Argentina. South America Queen

All the wonders converge to one point of encounter. The name is Latin "Argentum" means Silver... And that, define us. Claudia Luna 

CAPITAL CITY Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

SURFACE AREA

3.8 million of km2

(2.8 million Km2

 on the Antarctic continent 

and South Atlantic Islands)

MARITIME COASTLINES 4,725 km

POPULATION 40.1 million

POPULATION GROWTH 1.1% per year

LITERACY RATE 98%

LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH 76 years

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) PER CAPITA (PPP) US$ 17,660

CURRENCY Argentine Peso (AR$)

POLITICAL DIVISION 23 autonomous provinces and the 

Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

POLITICAL SYSTEM Republican, Representative and Federal

FISCAL YEAR January-December

MEASUREMENT SYSTEM Metric

TIME ZONE GMT -03:00

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE Spanish

PRESIDENT Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Located in the southernmost point of South America, Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world 

and the second largest in Latin America in terms of land area. Argentina covers 2.8 million Km2

, with an 

additional 969 thousand Km2

 on Antarctica. Argentina’s continental land extends 3,694 kilometers north to 

south (between latitudes 21º and 55º) and 1,423 kilometers from east to west (between longitudes 53º 

and 63º). 

The country has access to the South Atlantic Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean through the Magellan 

Straits. It borders Uruguay, Brazil and the Atlantic Ocean to the east; Chile to the south and west; and it 

shares its northern border with Bolivia and Paraguay. Its geographical location provides direct access to a 

regional population of 240 million, in addition to its own 40 million of inhabitants

Argentina is one of the world’s most richly endowed countries in natural resources, in terms of their 

great abundance and diversity. The vast expanse of extraordinary fertile agricultural lands, in particular the 

seemingly endless stretches of the Pampa Húmeda, covers a surface area of 170 million hectares, bolstering 

Argentina’s position among the world’s top food producers.

Abundant forest resources cover much of northeastern Argentina and western Patagonia. The mineral-rich 

Andes mountains contain mining deposits of gold, silver, zinc, copper, oil, magnate lithium, uranium and sulfur 

along its 4,500 kilometer expanse. Argentina is also endowed with extensive aquifers and oceans stretching 

along its 4,725 km of coastline and a network of rivers, streams and inland waterways. Both the Argentine 

Sea and the continental platform are rich in fishing and hydrocarbon resources. 

Argentina actively promotes sustainable development and protection of its natural resources; an example 

of these policies is its voluntary reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Argentina’s natural heritage draws visitors from all over the world. There are many highlights: Iguazú Falls, 

which plunges 80 meters in the midst of rainforests on the frontier with Brazil, is a vast horseshoe-shaped 

cataract of 260 unique waterfalls declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO and named one of the 

seven wonders by the Swiss foundation Seven Wonders. The Guaraní aquifer, shared by Argentina, Brazil, 

Paraguay and Uruguay, is one of the largest fresh water reserves in the world. Aconcagua at 6,959 meters 

is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere. Perito Moreno glacier, another UNESCO World Natural 

Heritage Site, is one of the most impressive of its kind in the world.

The Human Development Index (HDI) published by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) places 

Argentina among the countries in the high human development category. It ranks second in Latin America.

Argentina has a high rate of urbanization with 93% of the population living in metropolitan areas. The country´s 

main urban centers include Buenos Aires, Rosario, Mendoza, Córdoba, Tucumán, La Plata and Mar del Plata.

Main Urban Centers in Argentina

CITY (METROPOLITAN AREA) POPULATION (NUMBER OF INHABITANTS)

Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires 13,175,000

Córdoba 1,418,000

Rosario 1,272,000

Mendoza 912,000

Tucumán 822,000

La Plata 751,000

Mar del Plata 621,000

Salta 549,000

Spanish is Argentina’s official language. English is widely spoken. Argentine students consistently reflect one 

of the highest levels of English fluency on international exams in the region, according to the University of 

Cambridge. Portuguese, French and Italian are second and third languages for a large number of Argentines, 

and there is growing interest in other languages, including Arabic and Chinese.

The development of science and technology is also a public policy priority, reinforced by the creation of the 

Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation (MINCYT for its acronym in Spanish) in 2007 and 

by the increase in the levels of public investment in these areas.

