Stories for April 2011

Monday, April 11th 2011 - 19:49 UTC
China plans to invest 10 billion USD in soy production and processing in Brazil

China plans to invest ten billion US dollars in the production, storage and transport of soybeans in Brazil to ensure the supply of the commodity of which it is the world’s main importer, according to press reports in Beijing.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 19:42 UTC
EU agriculture ministers meet to address current trade talks with Mercosur

European Union Agriculture ministers will be meeting this week in Luxembourg to discuss the current trade negotiations with Mercosur, according to European Commission sources.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 13:23 UTC
Falklands names Islander new Mineral Resources Director, beginning 2012

The Falkland Islands has nominated an Islander as new Director of Mineral Resources who will be taking over from Phyl Rendell when she retires as the end of the year, announced the government of the Islands.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 06:29 UTC
South America military expenditure up 2010, but insignificant in global terms

The region with the largest increase in military expenditure in 2010 was South America, with a 5.8% increase in real terms, reaching a total of 63.3 billion US dollars according to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 06:22 UTC
Mercosur costs and growing domestic demand limit beef export volumes

With stronger local currencies Mercosur main beef exporters, Brazil and Uruguay are finding it more profitable to supply their domestic markets than exporting, in spite of growing international demand.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 06:17 UTC
With Colombia support Venezuela gets temporary extension of Andean membership

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez agreed over the weekend to temporarily extend the bilateral trade pact within the framework of the Andean Community, or CAN, despite Venezuela’s pending withdrawal from that regional organization on April 21.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 06:04 UTC
Unemployment in Latam to remain strong into 2012 because of ‘uncertainties’

An estimated 17 million people will suffer unemployment in Latin America well into 2012 according to latest estimates from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, ECLAC.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 05:58 UTC
Mujica strongly lobbies for Venezuela’s full incorporation to Mercosur

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica strongly supported the incorporation of Venezuela as full member of Mercosur from a Sunday column published in one of Brazil’s most influential newspapers, Folha de Sao Paulo.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 05:54 UTC
Venezuela’s most populated areas suffer another major blackout

Blackouts blamed on forest fires left without power whole areas of north and central Venezuela, including Caracas, officials said. The power outages began last Thursday due to the collapse of electrical lines located 250 kilometres west of Caracas, Electricity Minister Ali Rodriguez said.
Monday, April 11th 2011 - 05:47 UTC
Controversy in Bolivia about the true volume of proven natural gas reserves

Bolivia has fallen from second to sixth place in the ranking of largest holder of proven natural gas reserves in South America, with Peru behind Venezuela as the two leading countries, admitted a Bolivian Hydrocarbons Association, or CBH, report.