The Argentine Foreign Minister, Susana Malcorra, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Albert Gerard Koenders, discussed the bilateral agenda and the relations between the European Union and MERCOSUR today at a meeting held at the Palacio San Martín.
"We discussed cultural, economic and transactional complementarity, as well as matters of interest to both sides," stated Malcorra at a joint press conference offered after the meeting.
"The fact that the trade balance is positive for Argentina does not mean it cannot be even more positive or significant. There are always opportunities for growth," said Malcorra, who noted that the two countries "have many things they can build on, in addition to what has been done so far."
"The Netherlands offers a partnership opportunity to our SMEs," stated the Foreign Minister, further explaining that: "The Netherlands is the second largest exporter of products related to the agro-industry in the world, and this has to do with the added value it creates. Therefore, there is a clear opportunity to link this to our intention to expand infrastructure through the plan launched by President Macri, with a view to increasing our capacity so as to feed 800 million people, up from the current level of 400 million. We want to do this by selling both commodities and manufactured products. This can only be achieved by establishing partnerships with the countries that have know-how and production capacity in this chain of value."
"Argentina, MERCOSUR and Latin America in general have resources that are exactly the ones needed in other parts of the world, which is why finding complementation alternatives is key in order to achieve further development and more job opportunities, while satisfying global needs," explained Malcorra.
Minister Malcorra further explained that, during the meeting with Koenders, they discussed "the needs relating to tourism, links in the field of science and technology, and opportunities with State-owned technology company INVAP."
When asked about the referendum in the UK, the Argentine Foreign Minister stated that: "I accompanied the President on his visit to Europe last week, and I am even more convinced now that Europe should come out of this experience strengthened and more European than ever. Divorces are not easy, and they have both positive and negative consequences."
"My opinion is that, once all this calms down, Europe should emerge stronger," concluded Malcorra.
Press Release No. 222/16
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