Latin America Archives - Emerging Markets Today

Shortage of coffee in 2021 might see record prices

July 29, 2021September 7, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

Some of the most significant coffee-producing regions got less than half of the average amount of rain. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of coffee. The rainy season in Brazil often occurs during the northern hemisphere’s winter, giving enough water for farmers to irrigate coffee plants and keep them alive for several months. Bloomberg reported this week that Brazil’s rainy season suffered a severe shortage of rain. Some of the most important coffee-producing regions received less than half the typical quantity of rain. As a result, “output of arabica coffee,…

Why the next viral social media channel is coming from emerging markets

July 14, 2021July 29, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

Tiktok, which was created in China, witnessed an increase in the number of users on its app. Silicon Valley, once the origin of the first generation of social media applications such as Facebook and Instagram, is losing its position as the world’s only tech powerhouse. I invited Andy Tian, CEO of Asia Innovations Group, on the EMT podcast to discuss this shift in social media trends and the second generation of social media apps that are coming from emerging markets. The Chinese founded Tiktok saw an explosion of users in…

Guyana’s economy is booming and here is why

June 16, 2021June 17, 2021 Guest

Last year, despite Covid, Guyana’s Real GDP growth rate was an astounding 43.4% per the IMF. Pre-Covid it was supposed to be 85.6%. As one of only 3 Countries globally with a Real GDP growth rate over 5% in 2020 as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Guyana’s future couldn’t look brighter.

El Salvador is the first country to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender

June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

A majority of El Salvador’s lawmakers have approved a bill to officially accept Bitcoin as legal tender. President Nayib Bukele has backed the use of Bitcoin, explaining it will help Salvadorans send remittances home. The US dollar will continue to be legal tender in the South American country.

Brazil’s cannabis industry takes its first steps

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

In contrast to the excitement shown earlier this year, the Brazilian cannabis sector is wary. Several companies promised in January that cannabis-based medications would be on national pharmacy shelves in the first half of 2021. The bulk of them have had their deadlines pushed out to 2021.

Colombia launches first blockchain based system to track Covid-19 vaccination

May 26, 2021June 4, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

The digital passport, known as VitalPass, has been developed to track immunization Covid-19 utilizing the powerful Algorand blockchain technology, to provide security, traceability and openness throughout Latin America.

US calls Brazil’s Bolsonaro to act in Amazon protection summit

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

The US government faces a moral dilema if it is to fulfill its electoral pledge to conserve the Amazon rainforest without allowing Jair Bolsonaro, whose government oversaw the rise in deforestation in Brazil, money and political gain.

In his 2019 campaign, Joe Biden vowed to raise USD $20 billion in private and public funds to avoid “losing the Amazon” and warned of “serious economic repercussions.”

Coronavirus could create a lockdown generation in Latin America if governments don’t act

March 8, 2021March 12, 2021 Guest

Both the quantity and quality of jobs are deteriorating rapidly as a result of the economic paralysis created by the pandemic. The UN’s International Labour Organization estimates that the health crisis will push unemployment rates in the region up from 8.1% to 11.5% in 2020

Fintech in Uruguay: The Silicon Valley of South America

February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 Marcel Van Oost

Uruguay’s current government has been pushing for financial inclusion and putting in place new banking laws that support the use of electronic payments, among other measures.

FinTech in Chile: Big Data for SMEs and Ethical Banking

January 25, 2021January 20, 2021 Marcel Van Oost

Chile’s biggest challenge for the banking sector and specially for FinTechs is to make people move their money from “under the mattress” to a bank. Being innovative with disruptive solutions is a game changer for Chilean FinTechs.