Today, Foreign Minister Felipe Solá met with the Tunisian ambassador, Mohamed Ali Ben Abid, to discuss the potential of the bilateral relations, particularly regarding trade and cooperation projects on agro-industry, nuclear, and outer space matters. The minister highlighted the possibilities for boosting trade exchange and increasing cooperation in sectors with great business opportunities such as space technology (weather radars), renewable energies and agricultural machinery. Argentina has been negotiating agreements to export to the Tunisian market bovine and ovine meat, egg products, milk and other dairy products, and bovine semen and embryos. The Argentine automotive and pharmaceutical sectors also have interest in negotiating new agreements to increase their presence in the African country. Argentina, which has historically had a trade surplus with Tunisia, exports mainly soy oil and its fractions, corn, barley and wheat; and, to a lesser extent, vehicles and tractors. Tunisia has also shown interest in advancing industrial promotion matters and organizing trade missions. During the meeting, which was also attended by the Secretary for International Economic Relations, Jorge Neme, Solá and Ben Abid recalled the fact that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries. They also discussed their mutual interest in moving forward with the negotiations between MERCOSUR and Tunisia. During its Mercosur Pro Tempore Presidency, Argentina will talk with its partners in order to move forward in that direction, within the context of the bloc’s substantial external negotiations agenda. Finally, Solá thanked ambassador Ben Abid for his country’s long-standing support in Argentina’s sovereignty dispute with the United Kingdom over the Question of the Malvinas.
