Argentina-India Political and Economic Consultations Meeting

A Political and Economic Consultations Meeting between Argentina and India was held today at Palacio San Martín. The meeting was presided over by the Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Leopoldo Sahores, and the Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar.

During the meeting, the participants discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, as well as different actions aimed at deepening and expanding the bilateral relationship. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Argentina and India, as well as the 5th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between both countries established in 2019.

The working agenda also focused on various aspects of the bilateral relationship, including nuclear cooperation (emphasis was placed on the Radioisotope Production Facility that the Argentine company INVAP designed and built in Mumbai) and a number of projects regarding space and defence cooperation.

Both officials analyzed and proposed possible actions in the fields of cooperation in disaster risk prevention and reduction, parliamentary diplomacy and diplomat training. In addition, they discussed the main topics on the global agenda, as well as the coordination of common positions on the multilateral front, particularly regarding environmental issues.

Regarding the commercial-economic agenda, the Undersecretary for International Economic Negotiations, Ambassador Gabriel Martínez, highlighted that both countries have great opportunities to deepen their bilateral relationship. The participants agreed to work together in order to achieve balanced and diversified growth of trade. For this purpose, the parties agreed to give a new boost to negotiations aimed at opening new markets. In this regard, India proposed to expand the Preferential Trade Agreement signed with MERCOSUR in 2004. Argentina undertook to promote this initiative with the members of the bloc.

In terms of investments, the participants highlighted the presence of Indian companies in Argentina and vice versa and also identified sectors with potential for investments, such as energy and mining. Argentina expressed its interest in moving towards an Air Services Agreement, with a view to increasing air connectivity and boosting tourism and trade between both countries.

Finally, the Argentine delegation thanked India's support for the resumption of negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom, in order to find a negotiated and peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute concerning the Malvinas Question, which, in accordance with the relevant resolutions by the UN General Assembly, is the only way to put an end to this colonial situation.