April 8, 2024, New York
Argentine students and leaders at Columbia University, where the conference was held. Political and business leaders met in New York in the context of the ninth edition of Masters Argentina, a conference that annually brings together Argentine students who are pursuing their graduate studies abroad.
This edition, held at Columbia University, was called "From Potential to Reality" and focused on generating spaces for debate from different perspectives on the growth opportunities that Argentina has. The event brought together more than 220 guests from different areas. More than 30 Argentine leaders from different sectors participated, along with more than 150 Argentine graduate students and 40 graduates living in the United States.
The conference was attended by political leaders and former officials such as Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, Juan Schiaretti, María Eugenia Vidal and Nicolás Dujovne. Also participating were leaders and referents from the private sector such as Horacio Marin, Sergio Kaufman and Daniel Rabinovich. Argentina in the Global Context Main hall of the Council of the Americas, where on Friday the welcoming remarks of the event were delivered, followed by the participation of Sergio Kaufman and Emmanuel Ferrario.
The ninth edition of Masters Argentina took place over the weekend at 3 different venues in New York City. It began on Friday, April 5 with a reception at the prestigious Council of the Americas, where participants were welcomed with empanadas and Argentine wine. This was followed by the participation of Sergio Kaufman, Accenture's leader for Latin America and Asia, who was interviewed by Emmanuel Ferrario, Legislator of the City of Buenos Aires. Ferrario explored the opportunities that the global context, marked by geopolitical tensions and regionalization processes, offers Argentina; he analyzed how we can capitalize on our comparative advantages: resources and talent. For his part, Kaufman stated: "Argentina is an inexhaustible source of new opportunities; what we lack is learning how to take advantage of them. The first step is to learn from the rest of the world and replicate what other countries have done well. To conclude the day, he shared a reflection addressed to the students: "travel transforms; and the journey you are making will enrich you in so many ways. But I assure you that nowhere else in the world will you have as great a potential for impact as in your own land".
The second activity was a series of panels that took place at Columbia University on Saturday 6th. The morning block began with a discussion about the challenges of entrepreneurship in Argentina, where Marta Cruz from NXTP Ventures (one of the most consolidated VC firms in Latin America with more than 200 investments) and Federico Marque from Gridx (a pioneer fund in terms of investment in projects that combine science with business) were present, as well as entrepreneurs from OncoPrecision and Fligoo, companies in which they have invested. "It is the entrepreneurs who choose us. And we are also entrepreneurs, but from an investment point of view," said Cruz. Reforms for the Argentina of the future Former Finance Minister Nicolás Dujovne and consultant Marina dal Poggetto discussed the current economic plan and its course. Dujovne gave an optimistic assessment of the measures taken by the government, criticizing the policies of the previous administration which he described as "populist" and responsible for a "macroeconomic homicide" since 2006. According to him, the current policies of fiscal correction, deregulation of the labor market and emphasis on the importance of the private sector in value generation, are correct steps towards recovery and growth. Although he acknowledged that these measures could contract the economy in the short term, he considered them necessary for long-term correction and sustainability, with the caveat that it is still necessary to reduce taxes and eliminate the country tax.
In contrast, Dal Poggetto pointed out that the absence of popular support and political consensus are necessary conditions for the success of the reforms, and that the decisions of the current government went in the opposite direction and are difficult to reverse. He stressed that without these conditions, the country's economic future remains uncertain. The former governor of Buenos Aires, Maria Eugenia Vidal, for her part, stressed the urgency of addressing the social and educational crisis, evidenced by low high school completion rates. She acknowledged the importance that "macro rules", but emphasized that "there is no progress possible in an Argentina where third graders cannot understand what they read". At the same time, he stressed that urgent actions must be taken to improve social and educational results; and that the agreement in this sense must be "a social agreement", because "when society assimilates a change, there is no turning back, and neither politics nor anyone else can undo it". Finally, he stressed that it is possible to act in these areas without neglecting macroeconomic stability, urging that policies consider both aspects for comprehensive development.
Paula Cardenau, Executive Director of Arbusta, added the integration perspective from the private sector, explaining that "Arbusta's business model radically changed the way we look at talent, considering the future and employment as true freedom for those who had no other opportunity". Finally, Juan Maquieyera, Executive Director of TECHO Argentina, highlighted the importance of focusing on the socio-urban integration of popular neighborhoods. He explained that "true freedom begins with having a safe place to live, study and allow your children to grow up" and emphasized that "we all have the ability to contribute to a poverty-free Argentina through innovative solutions".
Juan Maquieyra (TECHO), Paula Cardenau (Arbusta), María Eugenia Vidal and Camila Corbalán (Beccar Varela), interviewed by Agustina Rodríguez Biasone, MIT student Sectors with present and future Horacio Marin, CEO of YPF, presented to the audience his "YPF 4x4" plan, with which he bets to quadruple the value of the company in the next 4 years. "Unconventional is the future and that is the direction in which we want to take the company. Resources are limited and our focus has to be on investing in the best possible way for the company," said Marin. As for the execution of his plan, he invited the audience to be part of the transformation. "The execution of the plan is the most important thing and it requires skilled people. I came here to tell you that I want you to come back to Argentina and to bet on YPF", he said at the end of a speech that touched everyone present. Horacio Marín (YPF) presenting the company's strategy.
