Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a federal republic located mostly in the southern half of South America. Sharing the bulk of the Southern Cone with its neighbor Chile to the west, the country is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, the second largest in Latin America, and the largest Spanish-speaking nation. It is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city, Buenos Aires, which is the federal capital of the nation. The provinces and the capital have their own constitutions, but exist under a federal system.

Benefiting from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, a diversified industrial base, and an export-oriented agricultural sector, the economy of Argentina is Latin America’s third-largest, and the second largest in South America. Argentina is a member of the G-20 major economies.

In 2012 manufacturing accounted for 20.3% of GDP—the largest goods-producing sector in the nation’s economy. Well-integrated into Argentine agriculture, half of the industrial exports have rural origin.

In 2012 the leading sectors by volume were: food processing, beverages and tobacco products; motor vehicles and auto parts; textiles and leather; refinery products and biodiesel; chemicals and pharmaceuticals; steel, aluminum and iron; industrial and farm machinery; home appliances and furniture; plastics and tires; glass and cement; and recording and print media. In addition, Argentina has since long been one of the top five wine-producing countries in the world.

Córdoba is Argentina’s major industrial center, hosting metalworking, motor vehicle and auto parts manufactures. Next in importance are: