Latin America and Mexico  

I want to inform about South American countries and Mexico, the largest one in Central America that can be reached by 10 to 18-hour flights and having 6 to 9 hours of time difference with Turkey.

We mention about 11 countries under Latin American title. Total population is about 424 million. Mexico has 125 million people. Due to the lack of dependable census data, the figures are taken comparatively from several sources. With 210 million, Brazil has the largest population; then come middle sized countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela with their populations between 30 to 45 million. Populations of Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay are at the range of 7 to 18 million. Lastly, Uruguay has 3.5 million and Guyana takes the smallest category with 750 thousand people.

A market of 550 million in total sounds good, but, as a market, these two issues have to be taken into account: 1. Habits, 2. National Income/ Purchasing, Power/Partnerships.

Habits

Most of the countries in the Ecuador belt and in the southern hemisphere have very hot and humid climates. 75-80% of the people live in extremely hot climate. Large number of people sleep on bare earth due to heat.

It is said that half of the people do not sleep in bed. Literacy rate were 50% in the year 2000. Cities on the gulf of Mexico and northern pacific seem better than inner parts of the country. Having 25 million people, Mexico City is a mega metropolis and a center for trades.

People in Argentina, Peru, Chile and Bolivia people use animal hides and wools to sleep on, to make their mattresses and quilts themselves.

National Income/Purchasing Power/Partnerships

Paraguay, Bolivia and Guyana are the poorest countries having 3-6 thousand dollars of annual per capita income, (on purchasing power parity). Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela are in the less developed countries list having 10 to 20 thousand dollars income. About 30 % of people in Mexico and Brazil, has no power of purchasing due to the huge deficit between the richest and poorest. This ratio is about 10 to 15 in Venezuela, Chile and Uruguay.

Several statistics issued by world organizations shows these figures. Agriculture, livestock and underground resources are main source of income having the least amount of industrial production. High rate of duties are demanded to protect the national economies.

Mexico is a member of NAFTA, North American free trade agreement. MERCOSUR, common market of the south, covering whole South American countries and Mexico, is the third largest economic integration in the world, having more than 1 trillion dollars of trade volume on 2011 data.

Recent economic problems in Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela caused a slowdown in these locomotive countries in Latin world. Bilateral agreements signed by People’s Republic of China with countries in the region, have paved the way for products made in PRC.

Bilateral visits and activities that aim to increase trade volume with these countries are highly valuable for Turkey, because it is not a member of these pacts. We can export industrial inputs and consumption goods, medium and light machinery and even end products to these countries.

Spanish and Portuguese languages are used in whole communications with people in these countries both in vocal or written. Face to face talks bears fruit faster. Besides, visits and organizations of chambers of trade and commerce are valuable. Banking systems are satisfactory and procedures for foreign trade may change from one country to another.

#LatinAmerica #Mexico  #NAFTA #Habits #MERCOSUR #NationalIncome #Purchasing #Power #Partnerships #Leotext #UgurAslan