TAMIU Forges Strategic Alliance with New Argentina Collaborations
Laredo’s Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is further underscoring its role as an international university with a new strategic alliance with South America’s emerging economic powerhouse, Argentina.
The University’s Maria Eugenia Calderón-Porter, assistant vice president for Global Initiatives, traveled to Argentina last week to develop strategic alliances targeted by the new presidency of Mauricio Macri that are tightly focused on world corporations, academia, and foreign governments.
Calderón-Porter met with Pablo Orlandi, Director of the Energy Business Unit of SIDECO AMERICANA, a long established infrastructure and services group founded by Franco Macri, President Macri’s father. Orlandi is also co-founder of the Instituto de Estudios Para el Desarollo Exportador (IDEX), which promotes economic development and fosters internationalization of Argentine Small and Medium Enterprises.
“TAMIU and Orlandi signed an agreement linking TAMIU and IDEX in the promotion of US and Argentine developments in infrastructure and energy areas, integrating academia and research. We also signed an agreement with the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA), a private engineering university. These alliances focus on the formation of an association to provide joint research for renewable and non-renewable sustainable energy projects. Y-TEC, the technology research and development arm of YPF, Argentina’s state-controlled petroleum company, will join TAMIU in research projects in the Eagle Ford Shale Play and Argentina’s shale equivalent, Vaca Muerta,” Calderón-Porter said.
She noted two initiatives that are moving forward at a brisk pace.
“Along with Congressman Henry Cuellar, we are creating an opportunity for the Argentines and TAMIU’s School of Engineering to visit Washington, D.C. and meet with government agencies managing outcomes from President Obama’s visit to Argentina. Our goal is to secure support for TAMIU research labs that can collaborate on TAMIU-Argentina research initiatives,” she said.
Calderón-Porter noted a second initiative focuses on technology observation in the Eagle Ford Shale Play.
“Vaca Muerta, Argentina’s version of Eagle Ford, is one of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves. The Argentines’ interest is in observation of Eagle Ford technology used for fracking, and ways to capture well product left behind as a result of old and inefficient extraction processes. Argentina sees the potential for Vaca Muerta to become a large source of jobs and to sever dependency on neighboring markets for energy products,” she noted.
Argentine leaders perceived TAMIU’s strategic location in the Eagle Ford Shale Play as a distinct advantage.
“TAMIU has emerged as leading partner and affiliate for Argentina’s future in sustainable energy because of a location we share with Eagle Ford in Texas and the Cuenca Burgos in México. Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shares climatic and topography conditions similar to those in Webb County,” Calderón-Porter explained.
She said TAMIU Binational Center Fellow and international businessman Dr. Steve Mon Dragon, who serves on the Board of Directors for IDEX, was instrumental in creating the pathway for the pursuits of the Argentine alliance.
The Office of Global Initiatives/Binational Center's mission is to enhance relationships between the United States and other countries within the Western Hemisphere by promoting civic and social organizations and institutions through research, education, leadership, and public service. The Binational Center is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America, the largest national non-partisan network of almost 100 councils in over 40 states that are dedicated to educating and engaging Americans on the critical global issues of our times.
For more information, call Calderón-Porter at the Office of Global Initiatives: 956.326.2834, email binationalcenter@tamiu.edu, visit offices in Anthony J. and Georgia A. and Pellegrino Hall, Suite 301, or click on http://www.tamiu.edu/binationalcenter/index.shtml
TAMIU-Argentina Alliance
Texas A&M International University representatives recently traveled to Argentina to develop strategic alliances targeted by the new presidency of Mauricio Macri focused on world corporations, academia, and foreign governments. Pictured left to right, Robert Porter; María Calderón-Porter, TAMIU assistant vice president for Global Initiatives; Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) Rector Ing. José Luís Roces; ITBA Ing. Norberto M. Lerendegui, ITBA Director de la Escuela de Ingenieria y Tecnología; Pablo Orlandi of the Instituto de Estudios Para el Desarollo Exportador (IDEX) and Marcela Torino, ITBA director of Relaciones Internacionales.