During his participation in the event organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina, the Governor emphasized the need for a deep fiscal reform and highlighted that Mendoza offers fiscal balance, legal certainty, and clear rules for the private sector. He made these remarks during the Federal Debate I panel alongside governors Rogelio Frigerio and Alberto Weretilneck.
Governor Alfredo Cornejo took part in a new edition of the AmCham Summit, held at the Buenos Aires Convention Center, which focused on federalism as a key condition for growth. The event, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina, aimed to build consensus around stable rules that enable investment beyond major urban centers.
In this edition, the Governor of Mendoza joined the Federal Debate I panel alongside governors Rogelio Frigerio (Entre Ríos) and Alberto Weretilneck (Río Negro), moderated by journalist Sofía Terrile. The session focused on federal dynamics and brought together leaders from provinces with strong presence in strategic sectors such as energy, mining, and agribusiness.
During his remarks, Cornejo stated that “the national macroeconomic course should not be changed” and emphasized that “it is essential for it to continue in this direction”. At the same time, he noted that “labor modernization, fiscal incentives, and other laws we have supported represent a good and significant step forward”.
He then pointed out the need for a deeper, comprehensive fiscal reform aimed at simplifying taxes, eliminating distortive ones, and redesigning revenue-sharing mechanisms through a better Federal Coparticipation Law that creates incentives for the private sector.
For his part, Frigerio stated: “We need a national government that succeeds. Today, politics is divided between those who want the national government to succeed and those who put obstacles in its way”. He added: “We are always contributing and supporting the government in achieving its most important goal, which is macroeconomic stabilization”.
Meanwhile, Weretilneck emphasized that “the productive country is the country of the provinces” and noted that he fully agrees with “the federal government’s legislative agenda aimed at restoring powers to the provinces”. He also stated that “if Congress continues to return these powers, the level of investment will be much higher”.
Mendoza prepared to attract investment
During his presentation, Cornejo stated that “Mendoza is very well prepared for what lies ahead, because it has done its homework within the State”. He explained that the province “has reduced public spending by 4 percentage points over the last decade in relation to its Gross Geographic Product (GGP)”.
He also highlighted a lower provincial tax burden on the private sector and stressed that “public spending is under control and decreasing”.
He added that Mendoza focuses “on core functions such as public education, public health, security, administration of justice, and public transportation”. He also emphasized advances in legal certainty, noting that “Mendoza is the only province in the country that has never defaulted”.
The Governor also highlighted productive diversification, stating that “Mendoza is strongly focused on expanding its production matrix”. He explained that the province continues developing energy and conventional oil, while also reconverting areas and stabilizing decline.
In this context, he added that Mendoza is advancing the northern extension of Vaca Muerta and developing mining, particularly copper, as well as potassium projects approved by the Legislature, which provide legal certainty to investors.
He also pointed out that tourism is performing well and that livestock production is improving as part of this diversification.
Regarding the investment climate, he stated that “Mendoza offers a strong framework for investment”, while clarifying that macroeconomic stability remains a national responsibility.
Tax structure and investment conditions
On tax matters, Cornejo highlighted that certain activities are exempt from Gross Turnover Tax and that all tax rates are decreasing. He also noted that stamp tax has been reduced to zero for several specific investment contracts.
However, he warned that “Gross Turnover Tax is a distortive tax, but it is closely tied to revenue-sharing mechanisms”, and added that “there are many distortive national taxes that must be reduced”.
In this context, he emphasized that the main condition for investment is the predictability Mendoza provides, supported by a strong institutional system, an increasingly efficient justice system, and a litigation rate of 33%.
Finally, Cornejo stated that “balance is an objective that everyone claims, but the current Coparticipation Law has not contributed to regional balance”. He concluded that fiscal changes are needed to generate incentives and promote private activity across provinces.
AmCham 2026 context
The discussion took place in a context where provinces are demanding greater predictability and participation in shaping development policies. In this framework, Cornejo’s participation reinforced Mendoza’s strategy to position itself as a key player in investment agendas linked to natural resources and regional value chains.
The forum included participation from national government officials and institutional leaders and will conclude with a keynote by President Javier Milei. Other prominent figures included Jorge Macri, Horacio Rosatti, and Minister of Economy Luis Caputo.
From the organization, CEO Alejandro Díaz explained that the focus on federalism reflects a stage beyond macroeconomic stabilization, where the challenge now lies in coordinating territorial development policies.
The summit featured panels on competitiveness, infrastructure, employment, and productive transformation, with participation from multinational executives and financial sector leaders, creating a platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors.