The purpose of the Centre for International Economy (CEI),within the structure of the Secretariat of Trade and International Economic Relations of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship, has as its main purpose to provide the Foreign Ministry's officials and the different ministerial areas with technical assistance and reports. In this way, it provides the Ministry with specialised information, and contributes to facilitate the design and implementation of policies aimed at the diversification and enhancement of Argentina's integration into the world economy.

The major areas of work for the CEI include the elaboration of statistical material, the analysis of the economic impact of multilateral negotiations and of the different integration and trade agreements (either underway or prospective), the preparation of material to be used during bilateral negotiations, the analysis of Argentine foreign trade structure and current conditions, the follow-up of the economic and commercial evolution of MERCOSUR countries, the maintenance and improvement of the foreign trade information system and the preparation of special studies on different issues relating to the Argentine foreign sector.

From the point of view of information, the CEI provides the Argentine Foreign Ministry as well as Argentine representations abroad with statistical data(trade-related information in particular), and assessment of both domestic and international economy and trade, supporting their negotiation and management tasks.

On a regular basis the CEI organizes seminars on different issues of interest to Argentina in the spheres of international trade and negotiations, in cooperation with different organisations and with the participation of renowned speakers.

The Centre boasts a specialised library, which constitutes a source of information and assistance to the Foreign Ministry's officials and the general public. The library is linked to the main libraries and databases of the country and abroad.

The CEI website, now also available in English, was conceived as a public service to disseminate information and establish a link with civil society, particularly with academia, in Argentina and abroad. It offers an up-to-date statistical database on international trade and, more specifically, Argentine and MERCOSUR economies. It includes every CEI publication, among which the CEI Journal, published every four months, is worth highlighting, as are the impact studies of international trade negotiations, international economy current situation reviews, reports on bilateral trade relations, and papers presented at the seminars organised by the Centre.