A poll conducted by Gallup of small and medium sized firms in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic for United Parcel Service stated that environmental issues ranked as the most pressing concerns for businesses followed by poverty and education.
54 percent of respondents wanted government and political leaders to take note of these problems. 580 entrepreneurs were interviewed for this poll. Another 39 percent ranked poverty as the highest issues. ‘Those three points are the key to the success of their businesses,’ stated Jose Acosta, the vice-president for operations at UPS Americas.
73 percent thought that globalisation would benefit their firms by offering them opportunities to sell products abroad and expand.
Acosta’s analysis of the situation reflected the nature of the Latin American business environment. Over 90 percent of small and mid-sized companies in Latin America are concentrated in the manufacturing sector, which is heavily dependent on natural resources.
However, education and action seemed to lag behind the concern apparent in the survey. Only 37 percent of the entrepreneurs surveyed stated that regulations to protect the environment including recycling and sustainable use of water and energy should be developed.
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