NEW YORK, March 11 (Reuters) - E-commerce firm

MercadoLibre ( MELI ) expects to invest $3.4 billion in

Argentina this year, Chief Executive Officer Ariel Szarfsztejn

said on Wednesday.

The amount represents about a 30% increase from the $2.6

billion MercadoLibre ( MELI ) had said it would invest in Argentina

throughout 2025.

The company, founded in the South American country but

currently based in neighboring Uruguay, also plans to create

nearly 2,000 jobs in Argentina in 2026, Szarfsztejn told an

event in New York.

The new disbursement, which also includes some operating

expenses, will be used to expand the logistics network, develop

new distribution centers, improve technology on its platform and

grow fintech Mercado Pago, the firm said in a statement.

Argentina, together with Mexico and Brazil, is one of the

three main markets for MercadoLibre ( MELI ), which operates across Latin

America.

Speaking at the "Argentina Week" event in New York,

Szarfsztejn said new hiring aims to increase the company's staff

in areas including fintech, e-commerce, shipping and technology.

MercadoLibre ( MELI ) currently has about 16,700 employees in Argentina,

it said.