Argentina and the Province of Buenos Aires are moving towards a new era. The National Government, in power since the 10th of December after being elected by the majority of Argentinians, represents a change, and not only as regards to the previous government. It is the first time in many years that the President and the Governor share the same values. We have been part of the same team for over ten years. We understand politics as a service to the people, we believe in dialogue and in working together to achieve the best possible results. The fact that Argentinians and the people who live in the Province of Buenos Aires have chosen an alternative after so long, shows the hope that our country maintains: we are truly convinced that we can do things differently and that the time to develop our potential has finally come.
This is a historic opportunity. At a regional level, the Province of Buenos Aires can be regarded as a country. With over 16 million inhabitants that make up 40% of Argentina’s population, it is as populated as Ecuador, Chile or El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica together. Over 40% of the public health system and over 30% of public schools in the country are in Buenos Aires. It contributes 37% of the national GDP, it produces 54.5% of manufactured goods and 35.8 % of exports. Its production is one of the most diverse: it provides primary products, energy and agro-industrial products to the point that more than 80% of cereals and more than 60% of sunflower come from the Province. It is the most important productive core in Argentina.
Our point of departure wasn’t easy. We found the Province without credit, with a huge fiscal deficit and a profound social debt which resulted in schools and hospitals not being built, roads that were not fixed, water works that didn’t mitigate flood effects and consequently some families are still living without water and sewage service.
Despite the difficulties, we started working from day one convinced that we can generate opportunities to help the people from Buenos Aires to develop to their fullest potential and be players of our times.
We promoted laws that will make a great difference on the way we manage the State and that will allow us to have a transparent, flexible and efficient Government that is closer to the people. We reduced by 30% the political staff and cut by half the advertising expenditure. We began to put the accounts of the Province in order and we managed to place 8-year bonds for USD 1,250 million at the lowest rate in the history of the Province.
We stand for working with the 135 municipalities, regardless of the governing party, because we believe that what really matters is to develop initiatives aimed at solving the citizen’s problems. This is why we created the Municipal Infrastructure Fund and the Security Fund for Municipalities, which will allow local governments to carry out works in less time and generate genuine employment. Just through public investment alone, we will create more than 100 thousand jobs.
We are truly convinced that all together we can do more. Therefore, being part of the United Regions Organisation provides a great opportunity for our Province. We want to offer our support to all the governors who represent the millions of people living in our continent to solve our common problems. In some cases, the difficulties that our governments are facing are similar, and by exchanging our stories we allow for the possibility to engage in innovative solutions, learn from other experiences and work on proposals to enhance our growth.
It is time to open up and show the world what we can do. We want the world to trust Argentina and to know that the Province of Buenos Aires keeps the door open for dialogue and work. That is the direction we must take, working together to foster our region’s capacities and multiply opportunities for our people.
Maria Eugenia Vidal
Governor of the Province of Buenos Aires
