TAG: The Americas
The last quarter of 2017 surprised even the most optimistic observers. However, the positive performance of that period does not preclude a sense of uncertainty for 2018, a year that will likely prove decisive for the region.
Lima, January 2018: Despite the political challenges that faced Peru in 2017, the year ended on a positive note for Peruvian exports, the value of which reached $44.9bn, the highest figure since 2011. Continuing this upward trend, estimates for 2018 suggest a 13.2% increase on 2017 numbers.
With national elections scheduled for July and the renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ongoing, 2018 was likely to be a turbulent year for Mexico. In spite of this, the business community appears to be more optimistic than ever. In our latest OBG Business Barometer: Mexico CEO Survey, 88% of interviewed C-suite executives had positive or very positive expectations about local business conditions over the coming 12 months. As the election nears, however, respondents said that tackling corruption (36%) and improving rule of the law (19%) should be the main priorities for the next administration.