India-Argentina Bilateral Relations - LB Associates

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ForewordINDIA-ARGENTINA BILATERAL RELATIONSIndia and Argentina have traditionally enjoyed warm and cordial relations, encompassing political, economic, scientificand technological cooperation including Antarctic research and cultural cooperation. The visit of External Affairs MinisterMr Salman Khurshid in February 2013 to Argentina has provided a great momentum to the deepening of bilateral relations.The visit of the Argentinean President Ms Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to India in October 2009, coinciding with thesixtieth anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations galvanised the relations whereby both sides agreedto work together to enhance their multi faceted relationship to one shared on common values and interests includingdemocratic ideals, respect for human rights and mutual understanding and cooperation.Both sides have since had successful visits including that of Union Minister for Agriculture Mr Sharad Pawar, whovisited Argentina in September 2010, and Minister of State for Commerce Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia in May 2011. From theArgentinian side, Mr Mauricio Macri, Chief Minister of Buenos Aires, visited India in April 2010 and Mr Julian Dominguez,Agriculture Minister of Argentina in August 2010.Trade and economic relations form an important component of our bilateral relations and there exists tremendouspossibilities of expansion of trade relations. Indo-Argentine trade turnover stands at $1.75 billion and for the year 2012 (upto November) and represents an increase of six percent year-on-year. The main items of Indian exports to Argentina areOrganic Chemicals, Vehicles and Auto parts, Lubricants, Machinery, Sound and Image Devices and Garments, among others.The main items of India´s imports from Argentina are Soybean oil, Sunflower oil, Leather, Wool, Ferroalloys among others.Argentina is an Agricultural powerhouse and has abundant freshwater resources. It has large arable and fertile landarea. It is one of the world’s largest producers of soy oil, sunflower oil, corn, beef and soybeans and has a large and famouswine industry. It is self-sufficient in energy and has surplus petroleum for exports. Total oil reserves are about two billionbarrels. The Argentine manufacturing industry is relatively large and diversified. It is strong in food processing, automobiles,steel, metallurgy, auto parts, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, paper, cosmetics and textiles. Argentine companies havestarted producing bio-diesel from soy. Most of the biodiesel is exported.So far a number of Indian companies have established their presence in Argentina in the fields of IT, BPO, KPO, Chemicalsand Cosmetics etc., providing employment to about 7000+ Argentines. Indian investment in Argentina exceeds $800 million.Argentina is considered an attractive near shoring destination by IT firms with clients in the Americas and availability ofbilingual skilled human resources provides attractive opportunities for business.Argentina’s potential in food and energy sectors holds tremendous potential for India in terms of diversifying anddeveloping new sources, in our quest for food and energy security.A unique Regional Action Plan, started in August 2012 by our Mission in Buenos Aires, aims to foster deeper traderelations with the Provinces of Argentina, looking for commercial and economic opportunities. In addition a number ofmarket promotion activities including organising of Buyer-Seller Meets with participation of export promotion councilsin engineering, pharma, chemicals, apparels, prospect of farmers’ mission to exploring possibility of acquire land on leaseor purchase for production of crops for export to India and third countries etc are on the anvil for the year 2013.India and Argentina also have tremendous potential for cultural cooperation. Indian classical arts, yoga, meditationand Ayurveda are very well appreciated in this country and in India we respect the culture of Argentina and their prowessin Sports.I take this opportunity to thank the Diplomatist magazine for bringing out this timely compilation highlighting thedevelopment of our countries’ bilateral relations. I hope that readers will benefit from the information provided thereinand contribute further to augment ties between the two nations.Amarendra KhatuaAmbassador of India to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay72THE EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY DIPLOMATIST • March 2013
special reportIt was in those years after India becamea free sovereign nation, that its foreignpolicy took birth and shaped many abilateral relationship across the Americas.Built on this premise, today India-Argentinarelations are cordial and encompass political,economic, scientific and technologicalcooperation including Antarctic research andcultural cooperation. India opened a TradeCommission in Buenos Aires in 1943 andlater converted it into an embassy in 1949.Argentina had established a consulate inCalcutta in the 1920s which was transferredto Delhi as an embassy in 1950. Argentinaopened a Consulate General office inMumbai in 2009.Since the establishment of formalbilateral relations with each other, India andArgentina have made significant strides incementing their ties by agreeing to severaldiplomatic engagements and relevantMoUs to that effect. With the 1961 visitof Argentine President President ArturoFrondizi, the list of dignatories visitingIndia has grown. In 1985, President RaúlAlfonsín was the Chief Guest at the RepublicDay parade. Before him President ReynaldoBignone attended the NAM Summit held inIndia in 1983.Amongst the latest visits ArgentineMinister of Agriculture Julian Dominguezand Chief Minister of Buenos Aires MauricioMacri visited India in 2010. The IndianExternal Affairs Minister SalmanKhurshid embarked on a recent tour toArgentina and Chile. He was to meet HectorTimerman, Argentinean Minister of ForeignRelations. While looking ahead to severalpoints of engagement with the ArgentineGovernment, Khurshid hopes to evaluatepotential joint ventures in sectors like agroindustries,oil & hydrocarbons, mining ICT,infrastructure industries, chemicals and autoindustries.Growing bonhomie between India &ArgentinaA number of MoUs and agreementswere inked between the two nations in2009, during Argentine President Dr CristinaFernandez de Kirchner’s state visit. Duringher formal meeting former Indian PresidentPratibha Patil, both leaders recognised thattrade and economic relations underpinbilateral relations. In recognition of the needfor fully realising the untapped potential ofbilateral trade and economic cooperationbetween India and Argentina, both countrieshave agreed, through exchange of formalcommunication between the ForeignMinisters of the two countries, to facilitateon reciprocity basis, fiveyears multiple entry gratis visas forbusinessmen of each other’s country. TheIndia-ArgentinaBilateral RelationsIndian side welcomed the fact that theArgentine Consulate General and TradePromotion Centre in Mumbai is alreadyfully operational reflecting Argentina’sdecision to increase its presence in the Indianmarket and opening up new opportunities forentrepreneurs from both nations.A number of MoUs and agreementswere inked. Some of these are:• MoU on Cooperation in the field of TradePromotion and Technology Transferin International Trade between theGovernment of the Republic of India andthe Government of Argentine Republic• MoU between INTI, Republic of Argentinaand National Research DevelopmentCouncil Corporation, New Delhi.• Institutional Cooperation Agreementbetween the Argentine Council onScientific and Technical Research[CONICET] and the Council for Scientificand Industrial Research.• Exchange of letter for five year multipleentry gratis business visas.• Agreement between the Government ofArgentina and the Government of theRepublic of India for cooperation in thePeaceful Uses of Nuclear EnergyOther Agreements were coopeartionin customs matters; MoU on gainfulemployment of family members of adiplomatic Mission or Consular Post; MoUfor cooperation in Agriculture and AlliedSectors.India-Argentina Food SecurityStrategyOver the past decade, since India’seconomy liberalised trade with Argentinahas grown in volume and in the number ofsectors. In 2012 trade touched $1.75 billionand today the nation is a new and importantdestination for Indian companies. Indianinvestments are estimated at over $1 billionin Argentina.Yet the largest collaboration orassociation that the two nations are chartingis Food Security. According to an UNDPstudy - GM Crops for Food Security in Africa– The Path Not Yet Taken - released in 2012,the leading producers of genetically modified(GM) foods are the US and Brazil, followedby Argentina, India, Canada, and China.THE EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY DIPLOMATIST • March 2013 73
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