he Indian Ministry of Commerce projected that 60 percent of India's future trade would be accounted for by free trade agreements

(FTAs), with such countries as Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan and even China. The Indian government is in talks with the Mercusor (a trade association comprising Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) and the SACU (South African Customs Union) and is looking to increase bilateral engagements with more countries.

Business

Trade -India's trade with Latin America increased to 25 bn $ in 2011 from 23 bn in 2010 -India's exports went up by 28 % in 2011 reaching 11.6 bn from 9 bn in 2010. -India's imports declined to 13.5 bn in 2011 from 14 bn in 2010 -Brazil is the leading trade partner followed by Venezuela, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Colombia -Colombia is the third largest export destination of India after Brazil and Mexico. -crude oil is the main item of India's imports accounting for 8 bn $. Copper imports were about 2 bn and Soy oil imports were over a billion. -Reliance imported 7.5 bn worth crude from Latin America in 2011, of which 5 bn came from Venezuela. India's single largest export is diesel. Reliance exported 3.4 bn $ of diesel to Brasil in 2011. -These are preliminary trade figure

INDIA LATIN AMERICA TRADE FIGURES - YEAR 2011 INDIA IMPORTS In U$S Millions 3200 5000 1250 1780 1210 600 240 24 74 28 14 20 2 11 6 3 2 28 2 EXPORTS in U$S Millions 6080 580 2000 400 560 880 510 160 78 96 95 86 62 42 46 37 32 4 25 TOTAL TRADE In U$S Millions 9280 5580 3250 2180 1770 1480 750 184 152 124 109 106 64 53 52 40 34 32 27

1) BRAZIL 2) VENEZUELA 3) MEXICO 4) CHILE 5) ARGENTINA 6) COLOMBIA 7) PERU 8) ECUADOR 9) PARAGUAY 10) PANAMA 11) COSTA RICA 12) URUGUAY 13) HONDURAS 14)DOMINICAN REP. 15)CUBA 16) GUATEMALA 17) EL SALVADOR 18) BOLIVIA 19)) NICARAGUA

TOTAL

13494

11693

25187

Indias trade with Latin America in 2010 Indias trade with Latin America has gone up to US $ 23 billion in 2010 from US $ 2.6 billion in 2001. Indian exports to the region increased from 1.5 billion dollars in 2001 to 9 billion in 2010 and imports went up to US $ 14 billion in 2010 from 1.1 billion in 2001.

Indias trade with Latin America in billion US $.

Year Indias Exports Indias Imports TOTAL

2010 9

2009 7.5

2008 8

2007 5

2006 4

2005 3.2

2004 2

2003 1.7

2002 1.7

2001 1.5

14

9.7

11

5.2

3.1

2.3

1.9

1.7

1.1

23

17.2

19

11

9.2

6.3

4.3

3.6

3.4

2.6

India accounts for a small portion of the Latin American trade which was 1.7 trillion dollars in 2010. Latin America exported 896 billion dollars worth of goods and imported 793 billion in 2010.

Indias trade with Latin American countries 2010 (in million US dollars) Grouping Country Imports of India Exports of India Total

Mercosur

Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay

2032 3492 72 14 5178

496 4242 65 69 226

2528 7734 137 83 5404

Special member

Venezuela

Andean Community

Bolivia Colombia Ecuador Peru

5 365 10 219 1582

55 686 200 498 416

60 1070 210 717 1950

Associate

Chile

Central America

Costa Rica Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua El Salvador Panama Belize Dominican Republic

12

27

39

4 18 5 7

33 48 30 22

37 66 35 29

NAFTA

Mexico

1000

1600

2600

Others

Cuba

The Chinese trade with Latin America was 166 billion dollars in 2010. Chinese exports were 87 billion and imports were 79 billion

