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Argentina

General Information & Brief Economic Summary

Standards

US Contacts in Argentina

Argentine Government Contacts

Trade Associations and Other Key Contacts

Trade Event Schedule

 

General Information & Brief Economic Summary

Argentina's exports have more than doubled from about $12 billion in 1992 to $25 billion in 2000. Imports also grew rapidly during the same period, rising from $15 billion to over $25 billion. Foreign trade now equals approximately 18 percent of GDP - up from 11 percent in 1990 - and plays an increasingly important role in Argentina's economic development. Still, exports represent only 10 percent of Argentine GDP, only slightly larger than 1990.

In 1995, Mercosur, a customs union that integrates Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, was established. Chile and Bolivia are associate members of Mercosur. The Andean countries, Mexico, Canada and the European Union are negotiating Mercosur association arrangements. At the same time, Mercosur members are participating as one entity in negotiations leading to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

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Standards

The Argentine Standards Institute (Instituto Argentino de Normalizacion - IRAM) is the official national standards development body for the Republic of Argentin and the Argentine Accreditation Organization (Organismo Argention de Acreditaticion - OAA) is the accreditation body. No other organizations fulfill these functions in Argentina. While many IRAM standards are compatible with U.S. standards, many others are patterned after requirements of various European countries. In Argentina, most standards are voluntary. The buyer and seller share responsibility in determining what product standard is applicable. Products conforming to U.S. standards may, or may not be acceptable. Reflecting long-standing tradition and practice, products that meet European requirements are often preferred.

IRAM, Instituto Argentino de Normalizacion Peru 552/556 (C1068AAB) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone: (54-11) 4381-4424/4576   Fax: (54-11) 4383-8463
Email: iram4@sminter.com.ar   Web Site: http://www.iram.com.ar
Contact: Ing. Jose Francisco Lopez. Director General
Argentine Standards Institute

AMN. Asociacion MERCOSUR de Normalizacion
Av. Mario de Andrade 664
01154-060 Sao Paulo - SP (Brazil)
Phone: (55-11) 823-9846/42   Fax: (55-11) 823-9689
Email: secretaria@cmn.org.br    Web Site: http://amn.org.br
MERCOSUR Standards Association

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US Contacts in Argentina

U.S. EMBASSY IN ARGENTINA
Av. Colombia 4300 (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 5777-4533
http://usembassy.state.gov/buenosaires

U.S. Department of State
Hon. Lino Gutierrez, Ambassador
Hugo Llorens, Deputy Chief of Mission
Perry Ball, Counselor for Economic Affairs
Michael A. Matera, Counselor for Political Affairs
Gregory T. Frost, Consul. General
Mark B. Krischik, Counselor for Public Affairs
U.S. Embassy, Buenos Aires
3130 Buenos Aires Pl.
Washington, DC 20521-3130

U.S. Department of Commerce
James M. Wilson, Counselor for Commercial Affairs
Camille Richardson, Commercial Attache
Keith L. Silver, Commercial Attache
U.S. Commercial Service
U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires
3130 Buenos Aires Pl.
Washington, DC 20521-3130
Phone: (54-11) 5777-4753
Fax: (54-11) 5777-4203
Email: Buenos.Aires.Office.Box@mail.doc.gov
www.buyusa.gov/argentina/en

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Argentine Government Contacts

MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA
(Ministry of Economy and Production)
Dr. Roberto Lavagna, Minister
Hipolito Yrigoyen 250, Piso 5, Of. 550
C1086AAB Buenos Aires
Switchboard (54-11) 4349-5000
Tel: (54-11) 4349-8801
Fax: (54-11) 4349-8815
Internet: http://www.mecon.gov.ar
Email: SecPriv@mecon.gov.ar

SECRETARIA DE POLITICA ECONOMICA
(Secretariat of Economic Policy)
Doc. Oscar Tangelson, Secretary
Hipolito Yrigoyen 250, Piso 5, Of. 526
C1086AAB Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4349-5762/5760/5770
Fax: (54-11) 4349-5763
Internet: http://www.mecon.gov.ar/prgmacri.htm
Email: PinSau@mecon.gov.ar

SECRETARIA DE INDUSTRIA
(Secretariat of Industry Commerce and SME's)
Lic. Alberto Juan Dumont, Secretary
Av. Julio A. Roca 651, Piso 2, Of. 204/206
C1067ABB Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4349-3407/08
Fax: (54-11) 4349-3477
Internet: http://www.mecon.gov.ar
Email: privadasicyp@mecon.gov.ar

