Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero received on Monday the ambassadors of the Group of 7 (G7) countries, whom he thanked for the support of these countries in the negotiations of a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which allows consolidation of Argentina’s development conditions and as a potential investment destination. in today’s regional and global context.
Representatives of German, Ulrich Sante; id FranceMary-Claudia Scherer-Duge; del great Britain, Kirsty Isobel Hayes; de Italy, Fabrizio Lucentini; from United States of America, Marc Stanley; de JapanTakahiro Nakamae, and the charge d’affaires of Canada, John Gartke; and from European UnionJordi Garcia Martinez.
Sources who participated in the meeting stated that the dialogue highlighted “opportunities for progress in building constructive relationships and much more concrete in seeking investment” whose agenda was opened after the agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the Paris Club, and the normalization of activity after two years of the pandemic.
The same sources assure that representatives of the most developed countries embody the “best tendencies” to deepen these bonds, especially considering that Argentina is the main country in the region that has all the growth vectors of the new global era, such as lithium, green hydrogen and Vaca Muerta resources, in particular natural gas as the main energy transition.
“Relationships are getting faster in finding optimal links” with these countries that “they see the possibility that Argentina occupies a decisive place as a resource provider”in the context of geostrategic repositioning of requests due to the crisis in Ukraine, they explained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Cafiero thanked the ambassadors for the support his country provided to Argentina in debt negotiations contracted with the IMF, and explained that the country was successful in reaching an understanding with the agency through a new Service Agreement program that replaces the Agreement. Stand By which failed to sign in 2018.
“The new program has a fiscal consolidation path, which will gradually and continuously improve public finances and reduce monetary financing. It will also allow increased spending on infrastructure and science and technology and will protect targeted social programs,” he stressed in a meeting according to what was reported this afternoon by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Owner of Palacio San Martin details recent investment announcements such as the Middle East Development Fund that will finance US$1,000 million of work over two years; an additional US$200 million from Lamb Weston Alimentos Modernos to build an industrial plant in Mar del Plata; and the US$ 23,700 million agreed with China to finance strategic work and the merging of the Silk Road and Road.
Likewise, Caffeero said that “Argentina is one of the three fastest growing countries over the past year in the entire region10.3% and exported 11.9 billion dollars in January and February, which is a record for our country”.
The Foreign Minister highlighted, in this case, Argentine SMEs exporting to the United States were recorded at US$ 1,193 million in 2021, the highest amount in the last decade.
During the meeting, the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on international food, fertilizer and fuel prices was analyzed.
In this regard, Cafiero and the foreign representatives emphasized that follow closely what this means for global food securityespecially in developing countries that are struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
The Minister also reminded that in various international forums, Argentina expressed its position condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory, and explained that the country maintains that a lasting solution will only be achieved by peaceful means, and therefore. Argentina from the beginning called for peace and for all parties involved to return to the negotiating table.
Referring to Argentina’s presidency at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the head of the San Martín Palace expressed its importance for the country and stressed that the Argentine government maintains its permanent commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes and reiterated its desire for dialogue by continuing sovereignty negotiations over the Malvinas, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime space.
Likewise, he reaffirmed Argentina’s commitment to climate action and negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement and Kyoto Protocol, stressing that countries prioritize gender equality agendawhich has been a priority since the establishment of the Ministry of Women, Gender and Biodiversity and the National Cabinet to mainstream Gender Policy.
