<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Government of the Province of Córdoba (Argentina), through the ProCórdoba Agency and the Córdoba Tourism Agency, and in collaboration with the Embassy of Argentina in Spain, has celebrated Córdoba Day in Madrid, with the aim of highlighting the potential of the region and its investment opportunities for companies, investors and governments interested in accessing this strategic market and generating exports.</strong></h4> The delegation from Córdoba was headed by Myrian Prunotto, Vice Governor of the Province of Córdoba; Guillermo Acosta, Minister of Economy and Public Management of the Province of Córdoba; Pablo De Chiara, President of the ProCórdoba Agency; and Darío Capitani, President of the Córdoba Tourism Agency. The meeting was attended by more than a hundred people, including businessmen and representatives of various Spanish administrations. Through various presentations, meetings and cultural activities, an attempt has been made to promote exchange, links and commercial and institutional relations between both regions. The meeting highlighted that Córdoba, located in the center of Argentina, has a strategic location in the connections between the different regions of the country and also in the context of MERCOSUR. It is the second district with the largest population, and its contribution to the national GDP is 8.5%. It has a diversified productive matrix that ranges from its leadership in the agricultural sector (it is the largest exporter of peanuts and chickpeas in Argentina, and if it were a country, it would be the eighth largest producer of corn in the world) to its outstanding technological and renewable energy ecosystem. “Córdoba combines one of the most productive lands in the world with industry, economy, knowledge, universities and also with tourist and cultural attractions, which positions us as a place with enormous potential to connect with the world,” said Pablo De Chiara, president of the ProCórdoba Agency. “In terms of production, we are one of the main food producers in Argentina, we have a very strong metalworking industry, we lead the activities linked to the Knowledge Economy and we are the first domestic tourist destination, combining services with the wonderful natural environment of our province,” he added. With regard to sustainability, the province is home to the first green industrial park in the country, an example of how economic development can also be sustainable. In addition, Córdoba is the province with the largest volume of Community Distributed Generation energy, that is, with more energy generating users and installed power, concentrating almost half of the total facilities in the country. It also has the first service station dispensing biofuels in Argentina. The Knowledge Economy, understood as the generation and application of knowledge and technologies for the creation and transformation of products and/or services with high added value, is one of the most consolidated sectors in Córdoba. The province is the second largest software producer in the country, with more than 115 companies in this sector, and has a solid entrepreneurial ecosystem made up of more than 400 startups and a whole series of institutions that provide them with support and investment. All of this makes the province a focus of attraction for investors interested in innovation. It was also highlighted that Córdoba is one of the main exporting provinces in Argentina. Its products, ranging from certified foods (such as the first sustainable corn in the country) to biofuels (it is the largest producer of bioethanol and has seven biodiesel plants), reach 14 countries, with Brazil, China, Vietnam and India among the main markets. On the other hand, its management model, which promotes public-private and scientific-academic collaboration, has strengthened its business ecosystem and facilitates progress towards sustainable development. When it comes to tourism, Córdoba is the main destination in central Argentina: between December 2022 and June 2023, more than 6.5 million tourists visited the province. It is known for its natural spaces (it contains three national parks and five nature reserves with unique biodiversity), which are combined with a valuable cultural, historical and religious heritage, and with cultural, sporting and entertainment events. And in business tourism, its position is also dominant in the interior of the country.
