Playing the rebound: Latin America has hit bottom. Will it bounce--and how high? (2003 Forecast).

Beatriz Peralta Avalos wants to land a big deal. The executive director of Promoting Investment in El Salvador, Peralta has been wooing small and medium-sized commitments from international companies. But what the former Coca-Cola executive wants is an anchor investor like Intel or Electrolux to support the development of an entire industry in the Central American country.

"Once you land a big company, the suppliers come and it is easier to attract other companies from the same industry," she says. "Landing the anchor company, however, is like trying to make someone fa