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India opened a Trade Commission in Buenos Aires in 1943 and later made it into an embassy in 1949. Argentina had established a consulate in Calcutta in the 1920s which was transferred to Delhi as an embassy in 1950. Argentina opened a Consulate General office in Mumbai in April, 2009.
VISITS FROM ARGENTINA
Latest
The latest is the visit of the Chief Minister of Buenos Aires Mr Mauricio Macri from 28-30 April 2010. He was the guest of Honour in the India-Latin America Business Conclave organized by CII. He visited Delhi and Mumbai and held meetings with Indian business groups. He had meetings with Minister of State (PK) for External Affairs and the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Maharashtra.
President Cristina Kirchner visited New Delhi on 14 October 2009. This was the first-ever high-level visit in the last fifteen years. She was accompanied by her Foreign Minister, Minister of Planning, Minister of Production, Minister of Science and Technology and Governors of the provinces of San Juan and La pampa. A 70-member business delegation also went with her. This was her first visit to an Asian Country. She met the Prime Minister and President of India as well as other dignitaries. Ten agreements for cooperation were signed. These cover nuclear energy, sports, agriculture, business visas, outer space and science and technology. The joint statement, issued after the meetings, calls for a comprehensive dialogue towards a strategic partnership. In her address to the business seminar at Delhi, she spoke of the complementarities between the economies and synergies between the two countries and invited Indian companies to invest in Argentina.
Previous Visits
- Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana-September 2007 (for Doha WTO meeting)
- Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana – September 2007 (for G-20 meeting)
- Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana – July 2006
- President Carlos Menem – March 1994
- President Raul Alfonsin - 1985 ( chief guest for the Republic Day)
- President Reynaldo Bignone - 1983 (to attend NAM summit)
- President Arturo Frondizi - Dec 1961
VISITS FROM INDIA
- Minister of State for External Affairs Smt Praneet Kaur - May 2010
- Commerce Secretary Shri G.K. Pillai – June 2008
- Minister of Textiles Mr Sankarsinh Vaghela - April 2008
- Minister of State for External Affairs Mr Anand Sharma - February 2008
- Minister of State for External Affairs Rao Inderjeet Singh -2005
- Prime Minister Narasimha Rao - 1995 (for G-15 Summit )
- President Zail Singh - April 1984
- Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi – 1968
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS SIGNED ON 14 OCTOBER 2010
PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS
COOPERATION
The Joint Commission established since 1994 coordinates and reviews bilateral cooperation. The third meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in July 2006, cochaired by the Argentine Foreign Minister and MOS External Affairs from the Indian side. The next meeting is to be held in Buenos Aires. India gives five ITEC scholarships to Argentine candidates every year. Argentine diplomats attend the courses at the Foreign Service Training Institute of India from time to time.
ISRO launched an Argentine nano-satellite, called as PehuenSat-I (weighing 6 kg) on board PSLV of India in January 2007 on a commercial basis. There exists scope for such cooperation in future.
Defence
The Argentine Government has posted a Defence Attache in their Embassy in New Delhi in 2008. The Defence Minister and the three Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Argentina have shown interest in opening up cooperation with India including in training, sourcing of equipment and UN Peace Keeping. A delegation of the National Defence College (NDC) of India visited Argentina in May 2008. An Indian Naval Officer joined the six-month global sailing of the Argentine Naval Sailing Vessel ‘Libertador’ in 2008. An Indian Naval officer was deputed to attend the Antarctic Navigation course in September 2009. There are proposals for signing of a MoU on Defence Cooperation and visit of the Argentine Defence Minister to India.
Trade (US $ million)
Year |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
India’s exports |
342 |
492 |
328 |
290 |
269 |
154 |
131 |
85 |
India’s imports |
876 |
836 |
1002 |
949 |
746 |
563 |
571 |
404 |
Major exports of India in 2009 were Organic chemicals (US$118m), Equipment and machinery (US$20m), Synthetic fibre (US$16m), Sound and image devices (US$13m), Tractors and autoparts (US$11m), Lubricants and special oils (US$8m), Cotton (US$3m), Dyes (US$9m) and Iron & Steel (US$4m).
Major Imports from Argentina in 2009 were Soybean oil (US$ 510m), Sunflower oil (US$ 53m), Sugar (US$ 30m), Leather (US$ 15m), Zinc (US$ 8m), Iron and steel (US$ 9m), Water pumps (US$8m), Plastics (US$ 4), Salt and related minerals (US$ 4m) and Coal (US$ 3m).
INVESTMENT AND JOINT VENTURES
There are 12 Indian Companies which have established operations in Argentina. They provide employment to 1300 Argentines. Seven of them are in IT, two in agro-chemicals, one in pharma, one in cosmetics and one in mining.
TCS has a unit employing 200 Argentines in Buenos Aires and has plans to increase the staff strength to about 1000.
Cognizant has IT and BPO operations employing 150 staff.
CRISIL’s IREVNA has set up a KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) unit in Buenos Aires for financial and investment research services employing 70 Argentine staff and has plans to expand. This is the only third-party KPO in Argentina.
Flatworld Solutions has opened a Centre in Buenos Aires in January 2010. It has started off with 250 staff and has plans to expand.
HCL opened an IT centre in Buenos Aires in 2009.
Cellent, a Mumbai-based IT company, has bought an Argentine start-up company "Net People" which specializes in software for mobile phones.
Aaliptha Software Company of Mysore has got a seven million dollar sub-contract in 2008 to provide banking solutions to Argentine Credit Cooperative Bank.
United Phosphorus Ltd (UPL) of Mumbai has acquired two Argentine agrochemical companies and a seed company and operates four manufacturing units. The turnover of UPL Argentina is about 70 million dollars and is expected to increase.
