Overview

From October 21 to 30, 2024, the Government of Alberta is leading a trade mission to Argentina to enhance trade relationships in the region during the Oil and Gas Patagonia Expo and through events in Neuquén and Buenos Aires.

The Alberta opportunity

With some of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves and the lowest taxes in Canada, the province of Alberta is an innovative leader in responsible energy development, emissions reduction and clean technology. Located in Western Canada, Alberta is home to some of the world’s most livable cities with a young, educated, innovative, entrepreneurial and diverse population, a burgeoning tech sector and one of the most business-friendly climates in North America.

Alberta’s mission to Argentina

In Argentina, the Government of Alberta will discuss shared priorities in oil and gas development, conventional energy production, unconventional resource development and emissions reduction technology.

The Oil and Gas Patagonia Expo is the most important event in the region, where more than 7,000 visitors and 150 exhibitors from around the world will gather. Alberta will support Alberta-based companies in business-to-business meetings and networking events. The government will also meet with officials and industry representatives and connect with companies interested in investing in the province.

Alberta has a number of strengths in the energy sector that can support Argentina in continuing to build its resource economy, including oil and gas production, regulatory expertise and clean technology.

Minister’s message

Alberta has an incredible story to tell on the world stage and I look forward to advancing our shared interests with Argentina. Our province boasts the most investment-friendly environment in Canada, a competitive tax system, a highly educated workforce, a world-class education system and a robust research and development pipeline."

  • Photo of Matt Jones

    Biography

    Matt Jones was sworn in as the Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade on June 9, 2023. He previously served as the Minister of Affordability and Utilities and the Minister of Children's Services.

    Prior to his service as an elected official, Mr. Jones worked as an investment banker helping Alberta based businesses with capital raises, acquisitions and divestitures.

    Mr. Jones is a CFA Charter holder and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business.

    Matt Jones was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-South East on April 16, 2019 and was re-elected on May 29, 2023.

Alberta-Argentina key facts

  • $201.4M in 2023

    Alberta-Argentina total trade

  • 350%

    Increase of Alberta's commodity exports to Argentina from 2022 to 2023

  • Three decades of friendship

    The relationship between the Province of Alberta and the Province of Neuquén-Argentina began in the early 1990s. In 2022, both provinces signed a Memorandum of Understanding on economic cooperation.

Photograph taken in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Trade with Alberta

As the second largest economy in South America, Argentina is an emerging market with significant potential for Alberta companies.

In 2023, Alberta exported $126.3 million worth of goods to Argentina. Top exports consisted of machinery and components for various machinery. In fact, equipment for gas processing facilities accounted for more than half of Alberta's total exports to Argentina.

Alberta imported approximately $75.1 million worth of goods from Argentina in 2023. Top imports consisted of casings and tubing used in oil and gas drilling, wine and pipes.

There are emerging opportunities in the energy and clean tech sectors that Alberta and Argentina can further explore to enhance the bilateral trade relationship.

Investing in Alberta

To support potential investors, the Government of Alberta offers wayfinding services, online investment tools and sector specific knowledge to help businesses, operators and investors to grow their investments in Alberta.

In collaboration with economic development partners such as Invest Alberta Corporation, the government takes an ecosystem approach to ensure that the support to investors is coordinated between governments, private industry and other partners. This support includes, but is not limited to:

  • coordination of investment service with partners, including governments, investors, operators and economic development agencies, among others
  • wayfinding support for project proponents to address issues that require cross-government coordination and advocacy
  • data to support investment decision-making using the Alberta Site Selector Tool, a self-serve digital platform that helps businesses and investors find and evaluate suitable properties to expand or locate their business in communities across Alberta. Additional economic data is available on the Alberta Economic Dashboard.

Key sectors

  • Oil and gas (upstream, midstream and downstream)

    Alberta's oil sands have the fourth-largest proven oil reserves in the world, with reserves equal to about 157.6 billion barrels.

    Argentina possesses the world’s fourth-largest shale oil and second-largest shale gas reserves. Given the size of its reserves, there is significant potential demand for Alberta’s expertise, technologies and equipment to help enhance energy production in Argentina.

    Alberta actively engages with the upstream oil and gas sector in Argentina. The Government of Alberta organizes several inbound and outbound trade missions and events each year to further the relationship with Argentina.

    There remains a continued need in the energy industries in both Alberta and Argentina for service companies with expertise in conventional and unconventional resource extraction.

    Conventional oil production remains a priority for Argentina and is mostly produced from mature fields, an area of expertise for Alberta’s oil and gas services sector.

  • Clean energy and cleantech

    Alberta and Argentina will explore further collaboration opportunities in clean technologies to achieve shared goals of sustainable development, affordable energy and net-zero emissions.

    Alberta has significant expertise and experience in environmental and energy policies, regulations and best practices related to renewable energy, emissions management, hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization and storage.

Learn more about Alberta’s market opportunities that are right for you: Why choose Alberta

Trade and export expansion contacts

Benigno Rojas-Moreno
Director, Trade – Americas
Trade and Export Expansion Branch
Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade
Government of Alberta
Alberta, Canada

Phone: +1-780-934-3423
Email: [email protected]

Antonina Castaneda
Senior Trade Officer – Americas
Trade and Export Expansion Branch
Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade
Government of Alberta
Alberta, Canada

Phone: +1-587-873-0853
Email: [email protected]