The official calendar for the 2019 National Grape Harvest Festival began this Saturday with the “Blessing of the Fruits” in La Paz. Nearly 40 ambassadors from around the world are expected to arrive in the province in the coming days—a significant increase from the 25 diplomats who visited Mendoza last year.
The diplomatic delegation represents several continents, with ambassadors arriving from Costa Rica, Indonesia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Malaysia, the United States, South Korea, Mexico, Azerbaijan, El Salvador, Romania, Belarus, Egypt, Germany, Thailand, Kuwait, Slovakia, Lebanon, Hungary, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Croatia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Vietnam, Libya, Angola, Montenegro, Bolivia, and Ecuador. In addition to attending the province’s premier festival, they will participate in various diplomatic summits.
Regarding provincial leadership, confirmed attendees include Governors Gerardo Morales (Jujuy) and Juan Manuel Urtubey (Salta). Both will participate in the Vía Blanca, the Carrusel parade, and the Main Event (Acto Central) alongside the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Emilio Monzó.
From the National Cabinet, key officials expected to arrive include Government Secretaries José Lino Barañao (Science, Technology, and Productive Innovation), Adolfo Rubinstein (Health), and Luis Miguel Etchevehere (Agro-industry). Other high-ranking officials attending include Secretaries for Housing, Urban Infrastructure, Finance, Provincial Relations, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), and National Security.
The province will also host Patricia Gutiérrez, General Administrator of the National Highway Directorate, and Emilio Basavilbaso, Executive Director of ANSES (Social Security Administration).
Investment Forum
The 3rd Investment Forum will take place on Friday, March 8, as part of the traditional National Grape Harvest Festival. It will be inaugurated by the Governor of Mendoza, Alfredo Cornejo, and Javier Allub, President of the Mendoza Business Council (CEM). The summit aims to highlight relevant investment opportunities in the province, featuring panels that will debate the strategic landscape of investing in Argentina. The event will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel starting at 8:30 AM.
Building on previous editions that drew over 800 attendees, this year’s forum expects prominent figures such as Javier González Fraga (President of Banco de la Nación), Trevor Alleyne (IMF Representative), and Heinrich Schellenberg (Ambassador of Switzerland).
The private sector will be represented by leaders from Uber Argentina, Norwegian Air, Alaya Capitals, NXTP Labs, and the Argentine Texan Chamber of Commerce (ATCC), among others. Notable international media figures will also participate, including former CNN International anchor and BBC journalist Sonia Ruseler, along with David Smith, special contributor for the Argentina Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars. Ms. Ruseler will serve as a featured speaker on one of the Forum’s panels.
