Embassy of India
Buenos Aires
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INDIA-ARGENTINA BILATERAL RELATIONS
Political Relations
India and Argentina, the two vibrant democracies separated by two oceans irrespective of the direction one takes, are bound by shared values, mutual respect, understanding and respect for the rule of law. The two friendly countries have enjoyed cohesive and strong relations spread across wide spectrum of sectors which have deepened over decades. India-Argentina diplomatic relations were elevated to the level of Strategic Partnership during the State Visit to India of the then President of Argentina, in February 2019. Both countries completed 75 years of their diplomatic relationship on 3 February 2024.
2. Multi-faceted relations between the two countries have strengthened over the years and encompass political, economic, defense, mining, cultural and scientific & technological cooperation. On 03 February 2024 both countries completed 75 years of their diplomatic relations. India opened a Trade Commission in Buenos Aires in 1943, which was later converted into one of the first Embassies of India in South America, in 1949. Argentina had established a Consulate in Kolkata in the 1920s, which was shifted to Delhi as an Embassy in 1950. Argentina has a Consulate General in Mumbai since April 2009.
Bilateral Exchanges
3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to congratulate President-elect Javier Milei on Twitter following latter’s victory on 19 November 2023. President Milei also tweeted on PM Modi’s victory on 4 June which was duly reciprocated by the latter.
4. There have been exchanges at the highest level between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Alberto Fernández briefly interacted during G20 Summit in Rome in October 2021 and had their first bilateral meeting on 26 June 2022 on the margins of G7 Summit in Munich, Germany. PM Modi visited Argentina to participate in G20 Summit in November-December 2018. He had interactions with former President Macri on five different occasions during 2017-19 on the sidelines of multilateral summits. Earlier VVIP visits include those of PM PV Narasimha Rao in 1995 for G15 Summit; State Visit of President Gyani Zail Singh in 1984; PM Smt. Indira Gandhi in 1968 and VP Dr S Radhakrishnan in 1954.
5. President Fernández travelled to India to participate in G20 Summit in September 2023 and also participated in the G20 virtual Summit on 22 November 2023. From Argentina, other State Visits include President Mauricio Macri in February 2019; Private visit of Vice President Ms. Gabriela Michetti in March 2019; State Visit of President Ms. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in 2009; President Carlos Menem in March 1994 for G15 Summit; President Raúl Alfonsín in 1985 as Chief Guest on Republic Day; President Reynaldo Bignone in 1983 to attend NAM Summit and President Arturo Frondizi in December 1961.
6. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar visited Buenos Aires on 25-26 August 2022 for bilateral Joint Commission Meeting with Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero. He also met President Fernández. EAM had a meeting with the Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on the sidelines of Munich Security conference on 16 February 2024. EAM also had meetings with FM Cafiero on 1 March 2023 and 24 April 2022 during latter’s visit to Delhi for G20 Ministerial and Raisina Dialogue respectively, besides a telephonic conversation on 14 January 2022. EAM had also met the then Foreign Minister Felipe Solá on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Matera, Italy, on 30 June 2021 and the two had a telephonic conversation on 5 May 2020. Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V Muraleedharan paid a bilateral visit and held meetings with the then Argentine Foreign Minister and Vice Foreign Minister in Buenos Aires on 29 August 2019.
7. From Argentina, Minister of Defense Jorge Taiana visited India in July 2023, the first ever bilateral visit by a Defense Minister of Argentina. He held talks with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on increasing defense cooperation between two countries, including measures to enhance defense industrial partnership. Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation Daniel Filmus paid an official visit to India in February 2023.
8. The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar held a video conference (VC) with Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina on 20 November 2020. Delegations led by Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, in October 2019 and Mr. Alok Tandon, Secretary Mines, in August-September 2021 visited Buenos Aires and the Provinces of Jujuy and Catamarca respectively for exploration of partnerships in the mining sector, particularly lithium.
