Dr. Wendell Samuel, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General (ag) Economic Integration, Innovation and Development, led a team of officials from the CARICOM Secretariat to bilateral discussions with a high-level government delegation from Argentina on Wednesday, 1 October 2025. The other members of the CARICOM Secretariat team at the discussion were Mr. Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager, Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development, and Ms. Selvine Stephenson-Grant, Deputy Programme Manager, Agricultural Development.
Argentina was represented by Mr. Sergio Iraeta, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina; Mr. Fernando Brun, Secretary of International Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Mateo Estreme, Director General for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Mr. Marcos Stancanelli, Director for International Economic Relations for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The bilateral meeting was held on the margins of the 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in St. Kitts and Nevis. The Argentine delegation also made a presentation to the 121st Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture, one of the events of the CWA.
Pointing to the untapped potential for trade with the global south, including Latin America and Africa, Dr. Samuel said the Region is looking to build a partnership with Argentina that would help to address the issues of food security, climate change and issues related to productivity.
“We understand that you have a long history of high performance in agriculture, high performance in technology, high performance in all the things that are agriculture-related and we look forward to working with you… to build a partnership that is not one-sided, one in which we buy your goods and you by our goods… and also to bring your technology, such as genetic engineering…, ” he said.
He noted that the high level of the delegation underscores the seriousness with which Argentina views its relationship with the Region.
