Mexico, Brazil good trade markets

Mexico and Brazil have “booming markets” and offer the best opportunities for trade in Latin America, according to Ambassador Richard Holwill, vice president of public policy for Alticor.

Holwill was the luncheon speaker during West Michigan World Trade Week May 6, hosted by Grand Valley State University’s Van Andel Global Trade Center and the U.S. Commercial Service. The event took place at the L. William Seidman Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

Holwill, who has worked around the world and has extensive experience in South America, China, India and Russia, spoke about emerging trends in Latin America.

“Panama has a great future; it is becoming a good center for finance,” said Holwill. “Colombia has a good market for sales and Brazil has a booming market. Mexico also has a booming market despite being plagued by narcotics violence and political problems.”

Holwill is co-chairman of the Cuba Working Group at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He said the economic system in Cuba is a mess, partly because the country is dependent on oil from Venezuela. He said Venezuela has “gone off the cliff” and is going bankrupt. He described policy making there as chaotic.

Holwill served as U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador and said countries like Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay are committed to making their economies work, but are too small for significant trade.