The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia
Media Release
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR TRADE
12 June, 1996
AUSTRALIA-ARGENTINA LINKS REINFORCED
The cooperative relationship between Australia and Argentina had reached
a new peak, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Tim Fischer,
said after a successful visit to Buenos Aires. "The cooperation between
our two countries developed as a result of our joint membership of the Cairns
Group, and has broadened during the Uruguay Round," Mr Fischer said.
"The result is that we now have a strong and growing dialogue and partnership
across a range of issues, and one which I am confident can be further enhanced.
"One sign of this is that while in Argentina I signed a mutual cooperation
agreement between Austrade and Argentina's Exportar, which will facilitate
cooperation between our countries' export promotion agencies. "In particular,
I think the newly-initiated dialogue between Australia and New Zealand under
CER, and the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay)
will open up new areas where Australia and Argentina can work together."
The first high-level meeting of the CER and Mercosur groups, in Auckland
in April, produced agreement on a work program covering customs facilitation,
recognition of standards and professional qualifications, and the promotion
of investment flows.
Mr Fischer said a key objective of his visit to Argentina was to promote
expanded commercial links. An excellent example of these links was in the
mining sector, where MIM Holdings Ltd and North Ltd had interests in Argentina's
first world-scale mining project, the massive Alumbrera copper-gold development.
He noted that Australian investment in Argentina is estimated at $2 billion,
adding that there were good prospects for this investment to generate increased
trade flows.
Mr Fischer held meetings with key Argentine Ministers including Acting President
Dr Carlos Ruckauf, Chief of Cabinet Jorge Rodriguez, Acting Foreign Minister
Fernando Petrella, and Acting Economy Minister Juan Llach. "During
these especially good meetings I highlighted Australia's capabilities in
mining, agribusiness, telecommunications and infrastructure development,"
Mr Fischer said. "I reinforced the message that the Australian Government
is keen to support its exporters and investors to perform better in these
areas of the Argentine economy," he said.
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