Leading trade partners of India

Brazil is the leading trading partner of India, followed by Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. Indias trade with the major markets of Latin America (Figures in million dollars) below: Indias Imports Country 2005 Brazil Mexico Argentina Chile Colombia Peru Venezuela 1137 522 739 493 5 79 35 2006 937 671 929 1489 64 102 850 2007 958 868 859 2211 80 210 489 2008 1102 1587 836 1744 16 281 3700 2009 3415 1085 876 908 449 72 2260 2010 3492 1000 2032 1600 365 230 5178 2005 1203 957 261 134 248 122 98 2006 1470 1125 303 164 346 146 131 2007 2200 1127 384 208 476 252 95 2008 3564 1363 492 478 529 504 195 2009 2191 1140 342 278 504 304 223 2010 4242 1600 496 350 686 470 226 Indias Exports

Indias exports to Latin America Chemicals, bulk drugs, pharmaceuticals, diesel oil, automobiles, tractors, auto parts, two and three wheelers, equipments and machinery, medical and scientific instruments, hand tools, machine tools, optic fibers, blank CDs amd DVDs, tyres, electrical items, leather products, plastic products, sports items, spices, ayurvedic and herbal products, textiles, handicrafts and incense sticks. Chemicals including bulk drugs form the largest part of Indias exports. The main export to Brazil is diesel oil by Reliance. In 2010 the export was 1.7 billion dollars accounting for 40 percent of Indias total exports to Brazil. HAL has exported seven Dhruv helicopters to Ecuador Air Force. Other countries such as Bolivia, Chile and Argentina have shown interest. The region has started opening up for Indian defence products. Indian mobile phone maker Micromax entering Brazilian market. Micromax is planning to enter the north eastern region of Brazil to start with. It already has a distributor in Sao Paulo. Micromax is a new player in India since 2006 and has gained space in the competitive Indian market with its special features and price. It has become the third largest vendor of GSM phones.

Indian imports from Latin America

Petroleum crude, copper, soy oil, sunflower oil, minerals, sugar, ethanol, precious and semi precious stones, agro products, leather, wool, metal scrap, wood, equipment and machinery, aircrafts (from Brazil), wine and fresh fruits. Petroleum crude, edible oil and copper are the top three items accounting for over three fourths of the total imports from Latin America. Imports of these three items are expected to increase in the coming years in view of the growing gap between demand and domestic production in India. Latin America has become a new regular source for Indias crude oil imports in the last ten years and crude oil is the leading item of Indias imports from the region. Venezuela has become the eighth largest supplier of crude oil to India. The crude oil imports of Reliance accounts for over fifty percent of Indias total imports from Latin America. Reliance has been importing crude oil from Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. About two-thirds of Reliances imports from Latin America came from Venezuela which accounted for 59 percent, Mexico 21 percent and Brazil 14 percent. Reliance imported about 300,000 barrels a day of crude on average from Latin America in 2010. This accounted for about a quarter of the companys total imports during the period, compared with 13 percent in the same period of 2009. In 2009 Reliance bought 155,000 bpd from Latin America. This went up to 380,000 barrels a day in the first four months of 2010. Essar has also started imports of crude oil from Venezuela. Given the discovery of large new reserves in Brazil, the growing investment of Indian companies in the region and the increasing domestic demand , Indian imports are set to increase in the future. Argentina is the major source of edible oil and it is followed by Brazil and Paraguay. Wheat is occasionally imported from Argentina while sugar is sourced from Brazil, whenever there is shortfall in India. In 2010, India imported 1.8 billion dollars worth of soy oil from Argentina. There is scope to source pulses, ethanol and biodiesel from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Copper is the predominant item of Indias mineral imports from Latin America. Most of it comes from Chile in the form of copper concentrates. Imports from Chile were 1.5 billion in 2010. The other sources are Brazil, Argentina and Peru.

Investment and joint ventures Indian companies including NRI firms have invested about 12 billion dollars in the region in IT, pharmaceuticals, agro-chemicals, steel, mining, agribusiness and other sectors. More investment is expected to flow in the coming years as a number of Indian companies have shown interest in entering the region.

