Buenos Aires, April 1995.



Dear Friends,

It's been two years now since I began my new activity as an independent consultant. Drawing from a number of experiences, I have reached several conclusions that have partially modified some long-standing concepts.

When I first arrived to my new premises I was visited by a number of friends devoted to different disciplines. For many years I wondered whether they were my friends or the Executive Vice President's. My split from Bunge enabled me to find out that they were indeed mine. A very gratifying feeling.

Entrepreneurs, public servants, politicians, trade union leaders, journalists, representatives of the Church, the Armed Forces, people connected to science, arts and technology paid me a visit to wish me success in my new way of life.

After many years of extremely long working days, the distinct rhythm of the independent activity allowed me to discover reflection, meditation, or in other words, to discover the TIME TO THINK.

To help my own friends think rapidly became a routine. The mere fact of having been permanently associated with risk for so long made it feasible to entertain various problems with a different scope.

Invitations from a variety of visitors who were dealing with the most diverse subjects, asking me to attend their business meetings, were actually the beginning of this new phase.

Due to their discovery and decisions I have begun to value those hours. The result was the birth of a specific division within the design of my organization.

Argentina has probably changed more in the last few years than in the previous part of this century. Not only has the country opened itself to the world, but its insertion in an active and promising Mercosur creates excellent possibilities. Different Divisions were organized to tackle these new opportunities: MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS, TRADING, TOP MANAGEMENT, and REPRESENTATIONS.

The LOBBYING and PUBLIC RELATIONS Division was created to render such services with a professional standing similar to that observed in developed countries.

Our country is at present open to the concept and ready to accept the role of the lobbyist. We believe this (transparent) activity is extremely valuable as a two-way road. Consequently ideas must occupy an important space in this new era.

Government, associations, and society as a whole should be aware of all viewpoints regarding existing or future situations.

Furthermore, my staff and I have prepared a program to provide OUTSOURCING to medium-sized concerns. Outsourcing will allow companies to devote energy to their core business, while we work to improve their efficiency and reduce overhead.

This aspect, added to our capacity to represent them at fairs, seminars, congresses, etc, will prepare them to face the future with better chances of success.

We are also advising several associations congregating entrepreneurs and professionals as they adapt to the new circumstances and overcome new difficulties. They will have to join their strengths and propose global solutions to yield improvement in their sectors and in the general economy.

There is a special chapter devoted to FAMILY OWNED COMPANIES, a subject on which our teams have a widespread experience.

The TOP MANAGEMENT Division is able to offer skilled professionals who have enjoyed top positions in leading industries. Their know-how will contribute to the development of small and medium-sized companies, at an affordable cost to concerns of these characteristics.

But I shall not continue writing. Since I set a value for my time, I must respect yours.


Sincerely,

GUILLERMO A. CARRACEDO