Southeast Asia Promotes Business with Latin America

Jakarta, Jul 9 (Prensa Latina) Latin American markets are now an option for the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in an environment marked by the crisis in the eurozone, affirmed official sources. As part of a business forum between the two regions held in this capital, the president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, called for increased investment and trade with Latin American partners.

The president recalled that the problems of the euro zone are far from over and thus there is a need to improve connectivity and collaborate beyond trade.

The event is an excellent opportunity to identify business opportunities.

For his part, Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Jose Luis Silva, estimated that the economies of ASEAN and Latin America will be less affected by the crisis compared to other regions of the planet.

Our countries have common objectives, apart from hoping to promote sustainable development and reduce poverty, Silva said at the event.

The links are especially important in a world characterized by multilateralism, experts noted.

ASEAN brings together in its ranks Brunei, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

With a potential 580 million consumers, it forecasts 4.5 percent average growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Sourced: plenglish