Energy OVL (ONGC Videsh Ltd) has acquired off-shore oil fields for about 500 million dollars in Brazil. OVL is part of a consortium in the exploration and production of oil from Carabobo-1 project in the Orinoco region of Venezuela. The other Indian members of the consortium are Indian Oil Corporation and Oil India Ltd. The Indian companies have 18% share while Repsol and Petronas have 11% each and the Venezuelan state oil company has 60% share. The Indian investment in this project is 2.18 billion dollars. The field will start producing 400,000 bpd of which the Indian consortium is entitled to 72,000 bpd for 25 years. OVL also has another joint venture with PDVSA for exploration and production of oil in the San Cristobal oil field. In Colombia, OVL has acquired a producing field (30,000 bpd) in a 50:50 joint venture with Sinopec. OVL investment is 600 million dollars in this jv company called as Manasarover Energy Colombia Ltd. OVL has also taken exploration rights for some offshore oil blocks in Colombia. OVL has offshore oilfield concessions in Cuba on its own as well as separately as part of a consortium lead by Repsol. OVL is exploring opportunities in Ecuador and Argentina. Bharat Petro Resources, subsidiary of BPCL, along with Videocon International have acquired ten blocs in Brazil valued at US$ 280 million. The Indian consortium has 40% in these blocks and Petrobras 60%. They have alreay struck oil in some of the blocks. Reliance has acquired off-shore oil blocs in Colombia in the Borojo North and South blocks in the Pacific coast for an estimated US $ 50 million. Reliance signed a deal with Ecopetrol of Colombia in December 2009 under which Ecopetrol would take a 20 percent stake in these blocks and would be their operator. In Peru, they have got hydrocarbon concessions in a joint venture with an Argentine and an Australian company. They are interested in other countries of the region including Venezuela, and in upstream ventures in Mexico and Central America Jindal has acquired some gas blocs in Bolivia. They have also got hydrocarbon blocks in Peru. Assam company has entered into a Farmout Agreement with Sismopetrol and R3 in Colombia for exploration and production of an oil block known as ANH EL Triunfo located in Casanare in Colombia. The block size is 10,200 hectares and contains one discovered well (La Cabana). Assam Company has 70% Participating Interest in the said Block with Sismoperrol holding 30% Participating Interest. South America is becoming a player in the global petroleum market. Brazil has discovered large new reserves of oil and is set to become a significant exporter. Venezuela is already the Saudi Arabia of the region with its reserves of over 200 billion barrels. Mexico, Ecuador and Argentina also export crude oil. Colombia and Peru also have sizeable oil reserves and are under-explored. In the non-conventional energy sector, Brazil has emerged as a global pioneer and leader in fuel ethanol and more countries in the region are following their lead. Argentina is the leading exporter of biodiesel produced from soya.

Many projects are coming up in the arid areas of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay as well as in Central America and Caribbean to grow jatropha for biodiesel. Indian companies can enter this sector for investment and joint ventures. Gammon India Ltd has established a subsidiary company Campo Puma Oriente SA ( based in Panama ) which operates the Puma oil fields in Ecuador which consists of eleven wells with proven reserves of 8 million barrels. So far, they have drilled seven wells which produce 1,500 bpd. The contract for the 20year lease of Puma fields was signed in March 2008. The Puma field investment is a joint venture with Joshi Technology International of USA. Gammon has 66.4% and Joshi 33.6%. The joint venture company in Ecuador is called as Consorcio Pegaso They have invested 50 million dollars till December 2010 and plan to invest 51 million dollars more in the next five years. Joshi company, founded by Dr Joshi produces 5000 bpd of oil in Colombia. They also have oil fields in India and USA. The Puma block is in the orient basin located 400 km from the capital Quito. The block has an area of 166 sq kms.

Wind Energy Suzlon Energy Ltd of India has set up a 225 MW wind energy project in north east Brazil. In 2010, they have got another project of 218 MW in Ceara and Rio Grande de Norte provinces. They are establishing a plant in Brazil to produce 2 MW turbines with an annual capacity of 400 MW.

