With a Strategic Association Plan, the two nations are willing to increase cooperation in the energy sector, particularly “in the gas and lithium sectors”; and in the digital realm.
The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez; and that of Argentina, Alberto Fernandezagreed this Tuesday to promote the Strategic Association Plan agreed last year between the two countries and expressed their willingness to strengthen energy cooperation in the gas and oil sectors. lithium.
Sánchez and Fernández met at the Palacio de la Moncloa, the headquarters of the Spanish Executive, within the framework of the European tour that the Argentine president began today in Madrid and that will take him to Germany and France in the coming days.
In their meeting, they addressed various matters of interest, such as the good moment of bilateral relations.
In the words of Sánchez, in line with “privileged” bilateral relations, which were strengthened last year “in a satisfactory manner” with the Strategic Partnership Planthe two nations are willing to increase cooperation in the digital and energy fields, in particular “in the gas and lithium sectorswithin a context of war like the current one”.
The two leaders underlined the “harmoniousness and understanding” in the face of the international situation caused by the war and agreed to condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as to stress the importance that the countries of Ibero-America and those of Europe continue to condemn the attack at the United Nations.
Lithium, gas and other cooperation
The Action Plan for the Internationalization of the Spanish Economy (2021-2022) has among its budgetary priorities SMEs and Ibero-American countries, which, in a situation of “food and energy scarcity” fosters a “favorable scenario” for boost trade and investment relations between Spain and Argentina, which cover gas and lithium, according to a statement.
“Spanish companies and investors maintain their commitment to Argentinaand those that are already present have reiterated their commitment to the development of the country”, highlights the note.
Sánchez also conveyed to Fernández the desire to explore ways that contribute to “expand” the Spanish model in favor of digitization and the green transition to the whole of Latin Americabeing a “world reference” in digital rights, and doing so from the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB).
He also congratulated the Argentine president for the financial agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) “which naturally Spain supports”, and for having managed to grow 10% of GDP in 2021 after the pandemic.
The President of the Spanish Government also thanked Fernández for Argentina’s commitment to the Ibero-American summits and reiterated Spain’s desire to continue contributing to the “deepening” of the association between the EU and Latin America-Caribbean included in the ratification of the EU Treaty -Mercosur.
Meeting with the King
After the meeting with Sánchez, Fernández was received by the King of Spain, Felipe VIwith whom he held a private meeting in which they exchanged impressions on the state of bilateral relations and other current affairs.
off the public agenda, Fernández also met with businessmen to attract investmentaccording to official Argentine sources before his arrival in Spain.
Among them, the agreement reached with the Spanish company GGTech Entertainment, a leader in projects related to video games and education, which will be installed in Argentina, which will position the country as a new technological ‘hub’ for e-sports and video games in Latin America and will generate content globally.
The project contemplates an initial investment of 8 million euros in the 2022-2024 period, which will generate 150 jobs in the first stage, between game developers and programmers, and more than 500 indirect jobs in the preparation of Gamergy, the main Spanish-speaking e-sports and e-gaming festival, the Argentine Foreign Ministry reported in a statement.
From Spain, Fernández will travel to Germany to meet tomorrow with the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in what will be his first official meeting, and will take the opportunity to visit German companies in the automotive and environmental sectors.
On Friday, he will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.