VDMA supports the organization of a business initiation trip for German companies to Buenos Aires from 27th to 30th March 2017 as part of the market development program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).

With this business initiation event the VDMA aims to provide interested machinery manufacturing companies with a comprehensive overview of the business opportunities in the field of process technology in a short time. The fact-finding mission is targeted primarily at medium-sized companies.

During the five-day stay in Buenos Aires, the participating companies will obtain practical information on the Argentine market and business opportunities. Even before the start of the trip, the participants will be given industry-specific market information. Once in Argentina, industry experts will explain what kind of technology is currently in demand. At an introductory event German companies will give short presentations to potentially interested business partners. This event will be organized specially for experts of the Argentine process industries. Individual bilateral contacts with companies, administrative authorities and other decision-makers will be conducted. This will facilitate entering the market for German participants and will be the basis for cooperation with Argentine companies and their future investments.

Why is Argentina an interesting target market?

Argentina is the fifth-largest oil producer and the third-largest producer of gas in Latin America, with both conventional and non-conventional natural gas production. The shale oil and shale gas production has received considerable attention in recent months as the possible Argentine production volumes could begin to compete with the USA in the near future. Forecasts say that the production of oil from shale rock could be the solution to make Argentina energy self-sufficient. Many of the big companies have already been attracted by investment agreements.

A particular locational advantage of Argentina is the fact that the technology of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has been in use for many years, which gives the companies a great deal of experience with the process of hydraulic stimulation.

90 billion US$ investment

There is also a great demand for investment in the chemical and petrochemical industries, as well as in energy and water management. At a major investment conference in September, the new Macri government announced upcoming investments of US$ 90 billion in these industries alone in the coming years.

This initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) on the basis of a decision of the German Parliament and is part of the ministry's market initiation program for SMEs. A list of further projects of the program can be accessed at www.ixpos.de/markterschliessung.

Ragnar Strauch, Oil Gas Petrochemistry Technology expert at VDMA, will be pleased to provide you with further information on this business development project on the website of the association (https://vtma.vdma.org/messen ). Registration for the initiative is possible until December 31, 2016.