As part of the plan to federalize Argentina’s foreign policy, today, Foreign Minister Felipe Solá closed the First Seminar to Enhance Technical Capacities as regards International Relations, held virtually and intended to provide Argentine provinces and municipalities with tools to promote their capacities and resources around the world.
Joined by the Undersecretary for National Affairs, Fernando Asencio; the Undersecretary for Foreign Policy, Gustavo Dzugala; and the Director for National Affairs, Daniel Bolettieri, the minister referred to the importance of “giving priority to the territorial situation over political ideas and trends” since “Argentina has a vast territory with different situations, needs and ways of life, in each region and in each province.”
“Almost every action taken by a Foreign Minister that you may see in the news is linked to the future of each province. Sometimes we negotiate things that have to do with one region because of the type of product, and sometimes we address more general issues. But the purpose of the policies adopted in connection with South America, Latin America, the United States, Russia, China, the trade and technology war, and the twists of foreign global policy is to build the future. A near future closely related to the lives of all Argentine citizens,” said Solá to provincial representatives, who expressed their local concerns and challenges during the seminar.
He also highlighted the role of the Public-Private Council for the Promotion of Exports, operating within the Argentine Foreign Ministry, “where we assist companies from all provinces and we mainly address regional problems.” In addition, he highlighted the creation, in 2020, of the Federal Council on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, which is aimed at promoting exports by provincial SMEs. At the Council, governors play an essential role in formulating strategies to promote trade, investment opportunities and international cooperation.
Asencio then thanked all provinces for their participation and highlighted the importance of facilitating “international integration” of the different territories and “federalizing Argentine foreign policy,” the main pillar of the seminar that began on 6 April and ended today after various meetings.
The aim of the seminar was to facilitate access by provincial officials in charge of international relations to the various areas of the Foreign Ministry, as well as to strengthen coordination between sub-federal agencies and the Ministry. The main issues discussed were trade promotion and investments, fairs and exhibitions, the Question of the Malvinas Islands and the Antarctic Question, cultural promotion, the multilateral agenda, international technical cooperation, and regional border integration, among others.
