Argentina is changing. Our people want a more united and equitable society. They want to harness the country’s manifold talents and natural resources, and take full advantage of the opportunities that the world offers us today. As a result, trust and confidence are on the rise again, opening avenues for investment and value creation. The primary goals of this government are to reduce poverty and provide more opportunities for each and every citizen in Argentina. To make that possible we need more jobs and more investment. This is why we immediately started laying the foundations for a more stable economy, eliminating obstacles to growth. Today, the economy is recovering and inflation is on a clear downward trend.

 

We are taking large steps to strengthen our institutions, which in turn will help set the groundwork for private investment. The Central Bank, for example, is now independent and professionalized, and our anti-trust authority is transparent and fully active. We are promoting growth in competitiveness, among other things, by reducing and simplifying taxes, promoting credit and minimizing logistical costs. Recently approved legislation on PPPs will enhance and support investment in infrastructure as we put into place the most ambitious infrastructure plan in our country’s history: better roads, new freeways, improvements to ports and railways, and a massive shakeup of the commercial air transport system.

 

Importantly, our economic development agenda is based on a multi-stakeholder approach: the government, labor organizations, the private sector and civil society working together to bring about reform, investment and job creation. Argentina has an abundance of natural resources and a talented and diverse population eager to fulfill their potential across under-tapped sectors from food and agriculture, energy (conventional, non-conventional and renewables), sustainable mining, tourism, and an array of industrial and commercial sectors. Argentina is now convinced that to move forward along these lines we need mature and intelligent relationships with the world. We are therefore prioritizing our strategic relationships with our Latin American partners, aiming to bring Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance closer, and promoting physical connectivity, production chain integration, and trade facilitation.

 

At the same time, we are rising to the challenge of being a constructive force in today’s globalized world, more than ready to play our part in the challenges and uncertainties the world currently faces, such as food and energy security, terrorism and organized crime prevention, and climate change mitigation. It is important to underline that these changes in Argentina are not limited to a new government. What has changed is Argentine society. Today, with growing information and production channels, our society is more and more connected to the world; we look objectively at past economic crises in Argentina and at examples of sustainable development in other countries, and we see that we can achieve much more if we work together not just for economic and political change, but also for a change in our values. The productive year the government has had in Congress - passing crucially important legislation despite holding a minority - is proof of this wind of change. 

 

The world too is acknowledging the renewed trust in Argentina and the importance we attach to our institutions and the rule of law. Argentina has had visits from dozens of heads of state and government this past year, and we are proud to be hosting the World Economic Forum Latin America and the WTO’s Ministerial Conference in 2017, as well as the presidency of the G-20 in 2018 - clear signs of revitalized international engagement and commitment. Argentina is turning a corner. With the reduction of poverty as our primary goal, we are injecting vitality and innovation into our economy, creating exciting opportunities for all Argentines and for all those looking to invest and add value to our economy and our changing society.