Dear friends,
Here we are in the middle of Spring. We have recharged our batteries over the Easter break which, although rather wet, at least gave us the chance to disconnect and look forward to Spring with raised spirits. Also, nature is looking beautiful with the trees displaying their lovely rich green colour, inviting us to get out and enjoy a quiet stroll around.
Nevertheless, the situation in Spain is still very worrying. Officially, we have a recession, because the GDP dropped 0.4% in the first quarter, and the unemployment rate has increased to 24%, with 290,000 new unemployed workers joining the ranks. Also in Brussels they have discovered that our deficit was really 8.5% in GDP in 2011. A very worrying situation.
The Government is doing its homework in terms of austerity measures, but the markets are not giving us any breathing space. Even so, I believe this is the path to follow, along with the culmination of the financial reform which must get credit flowing again, provide incentives for entrepreneurs or rationalise the state of the Autonomous Communities.
However, as always, we have some positive news: the arrival of tourists in Spain increased 2.6% in the first quarter of 2012, while in February 2012 foreign trade in the Euro area registered a surplus of 2,800 MM €, and port traffic increased also increased in February 2012.
And more specifically: the Catalan multinational Cirsa improved its profits in 2011 by 11.5%, up to 290 million Euro, and with sales of 1,747 million Mango has increased its turnover by 11%; Ferrovial has been awarded a contract worth 2,425 MM € in the United Kingdom, while CAF has won a contract worth 400 MM € in Latvia.
I wish you all the very best!
Luis Vilaclara
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Cardamom: This is native to the tropical forests of Southern India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Sumatra, and it is also grown currently in Nepal, Thailand and Central America, with Guatemala being the largest world producer. Cardamom is carminative, stimulant, antispasmodic, sialagogue —which provokes the secretion of saliva—, orexygen —which produces appetite— and aromatic. This herb can be used to treat dyspepsia or flatulent indigestion, and to alleviate stomach cramps and colic. It is also one of the purgatives, when used as a carminative condiment, and it can counteract diarrhoea. To administer this herb, prepare an infusion with 1 teaspoon of recently crushed seeds and leave to stand for fifteen minutes. To treat flatulence of loss of appetite, it must be taken half an hour before meals. |
