South America is a poor continent compared to dominant North America and Europe. However, while the “West” has been busy buying consumables and focusing on a lifestyle of over spending and neglecting its responsibilities, South America has had no choice but to focus on a more long term game-plan, how to prepare itself for the future requirements of its people and how to utilize its vast natural resources and large population. What is the result? Although not without its problems, many parts of South America are succeeding in their quest and several countries are now producing phenomenal results!
 
While more “mature” markets are being hit hard by the current financial crisis, many parts of South America are growing very healthily.

There are five main keys to the current and future success of South America:
 
Food – South America is a very fertile continent that produces enough food to provide for its own population and serve as a large exporter to many parts of the world. This is in contrast to many countries such as the UK that have allowed their production through farming etc to fall apart during times where banking appeared to be amassing enough wealth to be an almost entirely non-productive nation.

Energy – South America also has vast resources of its own oil and certain countries of South America are leading the way when it comes to alternative and renewable energies, this means that South America is protected from a world energy crisis as it no longer depends on any external petroleum supplies.
 
Banking - With very little credit having been issued, South America is less affected by over lending.
 
Foreign Investment – Although some foreign investors may have withdrawn their capital or shelved plans in order to help their own financial crisis in their home countries, many investors are now turning to South America as a viable, secure option for their savings as their homelands are fully feeling the affects of the credit crisis.
 
Tourism - In 2007, the continent received a record 68.6 million international arrivals. This was an increase of 2.9 per cent. Tourism receipts in this period were $58.9 billion, or an increase of 9.7 per cent, almost double the world average of 5.6 per cent.