The Official U.S.-Chilean Event: For the Recovery & Rebuilding of Chile

The Official U.S.-Chilean Event: For the Recovery & Rebuilding of Chile June 15-17, 2010-Santiago, Chile Conference Program- Rebuild Chile Expo Santiago, Chile Chile sustained an estimated US$30 billion dollars of damages during the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit on February 27, 2010. Just a few of the statistics provided recently by the Chilean government's Reconstruction Committee are:

• Over 100,000 homes were destroyed.
• 370,000 additional homes were heavily damaged.
• 900 separate villages along the coastal regions sustained major damages.
• 125 brand new schools must be built absolutely as soon as possible.
• 22 Hospitals and medical clinics were leveled.

Having endured the fifth strongest earthquake ever recorded, Chile is launching a rebuilding program that could well become the largest construction project in the world. The details of this plan will be discussed in detail on the 15th, and 16th of June in Santiago, Chile in an exclusive briefing for U.S. companies. You are invited to be on the inside. The Stage is Set:

• Come to the Conference.
• Learn how the reconstruction really works.
• Meet the Chilean decision makers.
• Establish connections.
• Create opportunities for your company.

For more information please visit the website HERE. Conference Sessions have been created to include the major ministries of Chile under one roof addressing the needs and demands they face as they move forward with their reconstruction plan.

120,000 new homes must be built immediately. Hundreds of hospitals, municipal buildings, offices, stores, hotels, factories and apartment blocks must be demolished, rebuilt, or repaired at the same time. 2000 kilometers of roadways and bridges need to be constructed.

Chile has the necessary financing in place to rebuild and restock as quickly as possible. The historically high price of copper continues to be a major contributor to Chile's financial strength, and much of the private-sector damage was covered by insurance. ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN CHILE

1. Several of our contacts in Chile who are involved in the rebuilding process have told us that one of the identified bottlenecks in the rebuilding of residential homes is the relative lack of trained carpenters or others able to operate saws, drills and other power tools. The reason for this is that before the earthquake a large percentage of homes were built out of brick or adobe. It would take an unacceptably long period of time to reconstruct 120,000 homes using these traditional materials. Timber-framed homes are seen as a quicker and preferred alternative. But again, there is a decided lack of trained craftsmen familiar with working with wood. The existing shortage of construction personnel is even more acute given the sheer volume of work that is required. U.S. Companies who can offer skills assessment and training programs will do well. One thought is to harness the literal ‘strength’ of the fishing communities whose livelihoods were destroyed when the earthquake and tsunami caused havoc to the villages along the central coast. While they are awaiting replacement fishing boats, outboard engines, nets, storage containers, processing equipment, freezers, etc, many of the people previously employed in fishing can possibly be used more directly in the reconstruction effort.

2. Project management expertise is a top priority. The earthquake – the fifth strongest ever recorded in human history – totally destroyed or caused massive widespread damage to many different aspects of society, including infrastructure such as roadways, bridges, tunnels, and utilities, and public services such as hospitals, schools, and municipal buildings, as well as private sector factories, apartment buildings and individual homes. The rebuilding task as a whole is absolutely daunting. Surveys have to be made of which structures can be repaired and which must be demolished. Once it is determined that a building must come down, someone has to bring it down, often without damaging intact buildings that are standing in close proximity. Millions of tons of debris must be carted away and put, well, somewhere. Plans must be drawn for the new structures that will go up to replace those that were lost. Then construction must begin. And that means products and trained construction personnel must be sourced and staged. Again, the overall task is absolutely daunting. Chile recognizes that as talented as its people are, there are simply not enough engineers, demolition experts, designers, architects, urban planners, and prime construction planners to meet the enormous demand. Chile is looking for outside management companies who can come in and take over vast portions of the many projects that must be initiated across the board, and, essentially all-at-once

This opportunity is extended to the American market to hear first hand what the demands are and to show Chile with a physical presence that there are American companies who want to respond to the call.