Numerous prestigious institutions, companies and public and private universities dedicated to the development 

of science and technology have over 50 years of expertise and international renown. Some of the best known 

are the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET for its acronym in Spanish); the National 

Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA for its acronym in Spanish); INVAP, a company specializing in nuclear and 

space technology; the National Institute of Agricultural (INTA for its acronym in Spanish) and the National 

Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI for its acronym in Spanish); and the Leloir and Favaloro Institutes.

The country also boasts a roster of well-known scientists and researchers recognized by leading institutions 

around the world. Among them are the Nobel Prize Bernardo Houssay (Physiology and Medicine, 1974), Luis 

Leloir (Chemistry, 1970) and César Milstein (Physiology and Medicine, 1984). Argentina is the Latin American 

country with the highest number of Nobel prizes in sciences, ranking fourth among developing countries.

The Argentine Constitution as sanctioned in 1853 adopts a republican, representative and federal form of 

government.

The federal form of government establishes the division of powers between the national government and 

the provinces, guaranteeing their autonomy. In this system, the national or federal sovereign government 

with jurisdiction over the entire national territory coexists with local governments whose jurisdictions are 

limited to their own respective territories. 

Argentina is divided into 23 provinces and the City of Buenos Aires which has a special autonomous regime 

although it is not considered as a province. The provinces divide their respective territories into municipalities; 

some of them are also divided into districts.

Argentina is a democratic country and has enjoyed an uninterrupted period of institutional stability since 

1983

Foreign relations

Argentina is an open economy integrated into the world markets. It is one of the two countries representing 

South America at the G-20 and is a founding member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). It has been a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the 

World Bank since 1956 and has taken part in UN Peacekeeping Operations for over 35 years. Argentina is 

also an active member of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR for its acronym in Spanish) and of 

the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC for its acronym in Spanish).

Argentina is a full member of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR for its acronym in Spanish), a 

customs union formed with Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Associate member countries Chile and 

Bolivia grant MERCOSUR member countries preferential access to their markets. 

Infrastructure and communications

Argentina’s transport and communications infrastructure includes over 39,322 kilometers of national 

highways and 195,837 kilometers of provincial roads; one of the largest railway networks in the world 

(35,753 kilometers); 43 ports, seven of which are sea ports; and 53 airports, 21 of which are international. In 

addition, there are over 30 air carriers offering direct flights from Argentina to over 40 destinations, reaching 

every continent in the world. This well developed and extensive infrastructure ranks Argentina second in 

Latin America in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index.

The country has an advanced and highly competitive telecommunications system. The capital investments 

made in the industry are reflected in the extensive national and international digital networks. The density 

of fixed and mobile lines (168 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants) is the highest in Latin America. Internet 

penetration (67 users per 100 inhabitants) is increasing rapidly and stands well above the region’s average 

rate. Argentina places 13th in the world ranking of Internet penetration with over 11 million hosts. The City 

of Buenos Aires is recognized as the WiFi capital of Latin America, posting the highest concentration of 

wireless hotspots per inhabitant (more than in São Paulo, Mexico City and Santiago de Chile).

MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES IN ARGENTINA

Argentina has pursued a policy of openness towards foreign investments since its earliest stages of economic 

development, today reflected in the historically strong presence of international companies in the country. Some 

2,000 foreign subsidiaries are currently operating in Argentina with a total FDI stock of US$ 96.3 billion in 2011. 

In 2010, 324 of the top 500 largest non-financing companies in Argentina were overseas branches, employing 

over 462,000 people and with US$ 157 billion in sales. In that year, foreign-controlled companies represented 

81% of the gross added value and 83% of the profits produced by the 500 largest non-financial companies. 

The high levels of profitability (profits/sales) achieved by the major multinationals in Argentina are worth 

mentioning: 13% on average from 2008 to 2010. 

Multinationals are active in a wide range of sectors and industries, mostly operating with a long-term approach, 

as there are practically no industries off limits to foreign capital investments. Their presence is particularly 

strong in the energy, telecommunication, automotive and agro business sectors, among others. 

Join our A.I.H Association & Forum to be part of the benefits of doing business with Argentina´s mayor companies. 

Contact me 

Claudia Luna

CEO & Founder LA RED media group

Argentina's Investors Hub

Website http://www.laredmediagroup.com/

Mobile

Personal 00 54 9 381 155551960

cklo1290@hotmail.com - claudialunalared@gmail.com

Twitter. @luna1290

LinkedIn .- Claudia Luna

Skype.- Angelmoonfv