9. The high-level bilateral visits and interactions intensified during Indian Presidency of G20 in 2023. Economy Minister Sergio Massa visited India in February 2023 for G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting and held bilateral meetings with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. FM Santiago Cafiero visited India in March 2023 for G20 FMM in New Delhi. S&T Minster Daniel Flimus paid another visit, this time for G20 Ministerial Meeting and Sparce Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM), in July 2023. Labour Minister Raquel Kismer de Olmos attended G20 Ministerial from 20-22 July in Indore and Minister of Women, Genders and Diversity Ms. Ayelén Mazzina participated in G20 Conference for Women Empowerment in Gandhinagar from 1-4 August 2023. Health Minister Dr. Carla Vizzotti participated virtually in the health session during the second Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) on 17 November 2023. Minister of Human Capital Sandra Pettovello and Energy Secretary Eduardo Chirillo participated virtually in the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 August 2024.
10. Various mechanisms of institutional bilateral dialogue have been reinvigorated. The sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was held in Delhi on 24 November 2021 after the previous round on 10 September 2020 in virtual mode. After an interregnum of 29 years, the third meeting of Joint Trade Committee took place on 20 October 2020 via video conference. The second meeting of ISRO-CONAE (Argentine Space Agency) Joint Committee, under the Agreement on cooperation on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space signed in 2009, was held on 2 December 2020, also virtually. The first meeting of Joint Working Group on Agricultural Cooperation was held virtually on 1 July 2020. The second meeting of Joint Coordination Committee under bilateral Agreement for cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was held in Buenos Aires on 1-3 August 2023.
Economic and Commercial Relations
11. India-Argentina bilateral trade more than doubled in 3 years from 2019 to 2022, peaking at USD 6.4 billion in 2022. In, 2021 and 2022 India was Argentina’s 4th largest trading partner. Argentina is one of the prime suppliers of edible oils especially soyabean oil to India. However, owing to the severe drought in Argentina, compounded by resultant scarcity of forex, India-Argentina bilateral trade faced strong headwinds in 2023 and settled at USD 3.9 billion in 2023, a deceleration of 39%. It is expected to bounce back with favorable economic and weather outlook.
12. Major items of India’s exports to Argentina include petroleum oils, agro chemicals, yarn-fabric-makeups, organic chemicals, bulk drugs and two-wheelers. Major items of India’s imports from Argentina include vegetable oils (soybean and sunflower), finished leather, cereals, residual chemicals and allied products and pulses.
13. Several Indian companies have established operations in Argentina with a total investment of over USD 1 billion. These include TCS, Mahindra Comviva, Infosys, AEGIS-Essar, Crisil, UPL, Advanta Seeds, Bajaj Motorcycles, TVS, Royal Enfield, Hero Motors, Glenmark, Godrej and Sri Sri Tattva. Argentina’s investment in India stands at approximately USD 120 million with presence of Globant and OLX in IT services and TECHINT in the engineering sector.
14. Agreements to promote cooperation in oil and gas sector was signed between OVL Ltd and YPF (Argentine public sector company) in February 2023. In first ever acquisition of lithium resources abroad, the state-owned KABIL signed an agreement with CAMYEN (public sector undertaking of Province of Catamarca) on 15 January 2024 to lease five lithium blocks for exploration and eventual exploitation. The first ever commercial agreement in defense sector was signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Argentine Air Force in February 2023 for supply of helicopters spares and engine maintenance. The two PSUs, HAL and FAdeA, signed a cooperation agreement in June 2023.
15. A bilateral business chamber, India-Argentina Business Council (IABC), was formally launched on 14 October 2020 by the then Minister of Productive Development Matías Kulfas and Ambassador Dinesh Bhatia. The Council, a non-profit organization comprising leading industries, exporters and importers in Argentina, is currently composed of over 30 companies. IABC, together with the Embassy, organized the first Business Forum on 25 March 2021 and also hosted a business seminar on 26 August 2022, which was attended by more than 60 leading Argentine and Indian companies during EAM’s visit to Buenos Aires.
Trade and Investment Promotion Events
16. The Embassy, in association with the IABC, organized the IABC Business event on 29th February 2024. The event saw the participation of prominent Government officials, respected Business leaders, various think tanks. Notably, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Ms. Diana Mondino was the Chief Guest. Minister of Defence, Mr. Luis Petri and Mr. Raul Jalil were the Guest of Honours. In the presence of Ministers, Ambassador talked about the solidifying relation, new growing areas of cooperation between countries. He pushed for the need to further deepen and diversification of bilateral relations. A panel discussion highlighted the growing opportunities in Indian Agriculture and Defence sector. The culture performances by all Argentina dance groups were also showcased in the event.
