Argentina

• Sunday, February 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Soy displaces cattle as main farm activity in Argentina

  

  Soy beans has become the main commodity of Argentina's rich farmland displacing other traditional industries such as cattle breeding and dairy farming, according to studies and statistics from the country's main breeders organization the Rural Society.

• Friday, February 15th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Feb 21 part of YPF shares back under Argentine control

  Spain's Repsol YPF announced Thursday that the sale of 14.9% of its affiliate in Argentina to that country's businessman Enrique Eskenazi will become effective next February 21.

• Friday, February 15th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Mrs. Kirchner can't convince protestors to end pickets

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Gualeguaychu pickets kept on Thursday to their positions in the controversy over the construction of a pulp mill in neighboring Uruguay which environmentalists and protestors claim is/will be highly contaminating.

• Thursday, February 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Spanish minister visits Argentina to talk about fisheries

  

  Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) Elena Espinosa currently visiting Argentina held a meeting with Spanish fishing companies operating in Argentina and signed a fisheries scientific research cooperation agreement which includes surveying the South Atlantic, reports the Buenos Aires press.

• Thursday, February 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina extends energy saving plan & efficiency culture

  

  Argentina's president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner claimed on Wednesday the government had already saved almost 600 megawatts in electricity as part of the joint Plan for Efficient Energy use.

• Thursday, February 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Cristina K travels to London and will press Malvinas issue

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner confirmed Thursday morning that she will be visiting London on April 4/5 to participate in a Progressive leaders meeting, while government officials and the Buenos Aires press underline that the “unflagging” Malvinas sovereignty claim will be “put on the table”.

• Wednesday, February 13th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina/Venezuela agree to exchange beef-flour for oil

  

  Venezuela and Argentina agreed Tuesday to exchange food for energy thus helping to overcome both countries' weak points following a high level meeting in Caracas. Argentina is to supply 1.000 tons of beef monthly and Venezuela will provide all the crude needed to ensure Argentina's “human and industrial development”.

• Tuesday, February 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina's agro-business contributes with 44% tax revenue

  Of every ten pesos of tax revenue collected by the Argentine Treasury, 4.4 pesos originate in the country's agro-business. Fiscal pressure on Argentina's primary production, (cereals, oil seed, meats) plus the industrialization process is in the range of 32%, ten points higher than for the rest of the economy, reports Buenos Aires daily La Nacion.

• Tuesday, February 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina announces building of second high speed train

  A second high speed train for Argentina was announced last week by President Cristiana Fernandez de Kirchner. Three consortia submitted bids to build the Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata high-speed link.

• Monday, February 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine mining exploration expanded 21% during 2007

  Mining exploration in Argentina expanded 21% in 2007 over 2006 with a record 600.000 meters drilled reported in Buenos Aires the Mines Secretariat. Looking back to 2003, exploration activity soared 265% and investments 748% reaching 1.7 billion US dollars.