Chinese foreign direct investment in Latin America and the Caribbean: China-Latin America cross-council taskforce. Working document

Although Chinese corporations were relatively unknown in Latin America until a few years ago, their direct investments in the region have averaged about US$10 billion per year since 2010. Their presence and economic leverage have become very significant in many industries and countries of the region, but their motivation, strategy and procedures are not always well understood by Latin America’s governments, businesses and civil society. Similarly, Chinese companies still need to gain a better understanding of Latin America’s business environment and opportunities. This working document is an input for discussing the future of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America at the China - Latin America cross-council taskforce at the Summit on the Global Agenda, to be held under the auspices of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Abu Dhabi on 18-20 November 2013. It was prepared jointly by Taotao Chen, Professor of Finance of the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University in China and member of the WEF Global Agenda Council on China, and by Miguel Pérez Ludeña, Economic Affairs Officer at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), under the supervision of Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of ECLAC and Vice-Chair of the WEF Global Agenda Council on Latin America.

Some Recent Features of Brazil-China Economic Relations

This paper shows that the Brazilian economic relations with China are intensifying at an unprecedented pace. This obviously brings about new challenges and opportunities. It is also shown that relations with specific provinces in China vary significantly, as illustrated by the available indicators for Shanghai, in comparison to other provinces. And last but not least, the paper has shown the rich recent experience of one Brazilian company that has benefited from the sharp increase of Chinese demand for raw material. This is a typical case of a new scenario for Brazilian firms, one where the firm has to learn how to flex its muscles as one of the major players in the international market, and in particular to learn in its dealing with its main client. The relationship between one of the major suppliers and the most active demander is of particular interest in itself.

Las relaciones económicas y comerciales entre América Latina y Asia-Pacífico: el vínculo con China

Incluye Bibliografía

Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2010

Includes bibliography

Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2011

Includes bibliography

Foreign Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2000

Includes bibliography

Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy 2005-2006

Includes bibliography

Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy 2010-2011: The region in the decade of the emerging economies

Incluye Bibliografía

Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy 2011-2012: Continuing crisis in the centre and new opportunities for developing economies

Includes bibliography

China and Latin America and the Caribbean: building a strategic economic and trade relationship

Includes bibliography

The changing nature of Asian-Latin American economic relations

Includes bibliography