2006, are predicted to grow almost 15 per cent in 2009. Read More
09.08.08Latin America Wants Free TradeOf the two U.S. presidential candidates, one promises to expand international trading opportunities for American producers and consumers. The other pledges to raise the barriers that Americans already face in global commerce. For Latin America, this is the single most important policy issue in the campaign. If Republican candidate John McCain wins, he says he will lead the Western Hemisphere toward freer trade. Conversely, Democratic candidate Barack Obama has promised that he will craft a U.S. trade policy of greater protectionism against our Latin neighbors. The former agenda will advance regional economic integration, the latter will further Latin American isolation. Read More
08.18.08US Trade Synopsis with Latin America1. US Trade: Colombia Grows Most BUSY PORT: The port of Cartagena, Colombia's largest, is seeing increased traffic thanks to the growing U.S. trade. U.S. trade with Colombia is booming even without a free trade agreement. Overall US trade with Latin America is picking up. Read More
07.30.08Marathon WTO talks collapse in U.S.-India farm rowWorld trade talks collapsed here on Tuesday after seven years of on-again, off-again negotiations, in the latest sign of India’s and China’s growing might on the world stage and the decreasing ability of the United States to impose its will globally. Skip to next paragraph Related World Trade Organization Salvatore Di Nolfi/EPA Kamal Nath of India said developing nations were concerned for their poor farmers. Readers' Comments What impact do you think the collapse of World Trade Organization talks will have? Post a Comment » Read All Comments (44) » Pascal Lamy, director general of the World Trade Organization, could not bridge differences between a group of newly confident developing nations and established Western economic powers. In the end, too few of the real power brokers proved committed enough to make compromises necessary to deliver a deal. The failure appeared to end, for the near term at least, any hopes of a global deal to further open markets, cut farm subsidies and strengthen the international trading system. Read More
07.04.08Latin America Policy at a CrossroadsSen. John McCain's trip to Colombia and Mexico this week made one thing clear: The shape of the United States' relationship with Latin America will hinge on the outcome of the 2008 election. The Republican presidential candidate and his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, have outlined sharply contrasting visions of how they would conduct relations in the hemisphere. McCain is committed to putting a new emphasis on the region but would pursue many of the policies followed by President Bush in Latin America, with a heavy emphasis on counternarcotics efforts, free trade and a push to curb illegal immigration. Obama has sketched a broad approach that relies more on diplomatic efforts and expression of soft power, through more foreign assistance, an infusion of Peace Corps volunteers and a willingness to meet with hard-line leftist leaders. Dan Lund, a longtime Mexico City-based pollster, said that "there is a big difference" between the two candidates. "It's easy with McCain -- he's clearly going to pursue, without exceptions, the Bush administration line, including the policy toward Cuba," Lund said in an interview. "The Democrats are kind of a mystery. They'll want to loosen things, and they won't want to fight with everybody like Bush did." Read More
07.01.08European Union Suspends IV Round of Trade Negotiations with the Andean Community of NationsThe European Trade Commission announced today its decision to suspend the IV Trade Round scheduled for July 7-11, 2008 in Brussels, alleging a lack of coordinated positions on the part of the Andean Nations. The decision was communicated yesterday to the government of Ecuador, who holds the Presidency pro-tempore of the trade block. See full text in Spanish. Read More
06.31.08The Bank for International Settllements (BIS) Annual ReportThe 78th Annual Report of the Bank for International Settlements for the financial year which began on 1 April 2007 and ended on 31 March 2008 was submitted to the Bank's Annual General Meeting held in Basel on 30 June 2008. Of special note in this web site is its chapter on Emerging Market Economies, whose Abstract, Highlights and Macroeconomic Developments we are presenting under the READ MORE link. For the full Annual Report go to http://www.bis.org/publ/arpdf/ar2008e.htm Read More
05.13.08Planes departamentales de agua: aplanadora neoliberalNadie con un poco de sensatez se opondría a que en el país se cumpliera el “objetivo del Milenio” de reducir para 2019 en 50% los hogares sin acceso al agua potable. El Banco Mundial en su última valoración ambiental del país ha reconocido el grave problema que representa la carencia de este vital líquido y/o su mala calidad, principalmente por sus nefastas consecuencias para la salud del pueblo colombiano . Read More
05.05.08Clashes in Bolivia on Vote Over More AutonomyStreet clashes broke out here and in small towns in the surrounding countryside on Sunday as Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s largest province and a bastion of separatist groups, held a referendum on measures that would give it greater autonomy from the government of President Evo Morales. The statute would give Santa Cruz the ability to elect its own legislature, create its own police force and raise new taxes for public works. It is expected to allow the province to negotiate its own royalty agreements with energy companies. Read More
04.22.08An Outsider’s Victory Allows Jubilant Paraguayans to Look Past DictatorshipBefore giving Fernando Lugo, a former Roman Catholic bishop, a stunning victory at the polls on Sunday, Paraguayans had lived more than 60 years under one-party rule. Read More
