December 6th, 2024
1. Javier Milei participates in CPAC Summit
At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)’s summit at the Hilton Hotel in Buenos Aires, President Javier Milei called for cultural battle, because without defending ideas, “no matter how good we are in management, or how good we are politically, we are not going to get anywhere.” He also highlighted that “new winds of freedom are blowing and we are facing a historic opportunity to start changing the world.” Likewise, the president said he values the “fundamental role” of CPAC as “guardians of the ideas” of freedom, a space that “will help us to coordinate internationally so that the lefties do not enter us from any side,” as it happened in the past when “they managed to impose the agenda of political correctness.”
Secretaría de Prensa: Javier Milei en la CPAC: “Es necesario dar la batalla cultural; estamos ante una oportunidad histórica para cambiar el mundo”
2. Executive branch carries out 1st Artificial Intelligence Week
Throughout this week, the Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology held the first Artificial Intelligence Week, a series of meetings, talks, and gatherings that brought together experts, researchers, students, professionals, and AI enthusiasts to explore the impact, applications, and future of this technology in our society. The event, held in-person during the first two days in the Cultural Center of Science and virtually for the remaining panels, featured the participation of President Javier Milei, important members of his cabinet in AI matters, and the participation of tech companies with significant presence in the country such as Salesforce, Microsoft, Globant, Cisco, Google, Meta, AWS, among others. This is one of the efforts by the Executive Branch to promote a national AI strategy.
Argentina.gob.ar: Se realiza la 1.ª edición de la Semana de la Inteligencia Artificial
3. Government announces it will call for extraordinary sessions
Through Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni, the National Government announced that extraordinary sessions of the Congress will be called from December 5 to 27. However, this measure has not yet been confirmed through the Official Gazette. As anticipated, Deputies and Senators would be authorized to deal with six issues: electoral and political reform, among them, the elimination of the PASO; changes to the party financing regime, introduced two weeks ago by the Chamber of Deputies; trial in absentia, to give a procedural framework to the AMIA case (a project that had a unanimous committee opinion in the Lower House); the Anti-Mafia Law (which only needs to pass through the Senate to become a law); authorization for the President to be absent from the country when governmental reasons so require (a law that in 2024 could not be approved, and was resolved by DNU); and reform of the Law on Privileges.
4. Government announces changes in the Ministry of Economy
Through a series of posts in the social network X, the Minister of Economy of the Nation, Luis Caputo, announced a series of changes in high-ranking officials of the economic portfolio. On the one hand, Juan Pazo, until now Secretary of Production Coordination, will move to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship to become the new Secretary of International Economic Relations of Gerardo Werthein’s new Foreign Ministry. On the other hand, Pazo’s replacement will be Pablo Lavigne, who will leave his position as Secretary of Industry and Commerce to Esteban Marzorati, currently Undersecretary of Foreign Trade.
La Nación: Cambios en Economía: Juan Pazo se va a Cancillería y asume un nuevo secretario de Comercio
5. YPF joins Pan American Energy’s LNG project
YPF joins as a minority partner (15%) in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project led by Pan American Energy (PAE). The project contemplates the installation of a floating liquefaction plant in Golfo San Matías, Río Negro. Using natural gas from Vaca Muerta, it seeks to export 11.5 million cubic meters per day, with an initial impact of up to US$800 million in annual revenues. In its first stage, the project will use the vessel “Hilli Episeyo,” which will liquefy gas taking advantage of the existing infrastructure during the months of lower demand. The initial investment amounts to US$2.9 billion and could reach US$7 billion in its lifetime, with a view to expand through a dedicated 600-kilometer pipeline from Vaca Muerta. This strategic development would generate more than 1,400 direct and indirect jobs and seeks to position Argentina as a key player in the global LNG market, especially in Asia, with destinations such as India, Korea and Japan.
Ámbito Financiero: YPF firma mañana su incorporación al proyecto de GNL de PAE