MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

APEC's growing importance for Magallanes.

The coming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, APEC, to be held in Chile, and the tourism chapter scheduled in Punta Arenas have highlighted the importance of the Pacific rim for Magallanes Region, according to Marcos Leal regional director of ProChile, the organization which promotes the country overseas.

"Magallanes Region main export markets are Japan, US, South Korea and China", revealed Mr. Leal adding that total overseas sales jumped from 153 million US dollars in 1999 to 312 million US dollars last year.

Chile's aggressive overseas promotion and the opening of the country's economy are seen as the leading forces behind the export drive, particularly of methanol, frozen fish, mollusks and crustaceans.

"Korea and the US are the main markets for methanol; the US also leads in forestry and in the near future we expect to have a significant market for peonies which grow marvelously in Magallanes", indicated Mr. Leal.

South Korea, with which Chile recently signed a free trade agreement, has turned into the most dynamic market for fisheries and other sea food, such as rays, king crab, toothfish, snails and eels.

Japan also concentrates in fisheries with salmon, toothfish, king crab, urchins plus is rapidly becoming a main buyer of Magallanes wool.

"Finally we have China which has shown a strong demand for fisheries, mollusks and hides, plus the fact that we believe there's a strong chance to develop an interesting tourism flow as the Chinese become richer and more curious about the South American continent", highlighted Mr. Leal.