Mercosur

PDIB Mercosur Program:
The Professional Development in International Business – Mercosur program is offered by the Mercosur CIBER Consortium: (TBA) and organized by FIU, CIBER programs form a powerful network focused on improving American competitiveness by providing comprehensive services and research to assist United States businesses, colleges and universities to succeed in global markets.

Program Objective:
The main objective of the PDIB Mercosur program is to raise US business professional and faculty awareness of the social, political, economic, and business environments that exist in South America. Topics include national economic reforms and adjustments, the opening of markets to the global economy, regional integration as a basis for global competition, the impact of these domestic changes on commerce with the US, and both regional and country specific business practices. The program in Brazil, Argentina and Chile will include meetings with business faculty from leading academic institutions, business executives from multinational companies, and government officials. It will also include cultural events and city tours.

Program Travel Itinerary (Subject to Change):
Group will spend 2-4 days in each country Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Business Sessions and Cultural Visits will take place in each city.

May 7, 2010	Arrival in Miami (recommended)
May 8	Registration/Sessions - Hotel Sofitel in Miami
May 8	Late evening departure to São Paulo, Brazil
May 9	Arrival in São Paulo / afternoon city tour
May 10-11	Company Visits in São Paulo
May 12	Morning departure to Buenos Aires, Argentina
May 12	Afternoon company visits
May 13-14	School/Company Visits in Buenos Aires
May 14	Tango Evening
May 15	Buenos Aires -City Tour
May 15	Late afternoon flight to Santiago, Chile
May 16	Visits to the Andes Mountains
May 17	Company visits and Farewell Dinner at Camino Real
May 18	Company Visit and evening return flight to Miami
May 19	Early morning arrival in Miami

Miami Accommodations: For your convenience we have blocked rooms at the Hotel Sofitel Miami located at 5800 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami, FL 33126 at group rate of $99 plus local taxes and fees per night. To obtain the special rate please make your reservation by April 1th by calling 305-264-4888 and inform them that you are with the FIU-CIBER group.

The Hotel provides Free shuttle service from the Miami International Airport. For more information about the Sofitel Hotel, please visit their website http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-0889-sofitel-miami/index.shtml

Miami Itinerary: Participants should be arriving in Miami on May 7th, 2010, so please make your travel arrangements accordingly. Participants should fax a copy of their flight itinerary to 305-348-1789 or email to ciber@fiu.edu by April 23, 2010.

Saturday May 8, 2010	Program Schedule
8:30 - 9:00AM	Registration
9:00 - 10:00 AM	Breakfast meeting
10:00 - 12:00 PM	Session
12:30 - 2:30 PM	Lunch at Texas de Brazil
2:30 - 4:00 PM	Return to hotel
4:30 PM	Transporation to airport via private shuttle

Required documents for program:
Please fax clear copies of below documents to 305-348-1789.

    • PASSPORT - Required to travel to South America. Brazil requires that passports have a minimum validity of six months.

    • DRIVER’S LICENSE

    • HEALTH INSURANCE - Front and reverse sides.

    • RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK - Participants and witness signatures.

    • TOURIST VISAS - Participants should contact the nearest Consulate to verify below information.

            Brazil - A visa is required. FIU CIBER recommends all participants to apply for the Tourist Visa – VITUR. Our group falls under category "C". See here for eligibility.

            Participants will be staying at the Golden Tulip Paulista Plaza:
            Golden Tulip Paulista Plaza
            Alameda Santos 85 Jardins
            Sao Paulo, Brazil
            (55-11) 3-177-0500
            www.goldentulippaulistaplaza.com

Argentina - Citizens of Canada, the US and most Western European countries will not need a visa. All other countries will need visa.

Please Note: On December 20, 2009, the Government of Argentina will begin charging American Citizens visiting Argentina for business or tourism an entry fee of $131 U.S. dollars. The fee will be collected only at Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport. Once paid, the fee permits multiple entries into Argentina for ten years in accordance with United States visa reciprocity. Americans may pay in dollars, by credit card, or with travelers checks.

Chile - US citizens will not need a visa; all other countries may require a visa.
Please Note: U.S. citizens entering Chile must have a valid passport. U.S. visitors will be charged a $100 reciprocity fee at the port of entry, and a small receipt for the fee will be stapled in the last page of the passport. This visa is valid for multiple entries and remains valid until the expiration of the passport

Travel Insurance:
Participants are encouraged to purchase international travel insurance that covers emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. Participants may contact STA TRAVEL at 1-800-387-2427 or purchase online at www.statravel.com or any other International travel insurance company.

Miscellaneous Expenses:
Participants will be responsible for any personal expenses, including (but not exclusive to) visas, airport taxes, faxes, local and international calls, room service, tips, transportation and meals (beyond that offered in the program), additional tours, etc.

Weather and Dress code:
Program participants will be traveling to South America during the beginning of the region’s winter season. Participants should pack clothing for both cold and warm weather, since temperatures will fluctuate from country to country. Dress code is professional but comfortable (jacket and tie are expected for business meetings). Participants will walk to some program sites; bring comfortable shoes.

How to Register:

Please click here to register.

Comments from participants:
“I began this trip with the preconception that Brazil, Argentina and Chile were a homogeneous block of countries – nothing could be further from the truth. To understand their cultural and economic differences one has to get on the ground, walk the streets, and talk to business leaders as well as common citizens. This trip provides that opportunity with the benefit of first class accommodations and organization. Gracias!” – Eric Powers, University of South Carolina.

“The CIBER Mercosur program provides a unique opportunity for participants to deeply enrich their understanding of three cultures/economics in a relatively brief period of time. It moreover sets a standard of excellence in terms of program coordination and balance of academic, professional and leisure activities in a cross-cultural setting. KUDOS!” – Richard Sansone, Valencia Community College.

“The Mercosur program was carefully planned and highly organized, which enabled the focus to be on education and interaction. Equally as important to the country and cultural education was the relationships forged with other U.S. faculty and administrators. Further, in meeting faculty and business people from a variety of countries, we had a much more personal experience than a standard tourist would have in Brazil, Argentina and Chile” – Mindy Kraft, University of Florida.

“Mercosur has a different meaning to me after this eye-opening guided trip. Three economies striving to advance face unique challenges, which were clearly introduced by knowledgeable speakers and passionate entrepreneurs. A learning and cultural experience that came together thanks to an oiled organization, timely coordinated to maximize the time in South America. The CIBER and domestic contacts did not lose any chance to be helpful and be always ready to help us and make our travels enrichingly pleasant” – Juan Carlos Molleda, University of Florida.

“The MECOSUR PDIB is a must for faculty members who teach international business courses and who have never been to Latin America. The company visits, talks by central bankers, meetings with business association and educators as well as the cultural events help you to not only understand the features common to Brazil, Argentina & Chile but also appreciate the major differences in these economics” – Ravi Dharwadkar, Syracuse University.