On 1 - 5 September 2014, H.E. Mr. Medha Promthep, Ambassador of Thailand to Argentina, visited Neuquén as part of the Embassy’s Economic Promotion Project with Neuquén Province aiming at exploring trade and investment opportunities between Thailand and Neuquén Province. Ambassador met with Governor of Neuquén Province, Mayor of Neuquén City, President of GyP Petroleum Company, among others.

 

        During the visit, it was realized that Neuquén Province has huge business opportunities for Thailand such as (1) investment/joint venture in exploring and producing oil and gas, especially unconventional types (2) investment/joint venture in establishing and/or managing hotel, rental house, shopping mall, golf course, spa, health massage, restaurant, convenient store, and other services relating to household, healthcare, entertainment and recreational activities (3) investment/joint venture in all kind of construction and infrastructure development including IT software for connecting and internal management within local government (4) Thai laborer and human resources in various fields (5) Thai products worth doing feasible study are construction material, machinery, car and parts, pick-up truck, electronic device, electric appliance, and household decorative. Prospective products from Neuquén include wine, apple, cherry, pear, strawberry, beef, lamb, and Chivito (similar to goat meat).

 

        Neuquén is situated in Patagonia highland of Argentina with the area of 94,000 sq.km. The number of population is 550,000 or 1.37% of the country. It has an agreement with Chile to promote trade to the third country through the Pacific Ocean. Main economy of the province derives from oil and gas production (26%). It also hosts the country’s most important hydroelectric dam. San Martin de los Andes and Villa La Angostura in the southern part of the province boast spectacular tourist attractions including mountains, rivers, lakes, volcano, hot water spring and ski resorts. Moreover, Neuquén also offers a number of recreational activities including horseriding, bird watching, fishing, golf, spa, river rafting, winery tourim, religious tourim, and a visit to the dinosaur museum.