Mining and Minerals Jindal Group is the first one to enter this sector through their 2.3 billion dollars investment in the El Mutun iron ore project in Bolivia. They will export most of the iron ore. Jindal has also bought a mine in northern Chile for 53 million dollars to extract magnetite. Aditya Birla Group has acquired three aluminium plants in Pindamonhangaba, Ouro Preto and Aratu in Brazil. It has a plan to increase its aluminium production capacity by 20 percent to 250,000 tons by 2014. It will invest $300 million. The group has also acquired a carbon black plant in Brazil. Tega Industries Limited has acquired a Chilean company Acotec S.A in Feb 2011. Acotec is a $35 Mn company providing products and solutions for abrasion, corrosion and fluid transportation systems to the mining industry in Chile, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. Essar group has bagged an iron ore concession in Amapa, in northern Brazil. They will supply the iron ore to their steel plant in Trinidad and Tobago, which is under construction.

Essar is building a 2.5-million-tonnes steel plant in Trinidad and Tobago. The main attraction for the steel venture is the availability of abundant and inexpensive natural gas used for steel production. Jindal is going to build a small steel plant, the first-ever in Bolivia, as part of their iron ore mining project. Arcelor Mittal has steel plants in Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and Brazil. They have acquired steel-finishing and distribution companies in Argentina, Uruguay and Costa Rica. Zuari Industries Limited of KK Birla Group and its JV partner Mitsubishi Corporation has acquired 30% stake in Fosfatos del Pacifico SA, Peru (Fospac) for $46 million through the Singapore-based JV company - MCA Phosphates Pte Ltd. The mine is located in Bayovar area in the province of Pieura, Peru and is expected to have an initial production capacity of 2.5 Mn Metric Tons.

Ispat Group is in the process of acquiring concessions for iron ore in Brazil and for coal in Colombia. NALCO has announced plans to invest in copper mining in Chile. Osho Group of plans 70 m $ in Paraguay. Veerendra Agarwal of Osho Group is in talks for acquisition of a steel mill and a cement plant in Paraguay. he is also interested in investment in Argentina.

Zamin Group, based out of London (owner Pramod Agarwal) has already invested over 40 million dollars in the Minera Aratiri iron ore mining prject at Valentine in uruguay. 18 million tons of concentrated iron ore will be produced and exported by 2013-14. The ore will be sent through a new 215 km slurry pipeline to a dedicated port for export. Reserves said to be over 2.1 billion tons. Total project cost estimated around 3 billion dollars. Zamin also has the Greystone iron ore project in Brazil where it is targeting production by 2016 of 6-8 million mt/year of pellet feed. They have mines in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru IRK International has acquired an iron ore mine in Julica, Peru for 35 million dollars. The name of their local company is Pacific Minerals and Metals del Peru. The production is expected to be 500,000 tons in 2011. Minergy Resources of India has acquired mines in Brazil Minergy has a JV with Neepaz Mineral Resources and have acquired about 184,000 ha of very prime Iron Ore and Gold Concessions in the State of Tocantins and have already commenced implementation of an exploration work program. They have - 23 concessions for Iron ore 1 concession for Gold

 Total area is 1688 sq kms All the concessions are located on both side of Palmas, within area of 240kms x 170 kms Minergy Brazil has recently acquired 24000 hectares of prime diamondiferous areas in the Parana State in Brazil, there is artisanal Diamond Production within the acreage both in the Terraces and the fluvial system in the concessions. We are currently planning a work program for the exploration and development of Diamond production.

Indo Borax has acquired a small borax mine in Argentina and has plans for more acquisitions.

South America is endowed with rich reserves of minerals such as copper, iron ore, gold, silver and diamond. India will need more of these to fuel its high growth and consumption in the coming decades. There is scope for mining ventures in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru

Automobiles Mahindra has a joint venture for assembly of Scorpio 4-wheel drive vehicles in Manaus, Brazil and another JV for assembly of tractors in Venezuela. Tata Motors is in talks with Iveco of Italy for a possible joint venture to make light commercial vehicle in Argentina. Ashok Leyland is exploring possibility of joint venture with Plaza Group of Argentina to produce buses and trucks. Sonalika Tractors is exploring possibility of assembling their tractors in Argentina in collaboration with Apache group. Bajaj, TVS and Hero Honda motorcycles are assembled in Colombia. TVS has 26% stake in a Colombian company TVS Andina S.A. TVS has tied up with DAFRA Motos, a Brazilian company of the Grupo Itavema which has a manufacturing plant at Manaus with capacity to produce 200 thousand motorcycles annually. In this plant TVS Apache RTR 150 motorcycles are produced. Bajaj three wheelers are assembled in Medellin and the Colombian government has authorised Bajaj Autos to be used as public transport in municipalities with population less than 50,000. RSB Transmissions has opened a plant at Silao in the state of Guanajuato in Mexico in April 2011. The plant will produce transmission parts and equipments for automobiles.Investment said to be around 20 million dollars. Employment upto 500 local people.

