05/08/2008
Technical training takes precedence in bilateral agreements between Venezuela and Argentina

(Presidential Press Office) - The governments of Venezuela and Argentina entered into four training and agricultural agreements during President Hugo Chávez’s visit to Argentina.

The first one is a comprehensive cooperation agreement signed by the Venezuelan Light Industries and Trade Ministry and the Argentinean National Institute for Industrial Technology (INTI, Spanish acronym), according to which the latter will provide advice, training, technical assistance and specialized service to Venezuela’s Autonomous Service of Standards, Quality and Technical Regulations.   

Another agreement signed by the Venezuelan Autonomous Agrarian Corporation and the Argentinean Chamber of Manufacturers of Farming Machinery provides for the purchase of machinery.

The third agreement was signed by Venezuela’s Ministry of People’s Power for Agriculture and Lands and the Division of Agriculture, Fishing and Food of the Argentinean Ministry of Economy and Production. This instrument will be implemented by the Venezuelan Foundation for Training and Innovation to support the agricultural revolution in Venezuela (CIARA, Spanish acronym). Under this agreement, “mechanisms to train the personnel of industrialisation projects undertaken by Argentina and Venezuela.”

Furthermore, an industrial development cooperation agenda was agreed to by the National Institute for Socialist Education and Training (INCES, Spanish acronym) and Argentina’s INTI to implement a work plan and strengthen the possible areas for cooperation between the parties.

The Venezuelan president also proposed the creation of a bilateral investment fund. “It would be a powerful motor. We would be willing to create this fund before the end of this year to address joint projects.”

President Chávez said that the Argentinean Planning Minister Julio De Vido will travel to Caracas soon in order to review the progress of the on-going cooperation plans.

“We are determined to industrialise Venezuela; and I know you are determined to re-launch the great industrialization process undertaken by Argentina in the mid 20th century. Such process collapsed during – as the Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa says – the “long neoliberal night”,” he said.

The President of Argentinean Institute for Industrial Technology (INTI) Enrique Martinez said this organization is focused on the training of staff based on the intensive and extensive use of the capability available in Venezuelan territory. “INTI works jointly with various INCES offices, conveniently located close to the factories that will be opened,” he added. 

“In about two weeks time, we will start by identifying together with INCES directly on the ground what type of training INCES has in place now. The idea is that INCES provides all the training possibilities available. Argentina and the suppliers of equipment will provide the rest of the training missing.”

 “In about two weeks time, we will begin to identify directly on the ground what type of training they can provide and provide it first to Venezuelans, so that the rest could be provided by Argentina and the equipment suppliers,” said Enrique Martinez.

The agreements between the Venezuelan Head of State, representatives of INTI and businesspersons of the agriculture and livestock sector took place in the San Martin Palace, ceremonial venue of the Argentinean Foreign Ministry.