I. Argentina is traditionally recognized as a country with significant natural resources. However, it is also important to highlight its highly skilled workforce and its well-established industrial and technological base.
The global value chains that shaped the world trading system in recent decades have been challenged by the evidence that unexpected health crises and geopolitical conflicts have structurally impacted their operations.
In this context, given its availability of fundamental resources, Argentina is bound to play a decisive role for addressing global challenges related to both food and energy security, driving the development of its society in so doing.
Based on its natural resources and the human capacity for their transformation, Argentina can increase and strengthen its integration into global value chains. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a key role in this process, for the exploitation of natural resources but also contributing to the development of local productive capacities and value-added linkages that generate sufficient quantity and quality of employment to guarantee sustained growth.
Argentina has a vast territory, 53% of which is arable land, and is a leading exporter of a wide variety of agricultural and food products to highly competitive markets such as the United States, Canada, Europe, China, and Japan. It also has significant mining and hydrocarbon areas with impressive growth potential. Furthermore, Argentina boasts a robust industrial base, with developments in highly complex and dynamic sectors, such as steel pipe manufacturing, agricultural machinery, medical equipment, biotechnology, the automotive industry, and knowledge-based services, among others.
In addition, Argentina possesses a highly qualified human resource, an extensive network of scientific research centers and universities well-positioned in international rankings, with more than 110,000 university graduates per year. It also ranks first in Latin America in English proficiency.
Likewise, Argentina offers a vast infrastructure that enables a federal production network, with ports and points of entry and exit for goods in various locations throughout the country.
II. From the very beginning of the current administration, a path was set in motion to create favorable conditions for attracting and facilitating investments that would boost Argentine economic growth. This commitment was formalized through Decree 70 of December 2023, which aimed to eliminate trade barriers and restrictions, reduce the burden of regulations, and establish conditions that would reassure business profitability.
President Milei's economic program is based on a pro-market agenda, which has succeeded in stabilizing the exchange market, lowering inflation, guaranteeing legal security for investors, creating a climate favorable to private enterprise, and promoting transparent and predictable rules for companies that decide to invest in Argentina.
This direction was reaffirmed and expanded, with a special emphasis on stimulating investments in dynamic and strategic sectors that drive the national economy, by establishing the "Incentive Regime for Large Investments" (RIGI), approved by the National Congress through the enactment of Law No. 27,742, in July 2024, and regulated by Decree No. 749, in August 2024.
This Regime, in effect until July of this year and extendable for one more year (until July 8, 2027), is aimed at projects involving investments exceeding US$200 million. Its objective is to create conditions of predictability, stability, and legal certainty for such projects, fostering the development of local production chains and establishing special protection against potential government defaults. Thus, the RIGI provides tax, customs, exchange, regulatory, and jurisdictional incentives, as well as regulatory stability for thirty years, to projects in eight strategic sectors: forestry, tourism, infrastructure, mining, technology, steel, energy, and oil and gas. The benefits provided by the RIGI are increased and extended to 40 years for projects involving investments exceeding US$2 billion.
III. With the aim of attracting productive and high-quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Argentina, the Argentine Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- Work with Argentine companies and startups;
- Assist foreign investors seeking opportunities in Argentina;
- Organize investment seminars and meetings with senior executives;
- Coordinate agendas for their business visits to Argentina.
- Disseminate information regarding:
i) Expressions of interest in investing in Argentina received by our Embassy;
ii) National, provincial, and municipal incentives to attract investment to Argentina;
iii) The current situation, relevant stakeholders, and dynamics affecting the region and the country in terms of FDI.
- Assist provinces, municipalities, and sectoral chambers of commerce in formulating their investment attraction strategies.