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Argentina – Alberta Relations This map is a generalized illustration only and is not intended to be used for reference purposes. The representation of political boundaries does not necessarily reflect the position of the Government of Alberta on international issues of recognition, sovereignty or jurisdiction. PROFILE DID YOU KNOW? TRADE AND INVESTMENT Capital: Buenos Aires Argentina, along with Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay founded the MERCOSUR free trade zone in 1991. Venezuela has become the fifth member in December 2005. From 2006 to 2010, Alberta exports to Argentina averaged $27.0 million per year. Population: 40.5 million (2010 est.) Language: Spanish Government: Federal Republic Head of State and Government: President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (Partido Justicialista, Peronists) (since December 10, 2007) Currency: $1 CDN = 4.44 Argentinean peso (ARS) (May 2011) GDP: $US 370.3 billion (2010) GDP (PPP): $US 643.1 billion (2010 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP): $US 15,871 (2010 est.) GDP growth rate: 9.2% (2010) Inflation: 10.5% (2010) Unemployment: 7.8% (2010) Key Industry Sectors: Agriculture, mining, food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel, tourism and electricity. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, is often called “Paris of South America” for its strong European culture, due to the prevalence of people of Italian, Spanish French, and German descent and their cultural influence. RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW Canada and Argentina share many similarities including their resourcebased economies, immigrant populations and federal systems of government. Argentina is involved in negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Working together on the FTAA and the Cairns group, Argentina and Canada have developed an excellent bilateral relationship. Due to an increase in oil and gas equipment, Alberta exports to Argentina reached $49 million in 2007, a 295% increase over the previous year. Between 2006 and 2010, Alberta imported goods worth $59.2 million from Argentina. Alberta’s primary imports were iron and steel pipes, and wine. This figure does not include goods sold in Alberta that arrived via distribution hubs in other provinces. After the 2001-2002 economic crisis, the Argentine government has introduced programs to allow competition, providing tax and financing incentives to exporters. GDP has expanded by about 9% per year since 2004. In 2003, Canada handed the chairmanship of the Summit of the Americas process to Argentina, who hosted in Mar del Plata the Fourth Summit of the Americas in November 2005. Input was provided from the departments of: Advanced Education & Technology, Agriculture & Rural Development, Culture & Community Services, Education, Energy and Human Services. June 2011 ENERGY AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE ENSARA, Argentina’s state-owned energy company, was established in 2004 as a result of the country’s energy crisis that year. It is responsible for the upstream development of oil and shale gas. One of the world’s top five exporters of grain and beef, Argentina is a competitor of Alberta. Since 2006, Argentina has received funding from the Government of Alberta to undertake a variety of projects that focused on the advancement of the status and rights of intellectually disabled persons. Argentina is a net oil exporter, though production has declined in recent years. Argentina produced 794,470 barrels per day in 2009 and had 2.386 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Argentina is the largest natural gas producer in South America. In January 2008, the country had 16 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves. Natural gas is relied on heavily in Argentina. It comprises of nearly 70% of fuel consumption in electricity generation. Argentina’s electricity consumption increased from 72.44 kWh in 2002 to 104.73 kWh in 2008. Petroleum consumption increased from 438,200 bbl/d in 2002 to 594,000 bbl/d in 2008. Argentina has a large potential in windpowered electricity generation. The capacity factors in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Río Negro, Neuquén, Chabut and Santa Cruz is estimated to range from 24% to 49%. In 2010, Argentina’s generation mix was composed of 57% thermal, 38% hydro and 3% nuclear. Calgary-based TransCanada owns a 30% interest in Gas Pacifico, a 540 km natural gas pipeline from Lata, Argentina to Concepción, Chile. Argentina, Canada, and 17 other countries are members of the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting nations seeking world trade liberalization. In 2010, Alberta’s agri-food exports to Argentina totaled $822,000, consisting mostly of bovine semen ($696,000) and seeds for sowing ($105,000). EDUCATION The University of Alberta and the University of Calgary have diverse Academic and Student Exchange Agreements and have signed Memorandums of Understanding with different Argentine universities. The University of Calgary has a student exchange agreement with Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires. EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES Oil and gas equipment and services will need to be upgraded to increase operational efficiency and meet new standards of international competition. As 25% of Argentina’s environmental control goods and services come from foreign suppliers, the chemical and petrochemical industries are natural candidates for environmental equipment. RECENT VISITS April 2007: Officials from Argentina attended a Council of Americas event in Calgary. December 2004: Alberta Environment Minister represented Alberta's interests at an international climate change meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. September 2004: Energy official from the government of Argentina traveled to Alberta to discuss energy issues and learn more about Alberta’s energy industry. DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION Argentina’s Ambassador in Ottawa is His Excellency Arturo Guillermo Bothamley. Canada’s Ambassador to Argentina, located in Buenos Aires, is Ms. Gwyneth A. Kutz. Metal mining is growing in importance. Total mining production increased by an accumulated 253% between 2003 and 2007, which require mining equipment and services. For more information, contact: Alberta Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations Tel: 780-427-6543 Fax: 780-427-0699 www.albertacanada.com