Subregional organization pursuing economic and social development through cooperation and integration. News releases, business and tourism resources, and discussion area. [English, Spanish]

Presidents and officials of 12 South American countries are meeting in Peru to create an economic and political community representing 45% of the total American continent, 361 million people, a $973bn GDP and $181bn exports of goods and services.

Discusses the business issues and outlook for the proposed South American Union, merging the Mercosur trade bloc of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil with the Andean Community of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Chile, Suriname and Guyana will also be members.

South American presidents met in Peru to sign a regional integration pact to go beyond rhetoric and usher in European-style unity.

The South American Community of Nations has a founding date, next December 9 in Ayacucho, Peru, according to the Mercosur Permanent Representatives Committee President Eduardo Duhalde.

Brief encyclopedia entry provides the history of the South American trade bloc, a merger of Mercosur and the Andean Community (CAN) plus additional countries.