Other areas Havells, the Indian lighting and fixtures firm has acquired the assets and business of Sylavania of US in Latin America worth 200 million dollars. They have plants in Brasil, Colombia and Costa Rica. The chief of operations of the Americas Mr Kapil Gulati manages the regional business from Costa Rica. Godrej has acquired two Argentine companies, Issue Group and Argencos, in 2010. The two companies are in cosmetics business with core strength in hair colour. They have a turnover of 50 million dollars and export their products to other Latin American countries. Videocon has acquired a TV manufacturing plant (owned by Thomson) in Mexico for about half a billion dollars. BEML has established an assembly plant in Espirito de Santo province of Brasil for mining, earthmoving and railway equipments. Essel Propack has acquired plants in Colombia and Mexico which produce laminated plastic tubes. Essel Propack inagurated its second plant in Mexico -30 March 2011 JK Tyres acquired Mexican Tyre company Tornel in April 2008 for 68 million dollars. Tornel has three tyre plants employing 2000 people and producing 6.6 million tyres. It has a turnover of over 200 million dollars. Pidilite has acquired a Brazilian adhesive manufacturing company which has a turnover of 50 million dollars and employs 320 Brazilians. Vijay Electricals from Hyderabad has acquired a Transformers plant in Joao Pessoa in the northeast of Brazil. They are setting up another plant in Mexico. Elgi Equipments has launched a subsidiary at Sao Paolo in Brazil to market its products and later manufacturing. DS Constructions Ltd. has acquired Globeleq America's power assets for $542 million, in 50:50 joint venture with Israel Corporation. The assets consists of natural gas and hydro power plants in Peru and Bolivia, fuel based power assets in El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Jamaica totaling a capacity of over 2,180 mw. Elevation Development a singapore-based company of NRI Satinder Garcha has bought the City Hotel in downtown Santiago facing the Plaza de las Armas in January 2011. The hotel is being renovated and should be inagurated by end 2012. Megatherm has set up a Brazilian Subsidiary, Megatherm Group Brasil Ltda, in foundry sector. Praj industries of Pune has executed ethanol projects worth 35 million dollars in Colombia. They have entered into a JV with a Brazilian company to build a new ethanol plant in Brazil.

KEC International Ltd has acquired ( sept 2010) SAE Tower Holdings of USA which has manufacturing facilities in Belo Horizonte, Brazil ( 65000 tons) and Monterry, Mexico ( 35,000 tons) as well as in USA. Cost of acquisition was 95 million dollars. SAE Towers is a leader in all three markets. Wipros Infrastructure Engineering division has acquired ( may 2011) a Brazilian hydraulic cylinder manufacturer, RKM Equipamentos Hidraulicos. Tata Beverages is exploring investment in a tea factory in Missiones province of Argentina Kirloskar is planning to acquire a water pump manufacturing plant in Argentina.

