March 2024 ALABC Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE 

  • Letter from the CEO
  • Industry News - A combination of news articles specifically curated for news relevant to the Latin American region. 
  • New Members - Get in contact with our new member companies to create new business opportunities. 
  • Past Events - View event photos, hear about the latest activities and initiatives 
  • Featured Members - Find out which companies are being featured this month

Letter from the Chief Executive Officer

Dear members, associates and friends of ALABC,

March has been an exceptionally busy month for us, and we are excited for what the rest of the year has in store.

I have had the great pleasure of meeting and talking to many of our membership, in person, via email and by telephone. I also had the opportunity to connect with some of our key stakeholders including state and federal representatives and the Latin American Diplomatic corps in Canberra. I am also pleased to report that I was able to represent ALABC at the first sitting of the newly inaugurated board of the Council on Australia Latin American Relations (COALAR) and our Chairman, Richard Andrews and I met with the Australian Representative of the APEC Business Council to learn about the trade and investment priorities for the APEC region.

ALABC continues to be encouraged by the level of interest in, and the diversity of business and engagement opportunities with Latin America. With that in mind, ALABC has developed a program in 2024 that reflects the range of activities and topics that are important to our membership. Over the coming months we plan to run events that fall into three categories: industry sectors, country-based interests and regional issues. Upcoming events include a seminar on Regional Risk, which we hope to be the first in a series, and a round table discussion on education, an industry that represented approximately $48 B in export revenue in the 2023 year.

I would like to warmly welcome our new members and look forward to getting to know more of our existing membership over the weeks and months to come.

Please do contact me or the Secretariat any time if you need support with your LATAM business journey.

Saludos

Kim Prior

Chief Executive Officer
ceo@alabc.com.au

Austmine's Copper to the World 2024

Register for Austmine’s Copper to the World Conference today and save! Held in Adelaide from 18 – 19 June 2024, this two-day conference includes keynote presentations, engaging panel discussions and innovation sessions. There will be plenty of time for networking, and an exhibition featuring project opportunities and groundbreaking innovations offered by world-leading METS.

ALABC Members can enjoy a 10% discount on delegate passes. Contact us for more information

Register now >>

Exponor Webinar - Business opportunities for the mining and energy sectors in the Antofagasta region

The Exponor 2024 webinar on Business opportunities in the mining and energy sectors in the Region of Antofagasta, Chile was held on Thursday March 14.

We are pleased to share with you the webinar recording for those who were not able to attend. This webinar was organised by the Industrial Association of Antofagasta and the International Exhibition for Technologies and Innovations in Mining and Energy.

Please feel free to forward the recording to anyone you think might be interested.


Watch now >>

El Salvador removes income taxes for money from abroad

El Savador's Congress approved a reform to remove income taxes previously imposed on money from abroad, in a move to attract more foreign investment. Money flows from abroad in forms such as remittances and investments in companies will now be exempt from tax, lawmakers said.

Read more >>

Solgold secures $3.2bn investment, Ecuador largest ever

Shares in Ecuador-focused SolGold shot up more than 23% after the company committed to invest $3.2 billion in its flagship Cascabel copper-gold project and activities related to it in coming years.

The deal is the largest mining investment in Ecuador's history, according to the miner, and it is separate from an already committed $311 million for the project, included in the current Investment Protection Agreement for Cascabel.

Read more >>

Mazars Sunrise Series: Essential HR management sessions for busy managers 

The world of people management continues to be a paradox of risk and opportunities; costs and improved profitability; leadership and management; strategy and execution.

To navigate these, Mazars HR specialists bring you these Sunrise Series - 4 sessions, that are short, sharp and effective. Each session is facilitated by practitioners who have deep practical experience at the coal face of daily people management matters.

Register now >>

Mexico Country Outlook 2024

Each year, the Centre for the US and Mexico at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy survey a number of experts for the annual Mexico Country Outlook. These experts are tasked with anticipating the opportunities and challenges in Mexico's political, social, and business environments in the coming year for policymakers, industry leaders, and the general public.

The resulting report addresses themes as varied as Mexico's politics and democracy, regulatory environment, economy, legislative agenda, human mobility, public safety and security, education, healthcare, and political and diplomatic relationships.

Read more >>

Open for Australia

We are a study agency that provides free guidance to individuals from Latin America who aspire to have the incredible experience of studying, living, and working in Australia. Our mission is to facilitate this journey and ensure a seamless transition for our clients.


Read more >>

italk Travel and Cruise Brighton

We are a travel agency who works closely with LATAM Airlines to offer discounts to international students and corporate businesses.
We not only sell airfares but anything to do with travel whether it be cruises, accommodation, travel insurance and much more.

