Signs of confidence in the region are plentiful, with foreign direct investment as a good barometer. Ford intends to invest $2.3 billion in Brazil while Infosys, India’s second largest software producer, plans to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary. Wal-Mart aims to re-launch its banking operations in Mexico, and Wendy’s/Arby’s is firmly committed to expand throughout Latin America.

While 2010 will be one of recovery for Latin America, the impacts will be uneven and intractable problems, beyond politics and society, will remain. In this scenario, pro-market democracies such as Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Mexico will see their fortunes improve. The statist economies of Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Nicaragua will not. (Were it not for wheat and soybean exports, Argentina would barely improve.)

from – latinbusinesschronicle.com