MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuelan heavy fuel for Argentine cattle.

Venezuela will receive 25,000 head of cattle from Argentina as part of the trade agreement signed this week in Caracas with the purpose of helping Argentina overcome the energy crisis.

"We'll import 25,000 heifers and steers from Argentina", said Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez talking about the agreement which includes supplying Argentina with 5,15 million barrels of heavy fuel mainly for electricity generating plants.

"We're also talking about the cotton harvesters that are idle in Argentina and could be very useful for us in our ambitious cotton program along the coast of the Orinoco river", added President Chávez.

Argentina was represented in the signing ceremony by Federal Planning and Public Investment Secretary Julio De Vido and Martín Redrado Trade and International Economic Relations Martin Redrado; Venezuela by Energy and Mines Minister Rafael Rodríguez and Agriculture and Land Secretary Arnoldo Márquez.

President Chavez said it was vital for Venezuela to recover its agricultural tradition and production of a century ago which was demolished with the current oil dependent economy.