Argentina

Country Overview                The Argentine Republic is the 2^nd largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil (including its Antarctica’s territories), covering over 2.780.000 square meters. It is the 8^th larger country in the world with a population of 42 million people (the 32^nd). It is the largest global area among Spanish-speakers nations. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces plus the Capital area of Buenos Aires, where are living 13 million people or the 31 percent of total population. The light passenger industry in 2011 was the world’s 19^th.

Chile

Country Overview                 17 millions people are living in this country, characterized by a unique territory, with a long strip of 6.435 coastlines, compressed on Pacific see by Andean peaks. Thanks to a renaissance period started in early ‘90, Chile today is one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations. In the 2011, the car sector reported 333.000 units, the 31th globally.

Mexico

Mexico is the world’s 14^th country as territory extension and the 11th as population (115 million people).  In 2011 with a GDP (purchasing power parity) of % 1.650 trillion was the 12^th global economy. In spite the GDP growth was interrupted by 2009 financial crisis (-6.2%) the country recovered immediately and performed with a growth of 5.4 in 2010 and 3.8 in 2011. The country started a fast development during the nineties’ also thanks to the  start of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, with US & Canada that incorporated an “emerging economy” with low level of income and low labor cost, inside two of more developed countries in the world.  Nowadays Mexico has free trade agreements with over 50 countries and combine characteristic of an emerging economy with large and growing domestic market. 

The automotive industry become really relevant for the country economy, with many production sites developed here as base of free export in all the Nafta area. In the 2011, the production surged at 2.557.000 vehicles, the world's 8^th, while domestic market at 900.000 units was the 16^th.

Venezuela

Venezuela is a country where democracy and stability are still far, as proven by the actual Leader, Hugo Chavez, is the President since 1999, having established a "Modern Socialist Republic" where violence, drugs and military are conditioning people life. Venezuelan economy is highly depended by its huge petroleum industry, accounting around 95% of total exports, over 40% of Government revenues and 12% of GDP. Pro capita revenue is stable at $ 12.400, but National GDP was hit by 2008 financial crisis and in 2011 was lower than in 2008. Inflation rate at 28.9% in 2011 was a world's record and is creating a huge grey market and unofficial economy. Hard to say when Venezuelan people (28 million) will start increasing their general life conditions.

Peru

Country Overview

Covering a territory of 1.285.000 square kilometers, Peru is the world' 20th largest country. Population consists of 29 millions people, high concentrated (30%) in the capital, Lima, with over 10 million still living in poverty conditions. In last decade the Peruvian economy grew at an average speed of 6.4%, with a slightly appreciating exchange rate and low inflation index (3.6 in 2011). Marginally touched by 2009 global crisis (GDP 0.9 in 2009), it continue to grow fast (GDP +6.9 in 2011 and +8.8 in 2010) with pro capita income at $ 10.000 (2011), low unemployment rate (7.7 in 2011) and low public debt (in 2011 at 21.7% of GDP).

It seems that the country has taken a track of social capitalism and in last 5 years the agreement of many multilateral economic free trade (Nafta, China, South Korea, Europe, and Japan) opened the country at foreign investments.

Paraguay

Country Overview

Paraguay is a 406.000 sq. km country with over 6.5 million people, one of the poorest in South America, with a large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis.

In recent years, the economy grew rapidly between 2003 and 2008 as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion. Paraguay is the sixth largest soy producer in the world. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession. The economy fell 3.8% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports to contract. The government reacted by introducing fiscal and monetary stimulus packages. Growth resumed at a 15% level in 2010, the highest in South America, but slowed to 6.4% in 2011 as the stimulus subsided. Political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to growth. The pro capita income was US $5.500 in the 2011 with over 35% of population below the poverty level. The public debt was 13.7% of GDP (2011) and the inflation above 8%.