Doing Business In Argentina

total project costs for new ventures to up to 75 percent for expansions of existing
operations with maturities of five to twelve years (and in some cases longer).
Contact: Internet: www.opic.gov. Information officer: (202) 336-8799, Fax: (202) 408-
5155. There is an automated information service via a fax retrieval line: (202) 336-8700.
U.S. Trade and Development Agency
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) has invested nearly US$7 million in
Argentina for feasibility studies and other activities that support infrastructure
development and modernization projects. Companies should consult the TDA web site
at www.tda.gov or call TDA for more information (703) 875-4357. The following are
some projects with TDA involvement:
Scanner Technology for Customs Inspections: A Grant to the National Customs
Administration to finance studies leading to the implementation of non-intrusive
inspections of containers and trucks at frontier posts to fight contraband.
Oil Patch Technologies: Two separate Grants to Tecpetrol and PeCom Energia to
partially finance feasibility studies for the implementation of high-tech reservoir
development and management practices.
Andean Highway Passes project: US$695,400 grant through the Inter-American
Development Bank Evergreen Fund for a feasibility study on the Andean Highway
Passes project to be carried out by Argentina's National Directorate of Roads.
ITS Architecture Project: US$315,000 Grant to OCRABA (Agency for Control of Access
Roads to Buenos Aires) to study the feasibility of an Intelligent Transport System on the
main highways and toll roads into Buenos Aires.
TDA also helps develop enhanced opportunities for U.S. companies in infrastructure
development projects in Argentina by inviting Argentine officials in charge of the projects
to visit the U.S. on orientation visits to meet with potential U.S. bidders. Examples of
such Orientation Visits paid by TDA include:
· Neuquen Mining-Industrial Projects in October/November 2001. A delegation of
Neuquen Province officials visited several mining operations and held one-on-one
meetings with U.S. counterparts during a visit to Utah. Promoting the development of
several non-metallic mineral deposits and processing plants was the main objective of
the visit.
· Vessel traffic System (VTS) in June of 1999. The delegation, including the
Argentine Government's Under Secretary for Ports and Waterways, presented plans for
an integrated vessel management system in the port of Buenos Aires, in Hidrovia on the
Parana River, and in Riovia on the Uruguay River. Potential U.S. exports are estimated
at US$40 million.
· Air Space Control System. TDA offered to train air traffic controllers at FAA
facilities if a project to modernize the national radar system favors a U.S. supplier.
· Airport Privatization. Following the privatization of 33 airports, TDA financed four
studies by specialized consultants to assist the Airport Regulatory Agency in defining its
internal structure and its role in the management of 25 airports that remain under
3/4/2008