© Copyright GRANMA INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL EDITION. La Havana. Cuba Total or partial reproduction of the articles in this Website is autorized, as long as the source of the copyright AT A GLANCE TRADE DELEGATIONS VISIT CUBA * A number of trade delegations visited Cuba during February, with the aim of establishing business links in different sectors of the economy. Among them were representatives of the official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Shipping from Malaga, Spain, who visited the western province of Pinar del Río, where there are mining, agricultural and forestry activities. At the same time, entrepreneurs from Toledo set up contacts with shoe, centrifugal pump and hotel equipment factories, among others. EXPORTING INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS * The Bolivian government called on the business sector to adopt a fresh attitude toward the export of industrial goods and not just raw materials, in order to reverse the trade deficit which reached almost $500 million USD. Last year, raw materials accounted for nearly 80% of Bolivian exports, while the remainder were processed products. BUSINESS EXODUS FROM ARGENTINA * With a plan to reduce internal production costs, the Argentine government is aiming to halt the exodus of businesses which, it is estimated, has caused the loss of more than 10,000 jobs and threatens to increase the level of unemployment to 13.8%. According to chambers of commerce, the flight has been provoked by the currency devaluation. While some 70 large and medium-sized companies have either completely or partially left Argentina during the past year, the number of small businesses which have closed is unknown. DESERTIFICATION ADVANCES * Half the poor rural population of Latin America and the Caribbean live in places affected by or threatened by desertification, a phenomenon which is advancing rapidly in the region. The situation has led experts to argue that to confront desertification, it is necessary to combat poverty first. A quarter of desert land in the world is located in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the International Agricultural Fund. Editorial office: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Business officeL: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
