“Without Death cow “It’s not possible, but with Vaca Muerta it’s not enough,” J said.Avier Martinez Alvarezinstitutional vice president of Techint Group during the opening of 24th Pro-SME Seminar The event organized by the group served to highlight the industry’s challenges in remaining competitive in the face of economic opening and impending legislative reforms.
The executive highlighted the macroeconomic changes that allow us to think of a “different” Argentina with agriculture, mining and energy as protagonists, but assured that “Vaca Muerta is not enough”.
In this sense, he highlighted Argentina’s natural resources, but assured that industrial development is “vital”. “A Argentina integrated into the world; How and with whom we integrate is absolutely crucial. an Argentina integrated as a value chain, learning from industrial development to the use of natural resources, and finally a socially developed Argentina,” he explained.
Under this premise of integration at local and international levels Joaquín Sánchez MariñoWar correspondent, gave an overview of the geopolitical situation and highlighted two factors: China’s expansion strategy and the increase in oil consumption.
Martínez Álvarez questioned the “excessive” closure of the Argentine economy before the arrival of Javier Milei and saw an opportunity to do so commercial development in the current context. At the same time, he pointed out the “false dichotomies” in the association with China, which “represents a state absolute primarization the economy without the possibility of major developments.”
On the other hand, the competition against the United States is for a Goods As with oil and gas, “there is even a complementarity,” he suggested, saying it is also the world’s largest importer of manufactured goods, which is closing to China, which is opening up Positioning option for Argentina.
However, he raised it central challenges: “As industrialists, invest, modernize, improve competitiveness,” he said, pointing out, with regard to the role of the state, that labor and tax reforms are absolutely “crucial” and there is a question of “timing.”
In keeping with the panorama of steel and aluminum, Martin BerardiManaging Director of Ternium Argentina, showed that China’s steel exports have grown over the past five years 132% from 54 to 132 million tonswhich is twice as much as what Latin America consumes.
“Today, 20% of the steel consumed in Latin America comes from China,” he said, assuring that primaryization is reflected not only in the trade balances of Argentina, but also of Mexico and Colombia.
Here he highlighted the changes to trade rules that the US had made and contrasted them with internal policies that reduce the cost of imports but maintain local taxes.
“We need to be competitive with China and the rest of the Eastern countries,” he said, emphasizing the need for an active industrial policy with tax and labor reforms.
“This has to be done, otherwise we are in danger Value chains “The fact that they provide great opportunities is just that and doesn’t create all the formal jobs that they should create,” he explained.
At the same time, he recognized that companies need to invest more, but pointed out that this was also the case with large companies RIGIwith benefits and financial relief and free financial flow “Even SMEs, the value chain, we all have to invest and adapt to the new Argentine reality.”
The most important reforms
Then in a panel with economists Esteban Domecq (Invecq Consultora); Matías Sur (Invecq Consultora) and Santiago Bulat discussed the challenge of accumulating reserves and the changes that the reforms that Congress will debate in 2026 could bring.
We would like to get to know you!
Register for free at El Cronista for an experience tailored to you.
About The Author
