The sixth edition of the UPS Business Monitor Latin America was launched at the Atton Hotel in Santiago in September. According to the study, Latin American executives consider the recruitment and retention of qualified staff, as well as government support, to be key to enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in the region.

Executives surveyed in the study, which is sponsored by UPS and covers seven countries in the region including Chile, said that their governments must focus on improving access to capital and financing, as well as education and training. The study indicated that 47% of executives said that they are in a better economic position than they were a year ago.

"The study clearly demonstrates that Latin America is at the forefront of growth and we see that SMEs are predominantly optimistic about the coming months," said José Acosta, president of Latin American operations and public affairs for UPS Americas Region.