Azteca America Chairman Luis J. Echarte Interviewed At Conference of the World Economic Forum

Azteca America Chairman Luis J. Echarte Interviewed At Conference of the World Economic Forum

Highlights the Need for More Competitive Market Structures In Latin America to Make Progress in the Global Economy

SAO PAULO, Brazil, April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Azteca America, the fastest-growing Spanish-language television network in the United States, announced today that company Chairman Luis J. Echarte was interviewed at the World Economic Forum's Conference on Regional Economic Development, held this week in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The participants at the Conference addressed the issue of "Building a Stronger Latin America in the Global Economy," and Mr. Echarte highlighted the need for more competitive market structures as an essential element for companies to make progress in the world markets.

"Many countries around the globe are building efficient industries by opening their markets to competition, and Latin American nations will certainly benefit from doing the same," Mr. Echarte said. "Because it is not easy to compete worldwide when monopolistic industries provide inputs at comparatively higher prices and lower quality, our countries must substantially reduce high concentration in a number of key industries."

"We have to build legal frameworks that allow for competitive structures to prosper, and markets will identify and make the most of relative advantages in our countries," added Mr. Echarte. "Competitiveness spreads among different industries and increases the overall efficiency of an economy, with a positive effect on investment, labor productivity and wealth."

Mr. Echarte also noted that increased efficiencies in Latin American countries will be further enhanced when competitive market structures are complemented with deregulation, competitive income tax rates and flexible labor laws, among other measures.

"The world is moving fast towards designing modern legal frameworks, and Latin America must be set in motion towards effectively competing worldwide, with a direct effect on living standards in our countries," concluded Mr. Echarte. "At our group of companies, Grupo Salinas, we are not only firm supporters of building competitive markets, but we also compete and contribute to generating market efficiencies in the media, retail, financial services and telecommunications industries in Mexico and in other countries in which we operate."

About Azteca America

Azteca America is the fastest-growing Hispanic network in the United States. The network is a wholly owned subsidiary of TV Azteca S.A. de C.V., one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television content in the world. Azteca America currently has presence in 43 Hispanic markets, including: Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, San Antonio, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Phoenix, Brownsville-McAllen, Albuquerque, San Diego, Fresno-Visalia, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Denver, Orlando, Austin, Tampa, Corpus Christi, Tucson, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, Monterey-Salinas, Hartford, Salt Lake City, Bakersfield, West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Omaha, Yakima, Naples-Ft. Myers, Wichita, Reno, Boise, Victoria, Oklahoma City, Charleston, Chattanooga, Amarillo, Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro-Winston Salem, Wilmington and Philadelphia.

For more information, visit http://www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate .

Source: Azteca America

CONTACT: Daniel McCosh, Grupo Salinas, +011-52-55-1720-0059,
dmccosh@tvazteca.com.mx, for Azteca America

Web site: http://www.tvazteca.com.mx/

-------
Profile: intent