Undergraduate Business Students Experience Chile
A group of 21 LeBow College of Business undergraduate students recently completed an educational residency in Santiago, Chile. The students toured Santiago and Valparaiso, and visited several companies and organizations including the Chilean American Chamber of Commerce and ARAMARK.
Before departing for Chile, the students toured Unifruitti of America, Chile’s largest importer of fruit to the United States, at the Port of Philadelphia. Kevin Mack, head of operations for Unifruitti, led the students on a tour of a CSAV fruit vessel. Students saw firsthand the process of unloading the fruit by crane, where the fruit pallets were put into the refrigerated warehouses before being delivered to grocery outlets throughout the Delaware Valley within one week.
During their visit, Andreas Economou, chairman of the board and president of Unifruitti of America, briefed the students on U.S.-Chilean trade, and discussed how the varying fruit preferences of different countries impact the Unifrutti’s operations. He also explained the impact of the current economic downturn on the fruit industry.
In Chile, the students visited the port from which Unifrutti ships depart for the United States in order to experience the full circle of the company’s U.S.-Chilean operation.
The students also heard lectures from leading professors at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad del Desarrollo on topics such as “Doing Business in Chile,” “Business Models in Chile” and “Venture Capital in Chile.” The students also experienced Chilean culture -- they toured the Concha y Toro Winery and took a lesson in traditional Chilean dance.
The students blogged about their experiences and posted photos at http://lebowchiletrip.com/.
