OREANDA-NEWS. January 30, 2013. At the summit of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Santiago, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said that close regional cooperation might act as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth and development, aiding states in coping better during crises.

Ansip brought an example of successful integration – the single currency euro.

“Estonia was the last country to adopt the euro, but I am sure that Latvia will follow us in 2014,” said Ansip. “Membership in the zone encourages investments and helps to create new jobs. In 2011, when Estonia joined the Eurozone, our economy grew by 8.3%. Unemployment decreased, the volumes of investments and trade increased, exports even rose by 38%. All this has been ensured by integration and the common currency.”

Secondly, Ansip referred to the fact that Estonia has become known as an e-State due to the extensive use of the solutions of information and communications technology in businesses, government operations and everyday life.

“We believe that digital involvement is the basis for social involvement and also one of the prerequisites for sustainable development,” said Prime Minister. “The Estonian government has been the leader in these developments.”

Thirdly, Prime Minister Ansip thought that an open and rule-based commercial environment should be developed. It would be easier to recover from a crisis in the global free trade conditions. Ansip thus reminded the audience about the statements made at the meetings of the European Council on more extensive implementation of free trade.

“The European Union and the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States have gone through some rough times,” said Ansip. “But we have to avoid the temptation of seeking help from protectionist attitudes.”

It was the seventh summit of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States that took place in Santiago. Its objective was to tighten the relations between the two regions and create debate on the subjects of common interest, such as investments, sustainable development, economic growth, security and the quality of the living environment. The conventional theme of the event was “Alliance for Sustainable Development: Promoting Investments of Social and Environmental Quality.”

Prime Minister Ansip also had some bilateral meetings during the summit. On the way to Chile, the Prime Minister met with the Argentine Minister of Planning and Public Investment Julio de Vido while making an intermediate stop in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, where they mostly discussed different e-solutions for governments. Andrus Ansip and Julio de Vido agreed that Internet-based solutions are developed both in Estonia and Argentina, so the potential for promoting relations between the two countries was seen in IT. The ministers agreed to look for opportunities to exchange experts in order to share experience.

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip opened Estonia’s honorary consulate in Buenos Aires and appointed Andres Mattson honorary consul