04.15.08PIB peruano crece febrero a mayor ritmo desde 1995La economía peruana superó las expectativas de analistas y se expandió en febrero a su mayor ritmo mensual desde mayo de 1995, impulsada otra vez por el sector de construcción y por una fuerte recuperación de la minería e hidrocarburos, informó el martes el Gobierno. El Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) de Perú repuntó un 11,92 por ciento en febrero frente al mismo mes del año pasado, según el Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI). Read More
04.09.08Don't Blame NAFTA for Downturn, Many Economists SayThe North American Free Trade Agreement is once again a prime scapegoat for the nation's growing economic troubles, drawing blame for sending jobs overseas and flattening wages for U.S. workers. Overall, they said, NAFTA has been a net plus, if a modest one, for the U.S. economy. Even as the number of factory jobs dropped, manufacturing output in the United States was up 58 percent between 1993 and 2006, as U.S. plants produced more goods with fewer workers Read More
04.06.08EEUU califica como 'imperativo' voto TLC con Colombia en 2008La votación en el Congreso de Estados Unidos del Tratado de Libre Comercio con Colombia es un "imperativo" para el presidente George W. Bush que intenta convencer a los demócratas para aprobar el acuerdo con un aliado clave, dijo el domingo la representante comercial Susan Schwab. Read More
04.06.08Mark Penn dumped as chief strategist by Clinton campaign.Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams announced Sunday that Mark Penn was cut from his role as chief strategist of the campaign, with the decision to move out one of Clinton's most controversial advisors coming after he met with Colombia’s ambassador to the U.S. talk about a bi-lateral trade agreement. Read More
01.18.08Cancilleres del Caribe coordinarán políticas de comercio, turismo y transporteCancilleres de quince países participarán en la XIII Reunión del Consejo de Ministros de la Asociación de Estados del Caribe (AEC) que tendrá lugar en Panamá del 23 al 25 de enero próximos, para coordinar sus políticas en materia de comercio, turismo y transporte. Read More
01.18.08South America's Constitutional BattlesMovements to rewrite national constitutions are dramatically changing the political paths of several South American countries, triggering bitter debates over whether new charters will benefit future generations or simply serve the political ambitions of current presidents. The current constitutions are not exactly musty documents on yellowing parchment. Bolivia substantially revised its constitution in 1994, Ecuador's was ratified in 1998, and an assembly in Venezuela dominated by Chavez allies drafted that country's charter in 1999. In 2004, the legislature in Colombia, a U.S. ally, changed its constitution to allow presidents to be reelected, permitting Alvaro Uribe to win another term two years later. Read More
01.17.08World trade pact possible this year: SchwabA new world trade pact is possible this year, but it is still too early to schedule a trade ministers' meeting to seal the deal, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said on Thursday. Schwab will discuss the status of the talks with other top ministers attending the annual World Economic Forum meeting next week in Davos, Switzerland. Read More
01.14.08Latin America: Record FDIFDI doubles in Brazil, Mexico and Chile and declines in Argentina and Venezuela. Read More
01.10.08Administration to Push Free Trade DealsCommerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said Thursday the Bush administration would use its last year in office to push for approval for three pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. Read More
01.09.08U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Second Annual Americas Competitiveness ForumU.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today announced the Department will convene the second annual Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) on Aug. 17-19, 2008, in Atlanta. The forum will provide an opportunity for governments, the business community, and representatives from academia and non-governmental organizations to discuss actions that can be taken to improve competitiveness and economic prosperity in the Americas. Read More
07.18.07Saying No to Free TradeThe US Congress has postponed discussion of free-trade agreements (FTAs) signed with Peru and Panama for several months, while indicating that it will not consider the accord with Colombia at all at this time. Read More
06.21.07Spain-US Chamber of Commerce to Open in AtlantaThe Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced it will open a chapter in Atlanta to attract Spanish companies to invest in the Southeast. The chamber will initially be located in the offices of Hemisphere Trade Services. Read More
06.13.07Conference helps put Atlanta at global foreAtlanta may have lost out on a proposed headquarters for a Western Hemisphere trade organization, but the two-day Americas Competitiveness Forum that ended Tuesday offered a nice consolation prize Read More
03.14.07Atlanta to host Americas Competitiveness ForumAtlanta's international recognition will get a boost when the first Americas Competitiveness Forum opens in June. More than 500 senior political and business leaders from 34 countries, stretching from the tip of Chile to Canada, will come to Atlanta for two days of workshops. Read More
01.05.07Atlanta Free Trade Leader Moves into New HemisphereInternational businessman Jose Ignacio Gonzaléz was instrumental in the effort to help Atlanta become a key cog in the most expansive trade agreement in history- a deal to unite the economies of 34 democracies from the Bering Strait to the tip of Chile. Read More