Message to Shareholders |
Now that we have closed another successful year in 2007, it seems opportune to highlight just how the year’s results reflect Bladex’s great institutional value – a value that springs directly from its mission to support Latin America’s thriving foreign trade – and the unique nature of the ties that bind the Bank to the Region. In its role as a catalyst for Latin America’s foreign trade, Bladex directly contributes to the well-being of the countries of the Region, and at the same time promotes its own business, one that is profitable, secure, and steadily growing. Those ties that bind Bladex to the Region represent an important competitive advantage, and that advantage arises from our shareholding structure – we are the only commercial enterprise uniting the interests of twenty-three Latin American governments – as well as from the commitment and professionalism that Bladex brings to our Region and to our clients. In this connection, during the year 2007, we continued to work on building a cutting-edge, profitable, and solid organization, recognized for its international excellence and transparency. We should note that the uncertainties that prevailed in the international markets in the second half of 2007 once again demonstrated the strategic importance of Bladex for Latin America and for its clients. In the midst of an environment of reduced liquidity in the international financial markets, Bladex disbursed over $4.0 billion in financing during the last two quarters of the year alone, thereby contributing to maintaining the trade-flow dynamics of the Region. Beyond this important function, Bladex also played a significant role in contributing to the liquidity of the bond market for Latin American issuers, a major source of capital for the Region. |
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