Hello All. I hope the last article offered some interesting information about Latin America for you. There are many topics to explore and I trust they will unfold as the blog develops and readers pose questions. I d like to dedicate the following post to explain a little about Australia and its links with Latin America.
Australia, the name been derived from the Latin word ´Australis´ meaning southern is a new country having been discovered by the British in 1770. With a population of just 22 million the countries covers a huge 7, 617,930km2 however most of the population (60%) lives in the cities of Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. The countries GDP sits at AUS$1.193 trillion, per capita AUS$53,852 making it the world’s 13th largest economy boasting very high standards of quality of life, human development and life expectancy levels. It is a very cosmopolitan place - 1 in 4 having been born overseas.
Australian and Latin American relations exist but many Australian leaders say much more can be achieved. Economic and political instability during the 80s and 90s in Latin America resulted in less foreign investment however this is quite the contrary recently. The Australian Chilean Free Trade Agreement has been the start in creating more opportunities of export/import as both continents share similar interests like mining and agriculture even though geographically they are positioned far from each other. There are also trends in travel and study options. Many young Australians (like me) are opting for backpacking trips through Latin America instead of tradition Europe, or vice versa Latin students are coming to study in Australia instead of conventional USA or European destinations ( Latin American students coming to study in Australia has quadrupled since 2002 particularly in higher education). Also, the rich culture of Latin America is influencing Australia particularly in music, dance and food.
As 15th of September draws closer and the Latin America country Mexico will celebrate ´el grito de bicentenario´ (the shout of the bicentenary of independence), we embrace 2010 in order to build upon existing relations, creating a greater awareness between the people of the two continents.

Buenas Tardes a todos! As an introduction to the blog, I would like to talk a little bit about Latin America and a little summary into my experience in this region. I d like to invite people to make comments, share information in either Spanish or English. I intend on writing in Spanish as well in order to appeal to a greater audience, and of course because both languages are fundamental to the topic of the blog.
I spent over ten months living in three Latin American countries including Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Sometimes it is easy to assume that Latin America is all the same, however I believe it is very distinct – the way of life, the values, how people are psychically, accents and the economy. I lived in the chaotic sprawling city of Mexico DF, traveled through Brazilian cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and stayed in the heart of the most European Latin city, Buenos Aires. My favorite? This is difficult. Each had their unique beauties, the cheerfulness and colour of Brazilian people, the nonstop energy and noises that infiltrate Mexico City 24 hours a day, or the beautiful architecture and people in Buenos Aires…
All of Latin America is comprised of 21 countries, from North America (considered Mexico), to central, south and the Caribbean including Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. The majority of the countries speak Spanish, however Portuguese (Brazil( and French is spoken in the region. There are approximately 568 million people, living on an area of approximately 21, 069, 500 km2 (almost 3.9% of the earth’s surface or 14.1% of its land surface). Economically, combined GDP is at $4.26 trillion US, and expected growth is forecasted at 4% this year. Industries include mining, tourism, agriculture, services and manufacturing however the economic divide is serious. Latin America is considered to be the most unequal region in the world, the World Bank declaring that 25% of the population lives on less than $2 US a day. When I read that, I thought about the modern sky rise buildings situated within walking distance of favelas (slums) that I saw in Sao Paulo.
Many studies show Brazil and Mexico are going to be two of the leading world economies in decades to come. I think it is a great possibility, especially with the growth rates and the announcement of Brazil hosting the World Cup and the Olympics this decade. It brings a lot of attention to Latin America, and that is why I believe it’s a time to focus and invest in the region. Try to build new things, reduce impoverishment and bring a greater good for Latin people.

The Facts

With a population of over 550 million and a growing middle class, Latin America makes up the world’s third group of democracies after Europe and North America. Foreign capital investments have grown by 21%, growth in Latin America forecasted at 4.5% this year, twice the estimated growth of the United States and four times faster than Europe!!

Branding Latin America Group, business and public relations consultancy: www.brandinglatinamerica.com