The meeting, hosted by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions, brought together representatives from IUF affiliates in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland and Romania. Participants agreed on the importance of developing a continuous exchange of information on developments within the company and the need for reciprocal union contacts and a closer integration of Eastern and Central European unions into the work of the EWCs generally. It was also agreed that different federations organizing within the company would have to co-ordinate their efforts and seek access to the company at national level to build up union organizing and bargaining power. Company News Volumes in Central and South American beer markets are growing about 4 percent annually, and may exceed that of the USA by 2002. Modelo is 37 percent owned by Anheuser Busch, while Femsa is 22 percent owned by Interbrew's Labatt.
European breweries are interested in gaining a foothold in the Latin American beer market.
However strong domestic producers and the refillable package system restrict imports. Interbrew's projected alliance with the Cisneros group in Venezuela failed to result in agreement on a joint venture. Damm boasts of a growing export market in Chile and elsewhere in Latin America, offsetting the decrease in the Spanish beer market. Brahma plans to increase its operations in Argentina by 60percent. Its brewery at Luj n is already operating at full capacity.