Korea is Argentina’s second largest trade partner in Asia after China

The bilateral relations between Korea and Argentina continue to grow and expand and high-level officials keep maintain regular contact, including fruitful meetings between the representatives of both ministries of agriculture and quarantine agencies held in Seoul recently, which are expected to help the Korean authorities to proceed onto an eventual opening of the Korean market for the Argentine products, especially her beef, poultry and citric.
So said Ambassador Jorge J.A. Roballo of Argentina in Seoul at a reception he hosted at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul on May 22, 2015 in celebration of the 205th Anniversary of Independence and the 50th anniversary of Korean emigration to Argentina.

Then he said that Korea and Argentina are working closely in various other fields, such as education, environment, forest resources and science in order to achieve prosperity for the peoples of the two countries.
On the balance of trade between the two countries, Ambassador Roballo said, “The balance for trade between Korea and Argentina has been maintained over two billion dollars, despite fluctuations that happened normally in the international market.” Then he said, “As a result of the increasing commercial relations, Korea is today our second trade partner in Asia, after China.” (See excerpts from his speech at the end of this Article.)
There were many guests attending the reception from Korean society as well as from the international community, especially the Seoul Diplomatic Corps., who included, from the Korean government side Deputy Minister Kim Hyoung-zhin for Planning and Y Coordination at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Director-General Bahk Sang-hoon for Latin America and the Caribbean at MOFA.
From the international community came many distinguished guests, including foreign mission chiefs mostly accompanied by their spouses. Among them were Ambassadors Albino Malungo of Angola, Natallia Jhylevich of Belarus, Guadalupe Palomeque de Taboada of Bolivia, Petar Andonov of Bulgaria, Tito Saul Pinilla Pinilla of Colombia, Sylvestre Kouassi Bile of Cote d'Ivoire, Grecia Fiodalicia Pichardo of Dominican Republic, Oscar Gustavo Herrera Gilbert of Ecuador, Hany Moawad Selim Labib of Egypt, Carlos Victor Boungou of Gabon, Nikoloz Apkhazava of Georgia, Michel Idiaquez Baradat of Honduras, Gabor Csaba of Hungary, Dato Rohana binti Ramli of Malaysia, Torbjorn Holthe of Norway, Jaime Antonio Pomareda of Peru, Alexander Andreevich Tomonin of Russia, Myrat Mammetalyyev of Turkmenistan, Vasyl Marmazov of Ukraine, Dr. Alba Florio Legnani of Uruguay and Yadira Hidalgo de Ortiz of Venezuela (CDA).
There were a number of distinguishing features at the party and they included Tango Dance performances presented by Dancer Mauricio Cordoba and his partner, Ms. Ivana Fleitas, who greatly attracted the attention of the guests, both Koreans and international guests?as well as ambassadors and other members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Excerpts from the speech of Ambassador Roballo:
It is my great honor to address to you today on the occasion of the 205th anniversary of the “May Revolution” that --in 1810--gave birth to a great country, the Argentine Republic.
Indeed, it is an honor to rejoice at this gathering, as it marks the start of the independence movement not only in Argentina but also on the entire South America.
I wish to thank the Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Kim Hyoung-zhin, for accompanying us in representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We have come a long way after these last 200 years.
Today, we are very proud to tell the world that Argentina has become a genuine democracy, with all its political institution operative, preserving and defending our sovereignty, promoting social and economic development, while improving the quality of life of its citizen.
Argentina has a relevant role of the regional and international sphere. Not only it is a founding and active member of the “United Nations Organization” but also of the “MERCOSUR” (South American Common Market) and “UNASUR” (South American Nation’s Union), organizations that stand for hemispheric integration,
promoting and defending peace and democratic institutions and its values.
Regarding peace and stability in the region, the Argentine government admires the clear and bold perspective expressed by H.E. President Park Geun-hye on her commitment to the use of diplomacy in resolving aspects of great concern in the Korean peninsula and beyond.
Argentina is known as a firm promoter of the values of democracy and the importance of freedom, full respect to human rights, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It is not a coincidence that most of Latin-American countries have experienced positive economic developments and huge advance in social justice, while bolstering democracy.
In this regard, political parties in Argentina are now in the process of selecting their own candidates as general elections are scheduled to take place at the end of October this year and a new administration will take over on December, 10th 2015.
Argentina and the Republic of Korea have always maintained friendly bilateral relation and broad cooperation.
Diplomatic relations were established in 1962 and this year--2015--we are celebrating the “50th anniversary of the first Korean immigration to Argentina”.
This is a milestone event. I must say that during this last five decades, the Korean community in Argentina was a referent and a model of dedication to work, to peaceful integration and coexistence and for sharing its devotion to strong values such as family, solidarity and respect for each other.
The bilateral relations between our two countries continue to grow and expand. Our high level officials keep maintain regular contact. In that sense, I would like to point out the fruitful meetings between representatives of both ministries of agriculture and quarantine agencies held in Seoul recently, that--we expect--will help the Korean authorities to proceed onto an eventual opening of the Korean market for the Argentine products, especially our beef, poultry, citric, etc.

We are also working closely in various other fields, such as education, environment, forest resources, etc. As we share with Korea the views on the benefits of science and education in order to achieve prosperity for our citizens.
The balance for trade between Korea and Argentina has been maintained over two billion dollars, despite fluctuations that happened normally in the international market.
As a result of the increasing commercial relations, Korea is today our second trade partner in Asia, after China.
Argentina offers a wide range of profitable investment opportunities based on its qualified human assents and the abundance of its natural resources. Korean companies are aware of this and have shown an increasing interest in investing in the fields of infrastructure, renewable energy and mining. Posco is one great example, as they are planning to invest in the construction of an integrated plant for the extraction of lithium in the northern province of Jujuy.
I very much appreciate sharing this friendly reception with you, with the hope that our diplomatic, social, economic and commercial relations and our mutual cooperation and understanding will further increase in the years to come.
I deem it as a privilege to be the Argentine ambassador to this dynamic and energetic country in these exciting times. I wish and I hope to take Argentine-Korean relations into a new high during my tenure in Seoul.
Now, I invite you to enjoy the high quality of our white and red wines, provided generously by Korean importer companies like Shindong Wine, Keumyang International, Les Vins De Maeil, Winell and Fine Liquor Korea Co., who are always ready to cooperate in the promotion of our products in the Korean market. To them all my deep appreciation.

As a token of our friendship and good understanding and thanks to the collaboration and great support offered by the Buenos Aires Steak & Wine restaurant, the only argentine restaurant in Seoul, we will now introduce to you an internationally renowned tango dancers from Argentina who will delight us with a couple of Tangos.