[NYTr] Venezuela and Argentina Deepen Industrial Integration

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Venezuelanalysis - July 31, 2007
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2368

Venezuela and Argentina Deepen Industrial Integration

By Chris Carlson

Mérida -- Delegations from Venezuela and Argentina met last week to
discuss new cooperative projects between the countries. With the
intention of creating authentic industrial development and technology
transfer, representatives from the Argentinean National Institute of
Technology (INTA) met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez last week
to converse about the construction of new factories in Venezuela for
the production of a variety of industrial goods.

A total of 56 projects of industrial development were discussed during
the meeting according to the president of INTA, Enrique Martinez. These
industrial projects seek to increase the economic relations between the
two nations and allow for the development of industry in Venezuela with
cooperation from Argentina. Among the many projects are 12 companies
that will be dedicated to the production of home furniture and
appliances for the Venezuelan market.

"We are going to work with factories that produce capital goods, food,
automotive components, among others," said Martinez upon leaving the
meeting. Martinez said the main objective of the cooperative projects
it to build "authentic technology transfer" and to go further than
simple commercial agreements.

"We are going to begin a new method of cooperation. That is the idea,
authentic cooperation in industrial technology transfer, more than
commercial agreements," he said.

"Initially we have planned the construction of 56 factories that will
meet the basic needs of the Venezuelan market. Twelve of these will
produce items for the home, but we are also planning productive
factories for food, auto parts, and auto bodies," explained Martinez.

The Argentinean Secretary of Commerce and Economic Relations, Alfredo
Chiaradia, commented that during the meeting the delegations also
discussed important bilateral issues such as plans for productive
integration, industrial and commercial cooperation.

"The agreements being made will allow for the installation of different
productive factories in Venezuela that will be run together with
Argentinean cooperation," said Chiaradia.

The governments of Argentina and Venezuela have signed previous
cooperative agreements for industrial development on recent occasions
as the two countries have looked to increase economic integration. The
meeting on Tuesday had the intention of following up on the progress of
projects being studied since last April and, for that reason, a
bi-national committee was created to map the progress of the projects
and set a time frame for their completion.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro explained that the meeting
was the conclusion of two days of discussing industrial and
technological development between Argentina and Venezuela. Maduro noted
that great advances had been made with respect to the issues of shared
technological development and the new model of South American
integration.

"We have exchanged thoughts on the new models of integration in South
America," he said.

Enrique Martinez finished by emphasizing that cooperation among the
southern countries is the true path to national development. He
recalled that before both Venezuela and Argentina were in the hands of
what he called "savage neoliberalism whose result is increased misery."

"Today our countries have very clear leadership: President Kirchner and
President Chavez, and a revitalized population with a very clear
development project and vision that our future is in South America," he
said.