17. There has been regular exchange of visits between the two countries including participation of Government officials and businessmen in focused events by trade and export promotion agencies, delegation level visits in specific sectors, participation in exhibitions, buyer-seller meets (BSM) and B2B meetings. Mission has organized, coordinated and participated in multiple interactions with FICCI, CII, FIEO, Electronics and Software Council of India (ESC), PHDCCI, Argentine Chamber of Commerce and Services (CACS), Argentine Chamber of Software Industry (CESSI), Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), Exim Bank, various Argentine Banks, Coffee promotion events, besides BSMs for members of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, Electronics & Software Council of India and CESSI and Chemical and Allied Products Export Council (CAPEXIL). Mission has maintained active interactions with representatives of Indian companies in Argentina and Indian companies interested in expanding business in Argentina.
18. Some of the recent endeavors include participation of Indian companies, coordinated by FICCI, in 2023 edition of ExpoMedical, the largest Medical Devices exhibition in LAC region; visit of a 22-member delegation of Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) of India to Argentina from 27 March to 02 April 2023 and their participation in International Sunflower Seed and Oil Conference held at Buenos Aires from 29-30 March; Festival of India in conjunction with International Day of Yoga in 2024; and buyer-seller meet for 15 Indian companies in basic chemicals, cosmetics and dyes, coordinated by CHEMEXCIL, on 2 October 2023. CHMEXCIL also signed an MOU for cooperation with its Argentine counterpart CAPQ.
19. Mission also hosted a high-level delegation from Uttar Pradesh State Government led by Shri Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister and Dr Sanjay Kumar Nishad, Minister of Fisheries to Buenos Aires from 13-15 December 2022 and organized a Roadshow for them.
Cultural Relations
20. The admiration for and impact of Indian culture, yoga, meditation, philosophy, spiritualism, dance and music in Argentina perhaps transcends that in any other country. Indian organizations such as Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Rama Krishna Mission, Sivananda Yoga and ISKCON among others have extraordinary followings.
21. Foreign Minister Felipe Solá participated in Gandhi@150 celebrations in Buenos Aires on 02 October 2020. Further, President Alberto Fernández addressed a letter to Prime Minister Modi on the occasion. Earlier, on 2 October 2019, the then Vice President Ms. Gabriela Michetti was the Chief Guest at a function held at the Embassy in Buenos Aires to celebrate Gandhi@150.
22. The Embassy has been organizing cultural programs, including ‘India Weeks’ and ‘India Days’ in prominent cities and provinces of Argentina where Ambassador Dinesh Bhatia has been making presentation on “India i.e. Bharat.” India tourism promotion activities are also held periodically in the capital city and provinces of Argentina. Mission also organized various activities in Buenos Aires to promote Mission LiFE initiative of Prime Minister Modi, including activities like walkathon, beach cleaning and Swachh Bharat campaigns.
23. All ten editions of International Day of Yoga (IDY) have seen large scale and enthusiastic participation in Buenos Aires as well as in provinces. The 10th IDY celebrations on 21 June 2024 were held at La Rural on the theme of Yoga for Self and Society. The event was immensely successful witnessing participation of more than 12,000 people despite of incessant rain and inclement weather. In 2018, an event titled ‘Yoga for Peace’ organized by Art of Living was attended by PM Modi with participation of over 4000 people and 600 people performing Yoga simultaneously. Mission has successfully conducted Yoga capacitation projects in training academies of Argentine Federal Police as well as those of Buenos Aires City Police and Buenos Aires Provincial Police.
24. The Embassy, in association with CARI, the largest think tank in Argentina, hosted a reception on 24 April 2024 to inaugurate a working group on India. The chief guests of the event were Vice President of the Republic of Argentina Victoria Villarruel and Minister of Justice Mariano Cúneo Libarona. The event also witnessed Secretaries of Ministries, senators and deputies, and prominent businessmen.