Suggested focus areas for Indian investors and exporters

Indian companies should target Brazil for projects and supply of materials for the 200 billion dollars infrastructure projects for the World Cup 2014 and the Olympics 2016. They should also focus on the opportunities in the five year plan to spend 220 billion dollars by Petrobras (This is the largest corporate investment plan in the world at this moment) in the petroleum exploration and production. The Minister of Mines and Energy of Brazil announced on 8 february 2011 that Brazil would invest 270 billion dollars in the next two decades in the mining sector and triple the production of gold, iron and copper by 2030. This offers opportunities for investment as well as exports of mining machinery and materials. Investment in commercial forestry and paper pulp in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile and take back timber and paper pulp. Indian companies should acquire farmland in the region to grow soy, sunflower, pulses and sugarcane to source edible oil, pulses, sugar and biofuels. The Colombian Minister of Energy and Mining announced on 15 August 2010 that he expected investment of 28 billion dollars in oil exploration and production in the next four years and increse the oil production to 1.4 million bpd by 2014 from 963,000 bpd in June 2010. Colombia is emerging as South America's third-largest oil producer behind Brazil and Venezuela. This opens up opportunities for Indian investors and exporters. Mining investment in Peru amounted to US$4.02 billion in 2010 and this is expected to increase in the coming years. Analysts predict that in 2011 and 2012 alone, at least USD29 billion of mining investment will go into Peru and Colombia. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay are expanding the area of agriculture and increasing their output, encouraged by the high prices and demand as well as by the longterm concern of global food and energy security. This is good news for Indian exporters of agrochemicals and equipments and machinery such as tractors.

PTA with mercosur This was concluded in march 2005. Preferential duty ( 10-20 percent in most cases) is given to 452 Indian products entering mercosur and reciprocal concession to 450 products of mercosur entering India. The PTA has become effective from June 2009. Duty discount for 452 Indian exports as follows: 10 % : 394 products 20 % : 45 products 100%: 13 products Duty discount on 450 Mercosur exports: 10 % : 93 products 20 % : 336 products 100 % : 21 products Indias export items which get Mercosur preferential duty Mercosurs export items entitled to preferential tariff of India

Expansion of India- Mercosur PTA The India - Mercosur PTA which has become operational since June 2009, covers 450 itmes of our exports and 450 items of Mercosur exports. It has now been decided to expand the lists. The lists were discussed in the India- Mercosur meeting held in New Delhi on 15 June 2010. Mercosur has already given their wish list of 1600 items and the Indian commerce ministry has given its list of 3200 items.These will be finalised in the next meeting to be held.

Indian exporters, export promotion councils and trade and industry bodies can present their cases to the Indian commerce ministry..mentioning the item with the HS code and percentage of preference you desire. Contacts in commerce Ministry Shubha Sarma DS shubha.s@nic.in

PTA with Chile

A preferential trade agreement with chile was concluded in November 2005 and was signed on 8 March 2006. India has agreed to give preferential duties to 276 chilean export items while chile will reciprocate for 296 Indian items. It has been agreed to move towards a FTA later.

Chilean products that get preferential duty in India Preferential tariffs given by Chile to Indias exports

Lines of Credit Government Lines of credit

The Government of India has started giving lines of credit (LOC) to other developing countries including LAC countries at concessional terms since 2003. These are being operated by Eximbank of India In June 2005, Government of India granted a 30 million$ Line of Credit to Government ofHonduras. A Honduran delegation visited India in June 2007 and finalised utilisation of 9 million$ for communication equipments, 15 million for vehicles,3 million for airforce and 2.4 million for medical equipments. In May 2009 India offered 80 million dollars LOC to central america during the visit of SICA foreign ministersvisit to Delhi. In 2006 India offered 30 million dollar LOC to Bolivia. In 2010, Cuba was given a 5 million$ LOC Nicaragua had received a Rupee credit of 12 crores in 1986.

Eximbank Lines of credit Eximbank has given commercial lines of credit to governments, commercialbanks and regional organisations in LAC region. Eximbank of India has given Facility of US$ 50 million to the overseas SPV to be set up in Brazil of the Indian company Strides Arcolab Limited, Bangalore for part financing acquisition of Penem/ Penicillin manufacturing facility of Cellofarm at Campos in Brazil under Banks Overseas Investment Finance Programme. Facility of US$ 24 million to Vale do Ivai Acucar e Alcool S.A (VDI), Brazil, a step-down overseas subsidiary of Shree Renuka Sugars Limited (SRSL), Mumbai towards part financing VDIs normal capex

requirement and partly towards refinancing existing debt of VDI, under Exim Banks Overseas Investment Finance Programme. For Mahindra & Mahindras partners in Brazil, they are in the process of examining the possibilty of a loan facility.

