Silvia Naishtat
04/11/2021 19:10
Clarín.com
Economy
Updated 04/11/2021 7:16 PM
The meeting between Martín Guzmán and his German counterpart, Peter Altmaier was to be a one-hour formal meeting.
In a spring Berlin this Sunday became a
two-hour dinner at the ministry's headquarters,
with flags of the two countries, in what was read as a gesture that exceeded protocol.
As it transpired, in a very friendly atmosphere, there was
more
talk
about the commercial relationship for the future and the complementation
between the two countries than about complaints or requests for support in the negotiations with the IMF.
The minister was almost exultant yesterday when the meeting with Altmaier ended and expressed it in a tweet: “Argentina and Germany have strategic complementarities in
knowledge economies and sustainable energy.
We will continue working to deepen bilateral ties in these areas, "he said.
He described the meeting as
"very enriching."
The German minister was also enthusiastic at least in his tweet: "Very good conversation with the Minister of Economy of Argentina."
Although the following paragraph leaves room for suspicion: "
I wish you much success in the ecological and social renewal of your great country
."
What did he mean?
In Buenos Aires they only managed to respond with the official statement.
There it is pointed out that Guzmán together with Altmaier, whose position is that of Federal Minister of Economy and Energy Affairs, reviewed the progress of trade relations between both countries and the development of
renewable energies
, as well as the links between Latin America and the Union. European.
Guzmán and Altmaier also discussed the role of multilateral organizations in the recovery of the global economy in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. In addition, both officials reviewed the goals of the Paris 2050 agreement to combat climate change and "accelerate the actions and investments necessary for a sustainable environmental future ".
Thus began the European tour that also includes Italy, Spain and France.
This Monday Guzmán will meet with Lars Hendrik Roller, General Director of Economic and Financial Policy of the German Chancellery, among other officials.
On Tuesday he will meet with the secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Wolfgang Schmidt.
The agenda will continue in Rome, where the minister is scheduled to meet with his Italian Economy and Finance counterpart, Daniele Franco.
Argentina's intention is to garner
allies among the IMF shareholders
in order to negotiate with the Fund for the refinancing of the debt.
Argentina seeks
special
conditions
in a 10-year program.
It also needs allies to refinance the debt with the Paris Club that expires in May for about $ 2.4 billion.
But according to the official statement, "the objective of the trip is to build understandings, in search of common conceptions in relation to the role of multilateral credit organizations, in the context of the emergency caused by the global pandemic," according to Economía.