The region has historically benefited from global demand for its commodities, but the lesser-known fact is that strong, growing domestic consumption and a thriving manufacturing and technology sector is fueling much of its economic activity. Once shunned by investors and businesses because of the “boom and bust” nature of many of the region’s local economies, stringent monetary policies have been put in place in many of these countries which have resulted in well-developed and capitalized banking systems exhibiting healthy credit. Regional wealth, entrepreneurship and direct investment activity have increased significantly in recent years. By 2017, foreign direct investments into Latin America and the Caribbean exceeded US$ 167 billion annually with a slim majority of inflows directed to medium-high and high-technology sectors. Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru (most Argentina, and at some point, hopefully Venezuela and Cuba) have received the bulk of recent investments, but countries across the entire region are coming on strong. The Netherlands, U.S., and Spain have historically been the largest foreign investors in Latin America, with China, Russia, Japan, UK, and other important economies always ready to participate as well.

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