
(*)By R. Viswanathan - For those who think that Latin America is too far and cost of freight is too high and therefore the region should be less important for India’s trade, here is the eye opener from the 2016-17 (April-March) statistics of the Commerce Ministry of India.

Ecuador will not honor the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) agreement to cut oil output, Ecuador’s Oil Minister Carlos Perez said this week. The country, one of OPEC’s 14 member countries, is rethinking its commitment to drop oil production to 522,000 barrels a day.

BP unit and subsidiaries of France’s Total and Germany’s Wintershall have signed an investment agreement with Argentina’s state-run oil company YPF to jointly invest US$1.15 billion in the Vaca Muerta shale formation in Argentina.

China's HNA Group linked to the air and travel industry will add Latin America to its investment portfolio through the purchase of a controlling stake in Rio de Janeiro's largest airport, Aeroporto Internacional Antônio Carlos Jobim – Galeão (GIG Airport).

In a statement released Monday night, President Trump threatened to impose economic sanctions on Venezuela should the nation’s president, Nicolas Maduro, follow through on his pledge to create a “constituent assembly” capable of rewriting Venezuela’s constitution.

The UK embassy in Montevideo is organizing a business visit to introduce Uruguay as an export market to British companies. The mission is primarily focused on agro-tech, taking advantage of Uruguay's main agriculture show in Montevideo during the month of September.

Following the previous edition’s success, the British Embassy in Uruguay will be present for the fourth consecutive year at the agricultural show, Expo Prado, from 6 - 17 September, with a Pavilion centered on business, education, culture, gastronomy and entertainment, including a Falkland Islands stand.

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson confirmed that the British government is investing £100 million to attract highly skilled researchers to the UK through its new Ernest Rutherford Fund. The Fund will provide fellowships for early-career and senior researchers, from the developed world and from emerging research powerhouses such as India, China, Brazil and Mexico, helping to maintain the UK’s position as a world-leader in science and research.

Petrobras announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to exploit energy resources in Brazil and abroad. In the statement, Petrobras said that the deal will allow the two state oil companies to benefit from each other's capacity and experience in oil and gas production.

Netherlands Fugro has been awarded a further two-year contract by Petrobras to provide comprehensive inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) and pipeline inspection services in Brazil.