Associate members include Bolivia and Chile. Mercosur is improving its relationship with the Andean Community, which establishes free trade agreements among Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. As a result, the region is consolidating its bid to emerge as a new economic force in the next several years. Foreign investments are flowing into Brazil at an unprecedented rate.
Aviation plays a key role in Latin American economic development.
All projections for the market expansion remain positive. Brazil, the largest civilian helicopter market in Latin America, had 839 registered units as of November 30, 2000. Sales are growing at a rate of 100 units per year. Although Brazil is slightly smaller geographically than the continental United States, the helicopter industry is highly concentrated there. This high concentration of helicopters in Sao Paulo also impressed Ellis Mottur, director of the U.S. Executive Aerospace Trade Mission, during his recent visit to Brazil.