Mexico will begin the Mercosur incorporation process during the first half of 2006, announced Mexican president Vicente Fox during his stay in Mar del Plata, Argentina for the IV Americas Summit. Mexico already is member of the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, with United States and Canada and has similar accords with other countries in the region including Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and “will now try to resume an initiative that had remained dormant for some time”.

Mexico´s industrial production growth slowed in September, the latest evidence that the expansion in Latin America´s second-biggest economy is sputtering as export growth to the U.S. eases. Output rose one percent in the month, less than half the 2.1 percent increase in August. September marked the fifth straight month in which output growth failed to reach 3 percent. Mexico had average monthly output growth of 3.8 percent last year.

Terming its latest financial quarter results as “reasonable”, British Airways posted a pretax profit of £241 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. Pre-tax profits for the second quarter were down from £293m for the same period in 2004 when the Qantas sale brought in £86m. The three month pre-tax figures took the result for the half-year to £365 million profit (2004: £368 million).

Expedia saw quarterly profits rise by 41 percent to $82 million, its first reporting period since operating as a separate company. The net income figure for the three months to the end of September compared with $58.1 million in the same period last year. Gross bookings increased 21 percent in the quarter, with US bookings up 16 percent and international bookings taking a 39 percent spike.

Sabre has reported US$700 million in revenues as per its third quarter financial results. The revenue managed during the quarter was up 29 percent year-over-year. “Across our portfolio, we delivered excellent revenue and earnings results in the third quarter,” said Sam Gilliland, chairman and chief executive officer, Sabre Holdings.

This week´s 10th Annual Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, is an excellent opportunity to meet new players and boost new partnerships. That´s the view of St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas on the ongoing Conference which is bringing together more than 300 business executives, government officials and entrepreneurs from the Caribbean and the US, as well as a dozen members of the U.S. House of Representatives at the four-day conference from November 10 to 13.