Argentina News Roundup: 22nd April 2014

President Launches ‘Pampa Azul’ Maritime Study Programme: President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner yesterday announced a new ten-year scientific plan to study the seas off Argentina’s coastline. The programme, called ‘Pampa Azul’ (Blue Pampas), will explore five key maritime areas to increase understanding of natural resources, and how they can be managed in a sustainable manner. “This is the first strategic project of the continental sea,” said President Fernández, adding that before it was only seen “for fishing or for the beach.” The five areas to be surveyed include the Río de la Plata estuary and maritime areas around the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. Minister of Science, Technology, and Productive Innovation Dr. Lino Barañao said the initiative would “promote technological innovations for the sustainable exploitation of natural resources, and the development of industries related to the sea.” The minister added that information and a scientific presence would “support the country’s sovereignty in the South Atlantic.”

At the same conference last night, President Fernández also announced that the government would send a bill to Congress to remove taxes for biodiesel for as long as EU restrictions on Argentine imports of biodiesel remain in place. “We are in a real trade war,” said the president. “Our institutional obligation is to help and protect those with difficulties.”

Six Airport Baggage Handlers Arrested for Theft: Federal Judge Ariel Lijo ordered the arrest of six baggage handlers at the Jorge Newberry airport in Buenos Aires as part of an investigation into the theft of personal belongings. The six people work for Aerohandling, which is contracted to provide baggage handling services for Aerolíneas Argentinas. As part of the investigation, police also conducted searches of the suspects’ houses. The president of Aerolíneas, Mariano Recalde, said today that it was he who had reported the theft of belongings from suitcases to the judiciary last year. “We reported it quietly last year, the courts took it on, and after excellent work, was able to move the investigation forward and obtain important results,” explained Recalde in a press conference. “I want to leave to one side the vast majority of workers and baggage handlers at the company who work honestly every day.”

Economic Activity Up 1.3% in February: Statistics agency INDEC today reported that national economic activity in February was 1.3% higher than in the same month a year earlier. INDEC’s monthly estimate of activity – considered a proxy for economic growth, which is reported on a quarterly basis – showed no change from the level recorded in January, marking a slowdown compared to last year. According to economy minister Axel Kicillof, the Argentine economy expanded by a preliminary 3% in 2013, below the initial INDEC estimate of 4.9% after the statistical base year from which growth rates are calculated was updated from 1993 to 2004.

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