SUBSECRETARIA DE COMERCIO
(Secretariat of Trade and International Economic Affairs)
Amb. Martin Redrado, Secretary
Esmeralda 1212, Piso 8
C1007ABP Buenos Aires
Tel: (54-11) 4819-7227/7001/7109
Fax: (54-11) 4819-7226
Email: mtd@mrecic.gov.ar
Internet: http://www.cancilleria.gov.ar

MINISTERIO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES,
COMERCIO INTERNACIONAL Y CULTO
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship)
Dr. Rafael Antonio Bielsa, Minister
Esmeralda 1212, Piso 13
C1007ABP Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4819-7317
Switchboard: (54-11) 4310-8100
Internet: http://www.cancilleria.gov.ar and www.mrecic.gov.ar
Email: btc@mrecic.gov.ar

SECRETARIA DE COMERCIO, RELACIONES ECONOMICAS
INTERNACIONALES Y ASUNTOS CONSULARES
(Secretariat of Trade, International Economic Relations and Consular Affairs)
Amb. Martin Redrado, Secretary
Esmeralda 1212, Piso 8
C1007ABP Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4819-7227
Fax: (54-11) 4819-7226
Email: mtd@mrecic.gov.ar
Internet: http://www.cancilleria.gov.ar

DIRECCION GENERAL DE ADUANAS (DGA)
(Customs Bureau)
Lic. Jose Alberto Sbattella, Director General
(Administracion Federal de Ingresos Publicos - AFIP)
Azopardo 350
C1107ADD Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4338-6400/6640/6641/6642
Fax: (54-11) 4338-6644
Email: dga.privada@afip.gov.ar
Internet: http://www.afip.gov.ar/

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Trade Associations & Other Contacts

CAMARA ARGENTINA DE COMERCIO
(Argentine Chamber of Commerce)
Mr. Carlos Raul De la Vega, President
Av. Leandro .N. Alem 36
C1003AAN Buenos Aires
Tel: (54-11) 5300-9000
Fax: (54-11) 5300-9059
Email: cac@cac.com.ar
Internet: http://www.cac.com.ar

CAMARA DE COMERCIO DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EN ARGENTINA
(American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina)
Mauricio Wior, President
Dr. Felix Zumelzu, Executive Director
Viamonte 1133, Piso 8
1053ABW Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4371-4500
Fax: (54-11) 4371-8400
Email: amcham@amchamar.com.ar
Internet: http://www.amchamar.com.ar

UNION INDUSTRIAL ARGENTINA
(Argentine Industry Association)
Dr. Jose Ignacio de Mendiguren, President
Av. Leandro N. Alem 1067, Pisos 10 y 11
C1001AAF Buenos Aires
Tel: (54-11) 4313-2561/2611
Fax: (54-11) 4313-2413
Email: uia@oct.net.ar
Internet: http://uia.org.ar

CAMARA DE IMPORTADORES DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA
(Argentine Chamber of Importers)
Mr. Diego Perez Santisteban, President
Av. Belgrano 427, Piso 7
C1092AAE Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4342-1101/0523
Fax: (54-11) 4345-3003
Email: cira@cira.org.ar & gg@cira.org.ar
Internet: www.cira.org.ar

ASOCIACION DE IMPORTADORES Y EXPORTADORES DE LA REPUBLICA
ARGENTINA (AIERA)
(Association of Argentine Importers and Exporters)
Mr. Hector Marcelo Vidal, President
Av. Belgrano 124, piso 1
C1092AAO Buenos Aires
Tel: (54-11) 4342-0010
Fax: (54-11) 4342-1312
Email: aiera@aiera.org.ar
Internet: http://www.aiera.org.ar

CAMARA DE COMERCIO EXTERIOR DE CORDOBA
(Chamber of Foreign Trade of Cordoba)
Mr. Ercole Jose Felippa, President
Rosario De Santa Fe 231, Piso 4, Of. 9
5000 Cordoba
Phone: (54-351) 421-4804/2715
Fax: (54-351) 4243-3869
Email: cacec@cacec.comar & gerencia@cacec.com.ar
Internet: http://www.cacec.com.ar

GENERAL INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
Alvaro Mendez
Tel: (54-11) 5777-4419

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Trade Event Schedule

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*This guide is not a complete list of trade associations or publications. We welcome any additions to this document. The Material Handling Industry does not assume a legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information contained herein. The listing of information here does not reflect an endorsement of any of the particular information by the Material Handling Industry.