Ambassador
Ambassador Event
US CONGRESS DELEGATION VISITS THE PORT OF BUENOS AIRES
January 31, 2009
Ambassador Wayne visited the Dock Sud port on January 31 along with Representative Jerry Costello (Democrat-Illinois), who was heading an eight-member US Congress delegation.
The lawmakers and the Ambassador went around the port along with the head of the Argentine Custom House, Silvina Tirabassi, and they discussed the multiple aspects of productive cooperation which both countries sustain in order to generate security and reliability in the bilateral trade exchange.
In September 2005, the Argentine and US Custom Houses signed an agreement allowingf for the incorporation of the Container Security Initiative (CSI) at the port of Buenos Aires. The initiative sets forth the setting of scanners at the main ports of the world to ensure the maritime trade of containers. In Argentina, this work is carried out at the Exolgan terminal, port of Dock Sud. Exolgan's executive director, Juan Carlos Vazquez, also took part of the meeting.
The head of the Argentine Custom House informed lawmakers about how important the cooperation deal was whereby the Argentine Custom House has bet on an investigation official at the Customs House Office in Miami, Florida. This deal has been fundamental in generating a reliable and secure flow of information on several investigations between the Argentine and US Customs Houses. Ambassador Wayne noted, “I would like to thank and congratulate Ms. Tirabassi for her leadership and the Exolgan operation for the great contribution to port security.”
The delegation led by Representative Costello underscored the joint work performed by Argentine and US authorities to guarantee increasing trade exchange both on a bilateral and multilateral level. “The USG believes the CSI is a very important step forward in the fight on terrorism and bio-terrorism. I congratulate and thank the Argentine Government and the Customs authorities for having set up this effective, large-sized program in such a short time," said Representative Costello.
“The visit of this important US Congress delegation is a sign of the significance the US grants to mutual exchange with Argentina, whether it is by air or by sea. The purpose of this visit is supporting the expansion of our bilateral relationship in terms of civil aviation and strengthening our joint work on port security, which brings confidence to our increasing trade exchange," said Ambassador Wayne.
