Acres of Diamond
ENESFR
Surfers walking along El Tunco beach in La Libertad, El Salvador
Green volcanic highlands in Guatemala under a clear blue sky
Wax palms rising from a green mountainside in Colombia
Palm trees along the shore of the Dominican Republic
Blue agave cultivated across a mountain landscape in Mexico
A large cut diamond resting in an open palm
A diamond merchant examining a stone through a loupe
Fine jewellery displayed in a lit showcase in a diamond store
Shoppers at the street window of a jeweller full of watches, rings and bracelets for sale
Rings, necklaces, bracelets and diamonds laid out for sale on a jeweller’s counter
Surfers walking along El Tunco beach in La Libertad, El Salvador
Green volcanic highlands in Guatemala under a clear blue sky
Wax palms rising from a green mountainside in Colombia
Palm trees along the shore of the Dominican Republic
Blue agave cultivated across a mountain landscape in Mexico

Season One: Latin America

Five countries, chosen for three reasons: they are a short flight from Los Angeles, their diasporas are large and closely connected, and their governments are ready to talk about investment.

Photographs: Luis Rodriguez, Andres Ch Mendez, Yehuda Weisel, Robin Canfield, stephan de MARANTHI on Unsplash

The survey ledger

Episode pipeline

  • Planned
  • Scouting
  • In production
  • Released

Dashed route: planned · dotted route: scouting · solid route: in production or released

Route ledger: great-circle routes from Los Angeles to the five Season One capitalsMap of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America showing routes from Los Angeles International Airport to Mexico City, Guatemala City, San Salvador, Santo Domingo and Bogotá, with distances and episode status. The same information is given in the table that follows.Mexico≈ 2,500 km / 1,550 miScoutingGuatemala≈ 3,530 km / 2,190 miPlanned · Episode 2El Salvador≈ 3,730 km / 2,320 miPlanned · Episode 1Colombia≈ 5,600 km / 3,480 miScoutingDominican Republic≈ 5,110 km / 3,170 miScouting
Great-circle distances computed with the haversine formula (mean Earth radius 6,371 km) between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the main international airport of each capital, rounded to the nearest 10 km and 10 mi. Outlines: Natural Earth.
Season One route ledger: distance from Los Angeles, status, investment-promotion body, filming base and sectors for each country
CountryFrom LAX (great-circle)StatusInvestment-promotion bodyFilming baseSectors in focus
El SalvadorOpen the dossier≈ 3,730 km / 2,320 miLAX → SALPlannedEpisode 1PROESASan SalvadorTourism and the surf economy; digital services; the changed security landscape, seen firsthand
GuatemalaOpen the dossier≈ 3,530 km / 2,190 miLAX → GUAPlannedEpisode 2Invest GuatemalaGuatemala CityAgro-processing; textiles and apparel; programmes receiving returning citizens
ColombiaOpen the dossier≈ 5,600 km / 3,480 miLAX → BOGScoutingProColombiaBogotá & MedellínCoffee and cacao; Medellín’s technology sector; tourism corridors
Dominican RepublicOpen the dossier≈ 5,110 km / 3,170 miLAX → SDQScoutingProDominicanaSanto DomingoFree zones and nearshoring; construction; hospitality
MexicoOpen the dossier≈ 2,500 km / 1,550 miLAX → MEXScoutingSecretaría de Economía and state agenciesJalisco & GuanajuatoManufacturing corridors; agri-exports; return migration and the businesses it brings home

Agencies are named as each country’s official investment-promotion body. Their appearance on this site does not imply a partnership; none exists until it is agreed in writing.

How the pipeline works

Countries for later seasons will be announced as scouting is completed.

Planned
Selected for the season; desk research and requests for access under way.
Scouting
The team is scouting locations, stories and interviewees on the ground.
In production
Filming, verification and editing.
Released
Published on the channel, with sources.

Country dossiers

  1. El Salvador

    PlannedEpisode 1

    From Los Angeles
    ≈ 3,730 km / 2,320 mi
    Filming base
    San Salvador
    Investment-promotion body
    PROESA

    Tourism and the surf economy; digital services; the changed security landscape, seen firsthand

    Open the dossier

  2. Guatemala

    PlannedEpisode 2

    From Los Angeles
    ≈ 3,530 km / 2,190 mi
    Filming base
    Guatemala City
    Investment-promotion body
    Invest Guatemala

    Agro-processing; textiles and apparel; programmes receiving returning citizens

    Open the dossier

  3. Colombia

    Scouting

    From Los Angeles
    ≈ 5,600 km / 3,480 mi
    Filming base
    Bogotá & Medellín
    Investment-promotion body
    ProColombia

    Coffee and cacao; Medellín’s technology sector; tourism corridors

    Open the dossier

  4. Dominican Republic

    Scouting

    From Los Angeles
    ≈ 5,110 km / 3,170 mi
    Filming base
    Santo Domingo
    Investment-promotion body
    ProDominicana

    Free zones and nearshoring; construction; hospitality

    Open the dossier

  5. Mexico

    Scouting

    From Los Angeles
    ≈ 2,500 km / 1,550 mi
    Filming base
    Jalisco & Guanajuato
    Investment-promotion body
    Secretaría de Economía and state agencies

    Manufacturing corridors; agri-exports; return migration and the businesses it brings home

    Open the dossier

Should your country be next?

Investment-promotion bodies and governments outside Season One are welcome to start a conversation now. Countries for later seasons will be announced as scouting is completed.

Propose your country