Corporation Andina de Bolivia , USD 10 mn Colombia , Fomento (CAF) Ecuador , Peru and Venezuela Central American Bank Bolivia , USD 10 mn for Economic Colombia , Ecuador , Peru Integration (BCIE) and Venezuela Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior S.N.C. (Bancomext) Banco de Comercio Exterior de Colombia (Bancoldex) Banco Bradesco S.A. Mexico USD 10 mn

CAF is processing a few proposals and is expected to refer the same to Exim Bank, upon their approval.

BCIE is expected to refer proposals to Exim Bank.

Bancomext is expected to refer a few proposals to Exim Bank, to be covered under the above facility. Bancoldex is yet to refer any transaction to EXIM Bank, to be covered under the LOC facility. One contract for USD 80,000.00 has been approved. More contracts are expected to be covered under the LOC. The LOC Agreement has recently been made effective on May 14, 2004 and the LOC is expected to be utilized soon. The LOC Agreement has just been signed and it will be made effective upon compliance with conditions precedent, by UNIBANCO, as per the LOC Agreement.

Colombia

USD 10 mn

Brazil

USD 10 mn

Republic Bank

Trinidad & Tobago

USD 8 mn

UNIBANCO

Brazil

USD 10 mn

A contract for cement plant for USD 4.5 mn is expected to be approved shortly, once the LOC is made effective.

Note Most of the above LOCs remain unutilised due to different reasons in different countries. Indian Exporters and LAC importers are welcome to utilise them. Eximbank would be willing to consider more LOCs for LAC countries. contact: www.eximbankindia.com

Development partnership Government of India gives: - about 350 ITEC ( Indian technical and economic cooperation) training scholarships to LAC countries every year - project assistance eg. 6 million dollars grant for a cricket stadium in Guyana, 1.6 million dollars grant for the computerisation of Caricom secretriat. - gifted 150 Bajaj three wheelers to Central American countries - deputation of experts and advisors to the governments of LAC countries - emergency and disaster relief assistance in the form of medicines and other supplies from time to time given to a number of countries. - has set up IT training centres in Cuba, Panama and Guatemala and plans to set up in other central american and caribbean countries and also in paraguay and uruguay..

DTAA Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) has been signed (and ratified) with Brazil and concluded with Uruguay. Negotiations are on with Chile, and Venezuela. DTAA signed with Colombia on 13 May 2011.

BIPA India has signed Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement (BIPA) with Argentina and Uruguay.

Business practices

Since business with India is a relatively new experience for many latin Americans, they need to be convinced and persuaded about the quality of products and reliability of of the Indian companies. do not get discouraged, if you do not get prompt responses or commitments are not fulfilled as promised. patience and persistence needed. In latin America show is more important than the content. Your presentation and packing have to be impressive. Please flaunt your exports to USA and Europe and proclaim loudly your clients there. While Letters of Credit are the general method of payment, cash against payment and other forms are used. some buyers might ask for long credit for 180 days or even 360 days. Some Indian cos extend credit and do business without LCs. many Euroepean traders to latinamerica provide such long credits to sweeten their exports of bulk drugs and chemicals, some of which are sourced from India ! Some clients might use creative methods of payment and billing, as some do in India. Persons are generally more important than systems and rules. This is why establishing personal relationship and rapport is more necessary in Latin America. Chileans are the most serious and system-based in Latin America. Do not hustle the client asking him for appointment on friday evening or monday morning. It may not be fruitful, since the Latinamerican's mind would be on the beach and fun of the weekend. Some Latin american businessmen operate from Florida. They have bank accounts and ware houses there. while the top executives speak english, one needs the help of interpreters at lower levels. Small and medium exporters should explore opportunities outside the big metros such as Sao Paulo and Mexico City. In smaller cities, there is better receptivity and less competition. There is a tendency among Indian exporters of bulk drugs, chemicals, hand tools and cycle parts to undercut each other and offer very low prices. This spoils the buyers and the market itself. The Latin americans use the prices of Indians to beat other Indians.

There are thousands of followers of SaiBaba and other Indian gurus and spiritual groups in Latin America. It would be worthwhile to check about your client and take appropriate gifts and souvenirs.