R 151353Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2686
INFO AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001692
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SCUL ECON AR
SUBJECT: Ambassador visits Rosario - praises roles of BNC, U.S.
firms, and NGOs
1. SUMMARY: Ambassador Wayne visited the city of Rosario to attend
the 65th anniversary of the binational center ARICANA and the
opening of the 28th Annual Meeting of Argentine-American Binational
Centers in Rosario in late October. He also visited the John Deere
tractor factory and met with a youth leadership NGO. END SUMMARY
2. Ambassador Wayne visited the Argentina's Agricultural capital,
Rosario, October 22-23 to attend the 65th anniversary of the
binational center ARICANA and the opening of the 28th Annual Meeting
of Argentine-American Binational Centers in Rosario. The meeting
gathered representatives of 16 Argentine-American binational centers
from across the country to share experiences and challenges in the
daily work they carry out to enhance mutual understanding between
countries through English language teaching and cultural exchange.
The Ambassador praised the work of ARICANA and the other binational
centers in English teaching, student advising, library services, and
culture. He told the BNC leaders that the Embassy is working to
enhance its relationships with the BNCs through program support and
visits. He attended a gala concert with the Mayor of Rosario and
hundreds of BNC leaders, graduates, and supporters. The DCM gave a
keynote address later in the meeting and attended the closing gala
dinner, which included participation by the Governor of Santa Fe
Province, Hermes Binner.
3. The Ambassador spoke informally with the Mayor of Rosario,
Roberto Miguel Lifschitz, during the BNC's anniversary musical show.
Lifschitz highlighted the work of his administration and community
leaders to build commercial and educational ties with the State of
California.
4. The Ambassador also had the opportunity to visit the campus of
U.S. firm John Deere in Rosario. The plant manufactures engines for
tractors and combines produced at a sister plant in Brazil and
serves as the finishing and distribution center for Deere products
in Argentina. Deere dominates the Argentine market for agricultural
tractors and combines. Executives charted the very successful
recovery of Deere's sales since the 2001 crisis, and its very high
popular standing in the country but anticipated hard times ahead due
to the decline in commodity prices and the limited availability of
credit globally. The Ambassador met with the plant's union leaders,
who appeared to have a generally positive relationship with
management. In remarks released to the press, Ambassador cited this
relationship as one of the reasons Deere tops polls as the most
admired firm in the agricultural sector in Argentina.
5. Later during his visit, Ambassador Wayne met with 20-30 young
leaders of Fundacisn Nueva Generacisn, a local NGO devoted to
community service projects. The foundation selects young leaders
(ages 18-25) and trains and works with them to develop community
service projects. Embassy plans to deepen cooperation with this
active and impressive NGO.
6. PRESS: Ambassador's visit received heavy coverage in local
media. Both major television stations broadcast interviews with the
Ambassador and DCM enabling them to make points about the then U.S.
upcoming elections and the G-20 meeting and U.S.-Argentine
relations.
7. THANKS AND REGARDS.
WAYNE