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Prime Minister Sipilä and President of Argentina Macri met in Buenos Aires

Government Communications Department
Publication date 11.10.2016 23.48 | Published in English on 12.10.2016 at 13.35
Press release 432/2016

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä met the President of Argentina Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires on Tuesday 11 October. Sipilä is the first Finnish Prime Minister to visit Argentina.

During President Macri's term the relations between the two countries have become much closer, which both Prime Minister Sipilä and President Macri saw as a very postive development. This has also been reflected as visits of Argentinian ministers to Finland. The Heads of States noted that this marks a new start for the relationship between the countries.

On the discussion agenda the focus was on promoting and tightening trade cooperation. Argentina is very much interested in Finnish expertise in the education, forest, telecommunications and energy sectors. Prime Minister Sipilä drew attention to the achievements of President Macri's Government in opening Argentina to the world markets. This can also been seen in the growing interest in the country among the Finnish companies. The Heads of States noted that the dispute over the pulp factory between Argentina and Uruguay that made headlines for many years no longer influences the Finnish-Argentinian relations.

The aim of the visit was to deepen the relations between the two countries and examine new opportunities for cooperation, both between the governments and among private sector actors. The Government of Argentina is planning extensive infrastructure projects and there are reforms under way in various sectors of industry which may offer significant business opportunities for Finnish companies as well. Prime Minsiter Sipilä is accompanied by a Team Finland business delegation. 

Besides President Macri the Prime Minister's agenda included meetings with several ministers. During the day Prime Minister Sipilä met Minister of Energy and Mining José Aranguren, Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra, Minister of Education Esteban Bullrich, Minister of Communications Oscar Aguad and Minister of Defence Julio Martinéz.

From Argentina Prime Minister Sipilä continues his journey to Mexico.

Inquiries: Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 40 748 3867, Mari-Kaisa Brander, Head of Communications (Team Finland), tel. +358 40 468 3388, Prime Minister’s Office

English translation of the press release published on 12 October 2016.

Juha Sipilä Team Finland