Despite the global trade crisis and a decline in trade between Russia and Argentina, there are still prospects for intensified cooperation between the two countries. Russian Trade Representative Vitaly Kondratenko told RIA Novosti that there are good prospects for expanding economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of hydropower and lithium mining. Kondratenko said, “We have very good prospects for developing mutually beneficial economic cooperation. The main areas are renewable energy, hydropower, mining, I mean the extraction of rare earths. Lithium is very interesting to Russian companies.”
According to the trade representative, there are also good opportunities for cooperation in the field of agricultural machinery. “There are prospects, but everything depends on the willingness of our companies” he noted. “Despite some difficulties with transport and logistics chains, the economy is looking for ways to bring them closer together.”
At the recent talks between the Russian and Argentine sides in Buenos Aires, the prospect of expanding trade in local currencies was mentioned as one of the possible mechanisms for increased partnership, which was supported by Marcela Pagano, a member of the ruling coalition “La Libertad Avanza” who was present at the meeting.