Read more >>

Shordean Pty Ltd

Shordean Pty Ltd

Trevor Woolfe is currently a company director and independent consultant. With over 30 years experience in the mining and exploration industry within Australia and the Americas as a geologist but also as Managing Director or VP Exploration/Corporate Development of ASX and TSX-V listed companies. Trevor has lived and/or worked in countries including Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Nicaragua, Canada, as well as visiting/reviewing projects in Cuba, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Panama.

Read more >>

VETA Education

We are a company with more than 10 years of experience in advising students and professionals who want to live, study and work in Australia.

We provide this assistance in a personalized, professional manner, with compliance and seriousness. We care about helping our clients achieve their dreams and goals.

Read more >>

20 March Boardroom Luncheon with the Ambassador of Mexico to Australia, H.E. Ernesto Cespedes

On Wednesday, our members and guests had the opportunity to hear from the recently appointed Ambassador of Mexico to Australia, His Excellency Ernesto Cespedes Oropeza at a boardroom luncheon in Sydney with 25 guests in attendance, including ALABC members, Directors, DFAT and government representatives from different industries and sectors.

The Ambassador presented on the current political and economic situation in Mexico, opportunities for trade and investment, their economic focus on infrastructure and transport, and promotion of Mexico’s nearshoring credentials to Australian businesses looking to support their activities in the LATAM region.

Thank you to all our members and guests, new and familiar faces who participated in this event!

5 March Queensland Parliamentary Friends of Latin America / Hola Networking Expo

ALABC was once again honoured to support and take part in the Queensland Parliamentary Friends of Latin America / Hola Networking Expo!

It was a lively evening showcasing a number of companies and organisations involved in Queensland-Latin America relations, with the presence of QLD government officials, including the QLD Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment the Hon. Cameron Dick, Latin American Ambassadors and the Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Group Tim Nicholls and Joe Kelly MP.

28 February Boardroom Luncheon with Ben James, VP Aviation Business Development, Brisbane Airport

As part of our mandate, ALABC seeks to host events that provide members and friends opportunities to listen to great speakers, network with Ambassadors, government representatives and likeminded businesspeople with a view to expanding knowledge, making meaningful connections, and finding new opportunities. Our first Boardroom Luncheon for the year ticked all those boxes!

Our Brisbane lunch was fortunate have in attendance Their Excellencies Vitaliano Gallardo Valencia, Ambassador of Peru and Ernesto Cespedes Oropeza, Ambassador of Mexico, Tim Nicholls MP, Co-Chair of the QLD Parliamentary Friends of Latin America, Justin McGowan CEO of Trade and Investment Queensland and Diana Nelson Director of Latin America and Caribbean Section of the Department Foreign Affairs and Trade and a diverse range of business people in attendance (some flying from interstate) to hear our guest speaker, Ben James, Vice President Aviation, Business Development, Brisbane Airport.

Critical to developing strong business relations between Australia and Latin America is regular and cost-effective international travel and freight options. Ben’s presentation provided some fascinating insights into the aviation sector and a jumping off point for a lively Q&A session. For those who missed the lunch we have provided some highlights for you.

Event Highlights 

The question is often asked about the opening of new routes between Australia and cities with Latin American. The selection of a new port for airlines is a significant investment, especially when considering long-haul routes between Australia and Latin America. The distances involved make these routes resource-intensive and costly, requiring careful evaluation and support.

Despite advancements in technology and digitization within the airline industry, human decision-makers still play a crucial role in route network decisions. Airports, therefore, need to provide reliable information and establish themselves as trusted partners for airline decision-makers.

The passenger data from 2023 reflects there were over 60,000 return trips between Queensland, South America and Mexico with Brazil being the most significant contributor, followed by Chile, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru.

Post-pandemic, most South American inbound markets have rebounded to their pre-COVID volumes, with Brazil and Colombia showing the strongest recovery. The demand for flights from South America to Australia is primarily driven by factors such as education, employment, and business sectors. However, Australian travel to South America, particularly for holidays, is still in the process of rebuilding.

Recognizing the importance of air cargo revenue, which can constitute up to 20% of a flight's income, Brisbane Airport views building a link between Queensland and Latin America as a strategic priority.

The information and activities of groups such as the Australia-Latin America Business Council (ALABC) members are important considerations for airline planners, especially as business travel and logistics are a critical factor in the success of flights and new route selection.

Brisbane Airport sees building a link between the Queensland and Latin America as a strategic priority and are actively pursuing opportunities to see non-stop flights commence in the future.

Please view the information below and consider joining the Australia-Latin America Business Council using the online form. 

Benefits of Membership

  • Generate new opportunities
  • Make valuable connections
  • Receive up to date market insights
  • Gain access to experts
  • Be supported in your business challenges

How to join: Please review our fees and benefits below and then submit your application here. 

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