Sergio Massa hit the mark this Saturday on
the signing of three agreements
focused on energy and technology with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, one of the leaders of a key power, who warned about
the importance of "legal security"
in all countries of the world.
The government had announced that he was going to participate in the meeting, but from the environment of the Minister of Economy they explained that he was absent from this extremely important meeting,
due to family matters
related to official activities, for which Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero ended up signing the understandings.
Before resuming his tour of South America with a stopover in Chile and Brazil as next destinations, the representative of the main European power met with Alberto Fernández at the San Martín Palace and held a meeting with businessmen from German and Argentine firms.
It was in this context that
Massa's absence drew attention
.
"He warned that he had something familiar and sent Rubinstein and Royón," they pointed out from the Economy.
After the meeting, the authorities of both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the transition towards a clean energy system and the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, together with the exploration of financing options;
a commitment to finance exports to make the Chihuido Hydroelectric Project viable for US$ 2,230 million and a cooperation agreement on startups.
Although the three agreements were under the orbit of the Ministry of Economy, Cafiero was the one who ended up signing them.
"Massa did not go, that is why Cafiero had to sign them"
, confirmed official sources.
In his replacement, the Vice Minister of Economy, Gabriel Rubinstein, participated in the meeting where it was agreed to open an office of the German Accelerator, the main German accelerator for ventures and startups, at the AMBA.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Photo: REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
Germany seeks to
replace Russian energy supplies
because of the war with Ukraine and Argentina seeks to offer itself as a supplier of the resource.
"The 1st day of intense work is over. Topics of priority: the international situation, economic relations, energy and climate protection. Dealing with cooperation in the energy sector and the installation of a #germanaccelerator at @gcba", said the Saturday Ambassador Ulrich Sante via Twitter.
The landing of the leader of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) occurred the same week that
Germany expressed "concern"
at the UN Human Rights Council over the
"pressure and intimidation" of judges and "attempts to exert political influence
" that They happen in Argentina.
"Germany in this sense recommends that judicial independence be strengthened and that judges and investigations be protected from pressure and intimidation," said the German delegation.
That was the response of the diplomat Ann-Jasmin Krabatsch in Geneva after hearing the report by the Secretary for Human Rights,
Horacio Pietragalla
, in which he denounced a "judicial persecution" of Cristina Kirchner.
Asked later, Sholz said that she did not speak to the President about that matter.
"We are talking about important economic issues," she explained, but assured that
"it is important to have legal certainty and that is valid for everyone."
Germany is considered Argentina's main trading partner in the European Union, and bilateral exchange exceeded US$3.6 billion in 2022, with a growth of 8% compared to 2021, of which Argentina exported US$883 million, an increase of 8% year-on-year, according to a CAC report.
Thus, the deficit was US$1,837 million, which reflected a worsening compared to the negative balance of US$1,716 million in 2021.
Today, more than 170 German companies based in Argentina generate more than 22,000 direct jobs.
This is the case of Siemens, SAP, Bayer, Wintershall, Voith Hydro, BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz, whose directors in some cases participated in bilateral meetings.
"The importance of reaching agreements on natural resources, energy and lithium was highlighted. Also in advancing in the Mercosur - European Union agreement," they pointed out from one of the firms.
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