Summary

	Growing political stability has created more jobs in Latin America
	The high tech job boom has also hit down south
	Government and private organizations are committed to the region

For many people, thinking "south" is quite appealing. The markets of Latin America are opening, and with them, more opportunities for expatriates are being created.

Growing political stability and economic development is attracting business to Latin America at an ever-increasing rate. The New York Times reported last year that the region attracted more capital than Asia for the first time since 1986 -- testimony to the fact that investors are feeling secure and positive about the area’s future. Peter F. Romero, acting assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs at the US State Department, recently noted, "the region has shown a remarkable tenacity in its commitment to free markets, even during times of global financial crises and economic stress, such as we saw in 1998."

Additionally, according to a 1999 Global Trends survey of several hundred multinational corporations, two of the three primary emerging destinations for expatriates (Brazil and Mexico) are in Latin America. And, according to the New York Times, 14 of the top 25 foreign companies in Latin America are European-owned, proving that it is not just American companies who are interested in Latin American investment.

Where is the growth? Obviously, Brazil and Mexico are large markets due to their sheer size, but Argentina is also attracting a significant amount of private equity and venture capital. Of course, the boom in telecommunications and information technology that is sweeping the globe is having an impact on Latin America as well; many US companies are making significant investments in telecommunications and information technology. Several of the countries in the region, including Venezuela, El Salvador, Panama and Brazil have also asserted their strengths in a variety of markets including tourism, oil, financial services, forestry and mining.

However, World Bank president James Wolfeson noted in an address last year at a conference on Latin America and the Caribbean that, "the level of poverty is 37 percent in Latin America. The difference between rich and poor is greater in this hemisphere than anywhere else. So, there is still plenty of work for those interested in international development. Many government and private organizations are very committed to the region, and maintain field offices throughout Central and South America.

If you are interested in exploring information about careers and market trends in Latin America, check out the following sites on the Internet:

LatPro.com: Perhaps the largest job site focused solely on Latin America; you can search jobs by country or functional/industry area in both Spanish and English.

LatinTrade: This well-respected publication has an online version that not only contains excellent articles on industry trends, but also has many links to other relevant sites.

Council of the Americas: The Council of the Americas is "the leading US business organization dedicated to promoting regional economic integration; open markets; free trade; investment; and the rule of law throughout the Western Hemisphere." The Web site also has excellent links to policy organizations and groups dealing with trade on a government, multilateral and private level.