During her official visit to the Italy, Foreign Minister Diana Mondino began her agenda on Wednesday, February 14, with working meetings with Italian senators Mario Borghese and Pier Ferdinando Casini, held at the official Argentine Residence in Rome. They analyzed the possibilities of enhancing contacts and exchanges with Italy in the field of parliamentary diplomacy, as well as deepening bilateral and bi-regional cooperation in technological, educational, and cultural matters.
The Minister told the senators that “Argentina’s government believes in dialogue and free trade. We need to re-enter the world in an efficient and competitive way. We have to enhance our export capacity of goods and services and seek new opportunities and markets through negotiations at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels". In addition, she confirmed that closing the MERCOSUR - European Union agreement remains a priority for Argentina as it represents a historic opportunity for the nations of both blocks; she also referred to the significance that our country attaches to the process of accession to the OECD.
In the afternoon, as part of her agenda of economic meetings, Mondino met with the Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, to analyze concrete possibilities for a higher interaction among firms from both countries. The Foreign Minister conveyed Argentina's interest in strengthening economic and commercial ties with Italy and explained the measures being taken by the Argentine Government to deregulate and order the economy, combat the fiscal deficit, and lower inflation.
They talked about the opportunity that EU-identified strategic raw materials represent for Argentina’s development and agreed to advance jointly on this matter. Likewise, they decided to expand space cooperation, with more contact between agencies, as well as in nuclear matters.
She also highlighted the historic presence of Italian investment in our country, and underlined Argentina's interest in continuing to enhance exchange and cooperation, mainly in sectors such as design, audiovisual, visual arts, and publishing.
Italy is Argentina’s second European trading partner. In the design sector, Italy is one of the main venues for commercial circuits on the most significant dates on the sector’s international agenda. Design Made in Italy is considered an icon. Argentina’s design sector (particularly fashion and interior design) has the potential to establish symbolic-commercial ties with Italy.
Finally, Mondino met with the CEO of the Italian Society for Companies Abroad (SACE), Alessandra Ricci, and analyzed the flow of Italian investments and future projects in Argentina. She expressed that Argentina attaches great value to the financing project currently underway with the Cassa e Depositti Prestiti (SACE is a member of this Group) for an amount of 42 million euros in health, acquisition of medical and sanitary equipment, and construction of operating rooms throughout the country.
“We are determined to boost bilateral financial relations that are currently far below their potential. We must base our action on the strong direct private investment from Italian companies that have always historically worked for the productive development of Argentina”, stated the Foreign Minister.
She added: “The process of deregulation and utility tariff recomposition will lead to a favorable business climate for Italian companies, an opportunity for them to increase their participation in our country and analyze their operation in sectors such as food, infrastructure, transportation, energy and mining”.
“We seek to maintain direct contact to allow SACE to have information from Argentine sources and thus help strengthen the link, improve risk indicators and explore new investment opportunities in our country”, concluded the Foreign Minister.
SACE (Società Italiana per le Imprese all'Estero) is an insurance and financial company controlled by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance whose main objective is to promote international trade and support Italian companies in their export activities. It has 14 branches and 66 offices in Italy, and 13 offices overseas. Its portfolio of insured operations and guaranteed investments amounts to 164 billion euros.