The afternoon block focused on industries considered strategic for the future of Argentina. Some of these included sectors that already have a significant importance in Argentina's GDP, such as agriculture, represented by Luis Colmegna de Lartirigoyen, who stated that "Argentina in 2030 can produce 170 million tons of grains and supply 400 to 700 million people, but for that infrastructure is needed". On the side of the mass consumption industry, Pablo Panizza from AB InBev, parent company of Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes, highlighted the importance of the Argentine consumer and market. "Quilmes employs 6,000 people, but when you look at the extended value chain, it comes to impact more than 130,000 people. This generates a very positive impact on regional economies, from the field where our main ingredient, barley, is born to the consumer," he said. The other two strategic sectors that were present were oil & gas and mining, who were represented by Pablo Vera Pinto from Vista Energy and Jose Aggio from Lithium Argentina. Pablo Vera Pinto highlighted the great opportunity that Vaca Muerta means for the country: "Through Vaca Muerta, Argentina has the possibility of providing the world with reliable, affordable and sustainable energy". The executive also remarked that by 2030, Vaca Muerta could triple its production and thus generate foreign currency for more than 20 billion dollars. Aggio commented: "The number one challenge in the lithium sector is infrastructure. There are 25 lithium projects in the Puna, but there are not enough roads and there is no energy".
National Deputy Daiana Fernández Molero (PRO) complemented the discussion from the political side and highlighted the need for the dynamic and modern sectors to have representatives to advocate for their interests. The event was also attended by executives from the fintech industry, where Argentina is a pioneer, including representatives from Ualá, Mundi, Sidom and Clo. In this conversation they gave us a valuable insight into the sector, highlighting how innovation with technology in traditional industries is key to break the status quo, and also how Argentine talent and the search for strategic investors, "Smart Money", are essential to continue driving its growth. High-impact leadership Juan Schiaretti and Horacio Rodriguez Larreta interviewed by Magali Mayo, student at Columbia.
The final segment of the Columbia event featured two high-voltage panels. First, a conversation about political representation in Argentina featured Horacio Rodriguez Larreta and Juan Schiaretti. Both speakers reflected on the first 100 days of Javier Milei's government, highlighting that consensus may have failed as an electoral strategy, but it is proving to be a limiting factor for governing. In this line, Horacio Rodriguez Larreta indicated that "the only changes that are worthwhile are those that become concrete and last in time" and that for this "the three things that are needed to transform Argentina are the vision -'the plan'-, the political agreement and the management. All three are equally important".
On the other hand, Horacio added that "it is hypocrisy when we talk about freedom if we do not guarantee equal opportunities. A child born today in poverty in Argentina (almost 50%) has no freedom of choice in life. This can only be achieved with a State that works, as we have shown in the City of Buenos Aires". On his part, Juan Schiaretti commented that "the President elected by the people must be given the opportunity to apply his government plan", highlighting the need to "fight the fiscal deficit and tax evasion". Regarding his own political space, the former governor said: "We have nothing to do with Kirchnerism, which was absolutely responsible for the decadence of the last 20 years, which colonized all Peronism, except Peronism in Córdoba". Daniel Rabinovich (Mercado Libre) and Federico Eisner (Bain & Company)
The last panel was a one-on-one between Daniel Rabinovich, COO of Mercadolibre, and Federico Eisner, Senior Partner of Bain & Company. The conservation revolved around the path taken by the largest Argentine unicorn to scale the company from a garage in Buenos Aires to all of Latin America. Daniel Rabinovich spoke about the importance of healthy leadership, forming competitive teams committed to the user, and the courage to make difficult decisions at the right time. "Courageous is not the one who makes difficult decisions when the chips are down... In that instance we all act in a more or less similar way out of a sense of urgency. Brave is someone who makes difficult decisions even when there is no pressure to do so, but is convinced that it is the right thing to do," emphasized the MercadoLibre executive.
In the evening, the event closed with a meeting at the Argentine Consulate in New York, where Consul Pablo Martín Piñeiro gave the closing speech of the ninth edition of Masters Argentina. The organizers highlighted that the 2024 edition was a record edition driven by the increased presence of Argentine students among the best universities abroad and said they hope to surpass it in 2025 on the occasion of the event's tenth anniversary, an edition that promises to be unmissable.
Masters Argentina is a non-partisan and non-profit organization made up of students who maintain their passion and commitment to their country even at a distance. The organizing team was formed by Agustín Artero, Agustina Rodriguez Biasone, Bahía Gatti, Bea Toribio, Candela Loreti, Francisca Schmidt-Liermann, Facundo Valdemoros, Juan Hevia, Juan Pablo Sin, Julieta Cheb Terrab, Luciano Sanguino, Lucas de Caboteau, Magalí Mayo, Pablo Sumaria, Sara Casaretto and Victoria Ingham. The organizers have communicated that, in terms of public figures, an invitation to participate in the event has been extended to representatives of a broad spectrum of political parties, including: La Libertad Avanza, Partido Justicialista/Unión por la Patria, Propuesta Republicana, and Unión Cívica Radical. Sponsors: Accenture, YPF, Lartirigoyen, Vista Energy, Lithium Argentina, Clo, Sidom, Supervielle, Havanna, Arcor, Luigi Bosca, Talenters and Young Professionals of the Americas. About Masters Argentina Masters Argentina is an association that since 2016 connects Argentine graduate students located around the world. The goal is to assemble a diverse community that reflects together on the challenges our country faces and find points of consensus for action. What are the conferences? They are annual meetings that seek to bring together for a weekend Argentine master's and postgraduate students studying abroad. Political and economic leaders, businessmen and other prominent members of society are also invited. Lectures are given and spaces for debate are generated aiming at Argentina's growth. The conferences are organized by the students themselves, who work half a year in advance.
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