California and Schwarzenegger make a Chilean connection

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‘Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Thursday presided over the signing of a number of bilateral scientific, agricultural and educational agreements, highlighting the growing trade and personal ties between California and a nation with one of South America’s most dynamic economies,’ reports the Times’ Marc Lifsher.

‘The two have become natural trading partners over the last four decades, largely because of the work of the so-called Davis Boys, an informal group of Chileans who studied agriculture at UC Davis during the 1960s and 1970s.’

‘’They are the ones who sowed the seeds for what is today a multibillion-dollar agricultural operation in Chile,’ said UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef.’

‘With help from Davis and other California universities, Chile has developed a sophisticated agricultural export market that has taken advantage of the coincidence that Chile and California have similar topography and climates but opposite growing seasons.’

Here’s how El Mercurio of Chile reported on the encounter.

And here’s a Chilean blogger, addressing the pro’s and cons of the agreement signed May 9 between the Economy Minister, Alejandro Ferreiro and Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer of Microsoft Corporation, to create an unprecedented alliance between Microsoft and the Chilean government. It’s part of a wider debate about whether the South American country has been too whole-hearted in embracing neo-liberal economic policies in the wake of the Pinochet dictatorship.

-- Reed Johnson in Mexico City