rector, told me that it is one of the
most important festivals in the world.
You see IT, cinema, music, and it is
wonderful. Now I have had the op-
portunity twice.
Sandy: Both my stepsons studied
broadcasting. The youngest is a sound
and light engineer.
G. Volpi: The problem is it is dif-
ferent working here. In Argentina,
working in cinema or television is
not easy.
Sandy: It is not easy anywhere.
G. Volpi: But here you have a lot of
opportunities. Argentina is working
toward bringing the economy back.
Sandy: That can be tough for any
government leader. As a consul, what
do you consider your primary duties
in Houston?
G. Volpi: First of all, you need to
know that the area covered by the
Consulate General in Houston is six
states, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, New Mexico, and Colo-
rado. Our first responsibility is to
our citizens living and working here.
In the area we have approximately
20,000 Argentines, most of them here
in Houston because of the oil and gas
industry. In Texas, we have Argentine
citizens who have been living here
for a very long time. Some of the
citizens living here are in the higher
levels of medicine, and we have Ar-
gentine citizens in the universities.
Sandy: Our magazine reaches leaders
and business people with interests in
international business. If a company
or individual wants to do busi-
ness with Argentina, they need to go
through a consulate, right?
G. Volpi: Yes. Here there are citizens
from all over the world. It is a huge
diversity. If some country wants oil
and gas, they must make a request.
We handle the requests. Of course, if
someone wants to go to Argentina to
work, they need a special visa. We are
working on the economy. You know
that the economy is trying to get
back on track. The new government
is working hard. It is not an easy task.
We are working hard to avoid any
tragedy. Right now, there is a repre-
sentative meeting in New York about
the economy.
42 iF Magazine | October 2018
Sandy: Speaking of the economy,
what is your primary export?
G. Volpi: Grains. We used to be in
the top three countries for grain. Last
year we were number one in maiz.
Texas?
G. Volpi: Yes. Here, in San Antonio,
Dallas, and Austin. Everywhere you
go you will find performers who
dance and teach the tango. You know,
I have studied with my wife when
we started dancing. One of my first
goals is to keep the Argentines liv-
ing more Argentine by bringing the
culture here. There are Argentine cit-
izens who have children and grand-
children here, and they are still living
their Argentine lifestyle.
Sandy: Corn?
G. Volpi: Corn. We export a lot of
food stuff. We are number one in
lemons, the yellow ones. Now they
are coming here. And we export a
lot of fruit. In November, our beef
will again be exported to the U.S.
For several years, we avoided send- Sandy: I wanted to ask you about
ing beef. Now everything is okay. We a historical rivalry between you and
will again have beef in the U. S.
your neighbor, Brazil. How do you see
the relationship between Brazil and
Sandy: That is great. Argentinian
Argentina?
restaurants are very popular here. In
G. Volpi: Yes. There is a competition,
fact, we had one of our mixers at the
and it is not only in soccer. But, they
Gaucho Chama.
are our number one partner in food
G. Volpi: Yes. Yes. You know that is products and mechanical production.
one of our traditions. Because of the We have a competition in some ar-
previous government, we closed a lot eas. But when we have free days in
of our markets. We lost Australia and Argentina, we go to Brazil to go to
Canada. Now we are past those poli- the beach. Brazil has a lot of beaches
cies that were supposed to protect, and warm water. We have beaches
but hindered exports. And we are but our beaches are too cold.
working, working, working.
Sandy: Brazil’s beaches are famous,
Sandy: What about oil and gas? I
true. How is your tourist industry?
have done translations for YPF here
G. Volpi: Right now, it is an excel-
in Houston.
lent business for tourists. The cur-
G. Volpi: The Vaca Muerta forma- rency exchange is very good for the
tion has the second largest unconven- dollar. The value is so high that goods
tional (shale oil) reserve in the world. and services are cheap to the tour-
Exxon Mobil believes that once Vaca ists. This is an excellent time to visit.
Muerta is exploited, Argentina and There are hotels, transportation and
the U. S. will produce one-third of communication, all connected. And
the world’s natural gas. Chevron and we have a low cost airline. Now visits
Shell have also invested with YPF, our to the interior are easier.
principal national partner. YPF has a
lot of business here.
Sandy: Argentina has been called the
“Land of Silver.” In fact the name
Sandy: What are your future plans
comes from Latin for silver. Do you
for the Argentines living here in
export silver and any other precious
Texas? What are your goals for future metals? Gems?
Argentine-Texas relations?
G. Volpi: Yes. We do somewhat. But
G. Volpi: Since my arrival, I have mining is something we are still de-
tried to bring my culture from Ar- veloping. There is not a clear policy
gentina to Houston. It was being for- on protection. We have a silver re-
gotten. We are using a specialty visa serve that we are not exploiting. Our
for musicians, dancers, and other per- country is very rich, not only for
formers and teachers to bring Argen- grain, but also for soy. We have not
tine culture to the U. S. to preserve it. done a lot of mineral exploitation.
The oil and gas is black gold for us.
Sandy: Argentina is known for the
Argentine Tango. Do you have a lot
Sandy: Our publication does not get
of dance teachers and performers in
into politics, but I would like to ask
what kind of government does Argen-