MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Minister Faurie in France addresses bilateral relations and Mercosur/EU talks

Faurie and Jean-Yves Le Drian agreed that the world is immersed in a debate between economic nationalism and multilateralism

Argentine foreign minister Jorge Faurie met on Tuesday in Paris with his French peer Jean-Yves Le Drian to address current political and economic bilateral relations, as well as the latest advances in the Mercosur/European Union negotiations.

According to the official release the two ministers, meeting at Quai d-Orsay coincided in the need to increase bilateral trade, and more specifically investments, and underlined the joint commitment to scientific, university and cultural cooperation.

As to Mercosur, minister Faurie insisted in the block's commitment to reach an agreement, the sooner the better, since it is “a strategic issue that will contribute to political and multilateral stability in both regions”, in the current prevailing protectionist atmosphere.

“Mercosur has made great efforts in recent months. We can't miss the opportunity to conclude these negotiations, we must undertake the necessary political decisions to reach an ambitious and balanced accord”, said Faurie, adding that “we are natural partners, the countries that make up Mercosur are descendents from Europeans, there is a natural dialogue, understanding capacity, and we must take advantage and capitalize on these virtues”.

Faurie also emphasized the opportunities that the Argentine territory offers in areas considered strategic such as renewable energies and tourism, which is a crucial sector contributing to economic and social development plus the creation of jobs.

“We talked about French investments in Argentina which are extremely important for our economic growth and reforms; and besides with France we share the vision of the current global situation in which the world is immersed in a debate between economic nationalism and multilateralism”.

The two ministers underlined the visit of president Mauricio Macri to France last January when he met with president Emmanuel Macron and held a round of contacts with French business, industry organizations and the Rothschild Group.

Likewise during March the Argentine foreign ministry was the seat of a round of business talks with EVOLEN, an association that brings together more than 250 French companies linked to the gas and oil industry. That same month the Argentine embassy in Paris made an official presentation of railway infrastructure projects under the PPP system, Public/private/participation.

Finally the Argentine ministry release points out to French investments since Macri took office in 2016 totaling US$ 3.003bn, of which Total Austral, US$ 2.230bn; PSA Peugeot Citroën US$ 320m; Eren Renewable Energy US$ 150m; Air Liquide Argentina US$ 63m; Carrefour US$ 28,2m; Accor US$ 26m and Sanofi Pasteur US$ 20m.

Minister Faurie has been overseas since last 28 March, having visited Morocco and Tunisia before landing in France.