25. The Indian Embassy curated an online event titled ‘India and Argentina in the New World Order: Dialogue among Indian and Argentine Think Tanks’, co-organized with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and Center for Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (Spanish acronym: CIPPEC), held on 6 November 2020. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and FM Felipe Solá delivered remarks in the Closing Session. Spread across five sessions, the Dialogue witnessed participation by several distinguished members of the think tank community from India and Argentina. The live streaming across platforms, simultaneously in English and Spanish languages, garnered over 1000 viewers globally.
26. The Mission co-organized 08th Ayurveda Day celebration with Ayurveda Prema Health Foundation on 11 November 2023 at Medical Association of Argentina under the theme ‘Ayurveda for one Health’. It witnessed more than 250 participants including Ayurveda experts, doctors, nutritionists and influencers highlighting the holistic approach of Ayurveda to wellbeing. The 2021 and 2022 celebrations of Ayurveda Days held under the themes “Ayurveda and Nutrition”, “Har Din Har Ghar Ayurveda” respectively saw participation of 130 persons in 2021 and 250 in 2022.
27. As part of celebrations of 160th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the Mission published a book titled “Rabindranath Tagore: Visiones desde America Latina” in collaboration with CARI (Argentine Council for International Relations), the largest Argentine think tank. The Book was jointly launched on 16 September 2021 by Ambassador and José Octavio Bordón, CARI President. Events to commemorate the birth anniversary of Tagore are hosted by the Mission every year at Tagore’s bust, installed in 2019 at Parque Rosedal (Rose Park), Buenos Aires.
28. Gurudev Tagore had visited Argentina in 1924 and stayed for two months as the guest of Ms Victoria Ocampo, a well-known literary personality, writer and feminist. A joint production feature film, Pensando en él (Thinking of Him) on his visit was the closing film at the International Film Festival of India, Goa in November 2017.
29. Ms. Victoria Ocampo was given an honorary doctorate by the Viswa Bharati University and this was handed over by Prime Minister Smt Indira Gandhi during her visit to Argentina in 1968. Ms María Rene Cura, an Argentine writer and close associate of Ms Victoria Ocampo was a renowned Indologist and was awarded the Padma Shri for her Indology work in 1984. Mr Raúl Prebisch, the renowned Argentine economist was conferred Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1974.
30. In 2015, at the first World Indologists Conference held in Delhi, 100-year-old Indologist Dr. Fernando Tola represented Argentina and was selected for the Presidential Award of Certificate of Honor in 2016 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the cause of Sanskrit.
Technical and Development Cooperation
31. Mission has made tremendous outreach efforts resulting in visit of eight (8) young politicians from across the political spectrum, to participate in ICCR’s Gen-Next Democracy Program in January 2023. Ten (10) journalists from mainstream media under XP Division’s familiarization program visited India during 2023 & 2024. Besides, eleven (11) Argentine diplomats have attended Professional Courses for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) and four (4) Argentine diplomats have attended Annual Disarmament and International Security Affairs Fellowship Program, conducted by SSIFS.
32. India has extended 40-45 slots annually under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scholarships for capacity building courses to Argentina with total number of ITEC alumni over 300. Four Argentine candidates have attended the fully funded 8-week training program named ‘UNNATI (UNispace Nano-satellite Assembly & Training by ISRO), two from Jan-March 2019 and another two from Oct-December 2022. Two officials from CONAE attended Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Course conducted by IIT Kanpur in June 2024.
33. An India-Argentina Center of Excellence in IT was inaugurated by Ambassador Dinesh Bhatia and Education Minister Jaime Perczyk on 18 April 2023 at National University of Hurlingham. CDAC has deputed a Technical Adviser from India to the CEIT.
Indian Community
34. There are around 2600 NRIs / PIOs in Argentina. Majority of these live in the capital city of Buenos Aires, including professionals working with Indian companies and multinational corporations such as Cognizant Technologies, IBM, JP Morgan, etc. A large number of earlier migrants who have been in Argentina for 3-4 generations are in provinces of Salta and Jujuy. There are two Gurudwaras in Greater Buenos Aires and one in Rosario de la Frontera, Salta province.
28/08/2024
