Vote for Venezuela.

DISRUPTIVE POLITICS SEEM TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON Venezuela's economics. At least that's how DHL Worldwide Express, the world's largest international express deliverer, sees it. "Even though it's not an easy environment there politically, this is the best year ever for DHL in Venezuela," says Alberto Hallivis, business development director for the company's Latin America region. DHL has operated in the South American country for 16 years.

The good results have prompted the delivery giant to increase its presence in Venezuela with a new US$8 million facility in Caracas. "The old facilities can't keep up with the pace of growth," says Hallivis. "So we have to keep investing." Cost control initiatives helped boost overall profits in Latin America by 30% between 2000 to 2001, Hallivis says. As a result, Caracas isn't the only place that will see new DHL investment. The company is spending around $20 million on facility upgrades in Argentina and at its hub in Panama. It recently built a new logistics center in Brazil and moved its Latin America headquarters a few kilometers west from Ft. Lauderdale to Plantation. Florida, in response to growing work.

"The economic slowdown in the U.S hasn't affected our business," says Hallivis.