Annual Conference for Innovation on Infrastructure

As you all know this time of the year is always full of activities, alongside work related activities there have also been, final presentation of my children at school and also final exams at the MBA and everything has worked out smoothly.

Last week and this week I have been working on some overseas market introductory services (OMIS) for 3 British companies, 2 in the consultancy one for retail sector and the other on infrastructure and another in the rail sector.

Last Thursday we sponsored the Annual  Conference for Innovation on Infrastructure. There were around 500 people from the construction, consultancy, equipment and supplier and government sectors.

This photo was taken at the Annual Conference for Innovation on Infrastructure. Maria Pia Gazzella  with some of  delegates from private and public sector that visited the UK:Carlos Rubilar, Head of the Highways and roads from the Ministry of Public Works; Francisco Gatica, Advisor to the Minister of Public Works; Jorge Letelier Vice President of the Committee of Public Infrastructure of the Chilean Construction Chamber of Commerce, and Juan Carlos Leon  General Manager of the Technological Developement Corporation.

At the conference, the Chilean delegation that visited the UK in September to learn about  British capabilities in innovation in the infrastructure sector and, in particular, in roads, roads management, and PPP on road maintenance,  presented the main findings and suggestions on how they could be applicable in Chile. For example in 2004 the UK started PPP on road maintenance and Chile is currently developing a programme worth US$1 billion for road maintenance whose first phase will be on tender next year. This is a new challenge for Chile and the Construction Chamber invited as guest speaker  Divisional Technical Director Transport Management Consultancy at Mott MacDonald to present the British experience in this field.

Posted at 13:56 21 December 2007 by Maria Pia Gazzella  | 

My approach to environmental businesses

I started to look at this sector in 2003. Since the early days, we established a close collaboration with the Chilean Environmental Association-AEPA and the Business Groups in UK Trade and Investment, which helped to foster communication and highlight business opportunities. In July 2006 I participated in an Industry Briefing Course in the UK that helped me to better understand the expertise and competitive advantages that the UK has.  Today we hosted the meeting of the international committee of  AEPA.  At the end of November the Association participated with a stand at Pollutec 2007 and we co-ordinated 11 meetings between Chilean and British companies which were very successful. Other areas covered during the session were the results of ExpoAmbiental 2007 which is becoming a regional fair on environmental issues and where some British companies participated with stands. New areas of opportunities where international experience will be valuable are rural water management since the government is launching a new law with more strict regulation and also waste and environmental management, CDM and renewable energy.

Transcript

(Maria Pia) Today we are here in a meeting with AEPA association which is the environmental trade association for Chilean companies and the meeting has covered the Pollutec trade fair that a group just visited and we organised meetings for companies that participate at the fair and also ExpoAmbiental 2007 which is a trade fair that is now getting well known in the region and the world so British participation at this trade fair and obviously we are touching as well on the challenges for next year and areas that AEPA and all the members would like to cover during this next financial year, such as energy, renewable energy and waste and the idea is that together we highlight the environemtnal areas and that we cooperate to get the best of this sector and with me there are members of AEPA and also the Director of AEPA and delegates from the French Embassy and the British Embassy also, so now Fernando Avila, the General Manager fo AEPA, will speak to us. Thanks.

(Fernando Avila) We have had a long-standing collaboration with the Commercial Section of the British Embassy, with the participation of some British experts in areas of water, hospital waste management, etc. The Commercial Section has been one of the founders of the Chilean Environmental Association - AEPA. One of the characteristics of our association of environmental companies in Chile is that European Embassies, plus US and Canada, also form part of it. Today we are with the international committee which meets once a month to inform about the results of the trade fair Ambiental, which is a Latin American environmental fair held every 2 years. We are already starting to work for 2009 where we would like to see the participation of British experts. We are also covering the results of the participation at Pollutec fair where Chile for the first time had a stand and 15 companies participated from different sectors such as water, waste and energy. At Pollutec we had meetings with British representatives and with representatives from UK Trade and Investment where we shared ideas to work together. We are sure that the collaboration with the United Kingdom will continue to be as close as it has been until now.

Posted at 12:14 12 December 2007 by Maria Pia Gazzella  | 

Developing New Business Areas

In my opinion, successful business does not happen by just identifying opportunities and selling the right products that will satisfy customers needs. In this ever changing world  successful business happens by anticipating new  market trends and its main actors. Therefore it is important to be aware of decisions made by government and how these can create new markets.

The video attached to this blog is from a meeting at the Chilean Minister of Energy. The video showcases Andres Romero, Advisor for the Energy Minister and Claudio Huepe, Chief of Studies Development. On the video, the Energy Advisor refers to how is looking forward to working with the British Embassy. "I have had an excellent experience working previously with  the British Embassy (Maria Pia)on the healthcare reform. In the area of energy, we think there is scope for collaboration, since there are many issues to be addressed". The Chief of Studies Development added that "in the area of studies, we are working with the Embassy on a rather unexplored issue which is marine energy, in which the UK already has expertise".

The main challenge for this Department, which was created this year, is to combat  an energy crisis due to a reduction of gas supply from Argentina and to diversify the energy grid, as well as to define a renewable energy policy and establish an energy sector reform in Chile. At the British Embassy Santiago, we are supporting this process and encouraging the creation of new areas for businesss and support businesses looking to invest or introduce new technologies, as well as expertise.

Transcript

(Andres) I have had an excellent experience working previously with the British Embassy, Maria Pia, on the healthcare reform. In the area of energy, we think there is scope for collaboration, since there are many issues to be addressed.

(Claudio) In the areas of studies we are working with the Embassy on a rather unexplored issues which is marine energy, in which the UK already has expertise.

Posted at 16:00 05 December 2007 by Maria Pia Gazzella  |  Comments[1]