Campinas Has Many Jobs, Not Much Office Space
| November 16, 2011
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Campinas skyline; photo courtesy of Fasouzafreitas
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Brazil's booming economy has had no problem attracting multinational companies over the past decade, but not nearly as many commercial real estate developers. Long deterred by high interest rates, foreign investors are beginning to recognize Brazil's shortage of leasable office space--especially in Campinas.
Its proximity to the financial capital, Sao Paulo, high quality of life, highly educated workforce, diversified economy, and of course, low cost of doing business, have made Campinas a top investment destination. Aptly named the "Silicon Valley of Brazil" due to its high concentration of universities, research centers and high-tech companies, such as Bosch, Compaq, Dell, General Electric, IBM, Lucent, Samsung, and Texas Instruments, Campinas is also home to automobile giants, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, and pharmaceutical giants, Merck and Novartis. In all, well over 50 Fortune 500 companies have major regional operations here, contributing to a relatively low unemployment rate of roughly 6% and one of the highest average income rates in the nation.
Chinese Tourists, Investors Try Their Luck in Vegas
| January 10, 2011
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Residential and mixed-use project on the North Strip
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Las Vegas was perhaps hardest hit by the global economic recession and US housing market collapse. As the nation's fastest growing metropolis and a top tourist destination, Vegas' housing and tourism industries suffered major blows.
Although tourism declined 4.4% and 3% in 2008 and 2009 respectively, Vegas' luck now seems to be changing--thanks to a rebounding American economy and a surge in tourists from mainland China who have long targeted Vegas as a "must see" destination.
The Chinese are not just the fastest growing segment of tourists, they're also the biggest spenders. In fact, the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that Chinese visitors spend, on average, $6,000 per trip--far more than tourists from any other country. In hopes of reviving Vegas' tourism industry, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has allocated significant resources for marketing campaigns in China's largest cities.