Punjab Chemicals and Crop Protection Ltd (PCCPL) has acquired an Argentine company “Síntesis quimica” and operates with two factories in Argentina producing and exporting agro chemicals. Their turnover is about 25 million dollars.
Glenmark has acquired an Argentine pharma company “Servycal SA” which specialises in oncological products. They are setting up a new factory (to be inaugurated in 2010) which will become the global centre of oncological prouducts for the company. They are already exporting to about 30 countries.
Godrej has acquired the Argentine company Issue Group which is a leader in hair colour and other cosmetics business in Argentina. The turnover of the company is 35 million dollars which includes exports of 12 million dollars. Besides Argentina the Issue Group cosmetics have a presence in a number of Latin american countries. The Group has a manufacturing plant in Buenos Aires.
Indian mining company, Indo Borax Chemicals Ltd. has acquired a small Borax mine in Argentina in 2009 and is planning to acquire bigger mines.
Reliance has formed a joint venture with an Argentine oil company Pluspetrol (The consortium includes Westwood of Australia) and they have won a concession in Peru for oil exploration and production.
Srishti Group of Kolkota has signed (in 2009) a MoU with the provincial government of Missiones to build a “Vedic Hotel” in the tourist resort of Iguazu.
Ashok Leyland has signed a MoU with Plaza Group of Argentina for joint venture in production of buses and trucks.
Tata Motors is exploring possibilities of joint ventures in vehicle production in Argentina.
Sonalika Tractors has signed a MoU with an Argentine company for tractors and agricultural machinery.
ONGC(OVL) has signed a MoU with ENARSA, their Argentine counterpart for possible joint ventures in Argentina for oil exploration.
IFFCO is planning to invest in a gas based fertilizer project in Argentina.
The Embassy would like to recommend investment in agricultural land in Argentina (as well as in Uruguay). Soy, sunflower, pulses, wheat and other food crops can be grown and taken back to India.
Non-Resident Indian companies
ArcelorMittal has acquired the Argentine steel company Acindar and steel distribution company Majdalani for over 600 million dollars. Sterling Group of India (owned by NRI Sivasankaran) has acquired a 1700 hectare olive farm in Catamarca Province of Argentina. “Olam”, a NRI company with headquarters in Singapore has started farming in Argentina growing peanuts. They are diversifying into other crops such as soya and wheat. They have leased 17,000 hectares of land and acquired two peanut processing plants.
There are some Indians who are in textiles business (imports, wholesale and retail ) in Buenos Aires.
Argentine companies in India
IMPSA, the Argentine engineering company, specializing in hydroelectric projects and energy, has opened an office in Gurgaon. They are exploring opportunities for projects as well as supply of power generation equipments such as turbines. They source wind energy parts from India and outsource engineering designs to Indian Companies.
Biosidus, an Argentine pharma company has a proposal to invest 20 million dollars in a new plant in India for production of biotech pharmaceuticals for Indian and Asian markets. They are already exporting over 3 million dollars a year to India.
BAGO, the leading Argentine pharma company has an office in Hyderabad to source raw materials. They have a joint venture operation with Ranbaxy to market their products in Thailand.
Some Argentine companies have shown interest in investment and joint ventures in India in food processing, autoparts and other sectors.
Argentina-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Embassy took the initiative in forming this Chamber which was launched in the presence of the Commerce Secretaries of India and Argentina during a Business Seminar in Buenos Aires in June 2008.
Business Centre
The Embassy has established a Business Centre in the Chancery which was inaugurated by the Commerce Secretary of India in June 2008. It has become a meeting point and resource centre for Argentine and Indian businessmen.
CULTURE
The Embassy in Buenos Aires has been organizing cultural programmes and visits of Indian troupes from time to time. Argentines have admiration for Indian culture, philosophy and spiritualism. There are thousands of followers of Sai Baba, Brahmakumari, Art of Living, Rama Krishna Mission, Hare Krishna and other such groups. Yoga is very popular. There are hundreds of Yoga centres all over the country. There are some Argentines who perform and teach Indian dance and music. Myrta Barvie is a well-known dancer of Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi. She was trained in Kalakshetra for five years. An Argentine Tabla player has been given ICCR scholarship for training in India in 2009. Bollywood dancing is becoming popular.
Festival of India
The Embassy has started organizing Festivals of India since 2008. The first Festival was held in November 2008 and the second in November 2009. The third is scheduled for 4-14 November 2010. The Festival includes handicrafts exhibition, live demonstration of handicrafts, classical and folk dance performances, Film Festivals, seminars, literary contest, Food Festival, photo exhibition and Incredible India tourism promotion. The second Festival attracted over 50,000 visitors.
Literature
Rabindra Nath Tagore had visited Argentina in 1924 and stayed for two months as the guest of Victoria Ocampo, a well-known literary personality and writer. He wrote a series of poems under the title “Purabi” containing memory of his stay in Argentina. Victoria Ocampo was given a honorary doctorate by the Viswa Bharati University and this was handed over by PM Mrs Indira Gandhi during her visit to Argentina in 1968. Jawaharlal Nehru University had organised a seminar on Victoria Ocampo in 1991. Maria Rene Cura, the Argentine writer (died in 2007) and associate of Victoria Ocampo had published for some years a magazine on India. She ran a cultural centre devoted to India called as " Anand Bhavan".
Films
Pablo Cesar, the Argentine movie director has directed a Indo- Argentine joint production film " Unicorn- the garden of fruits" . This was released in 1996. He is now working on co-production of a film “ Thinking of him” based on the interaction between Tagore and Ocampo. The Embassy has put him in touch with Indian film directors and producers. The script-writer of this movie Mr. Jeronimo Toubes visited India along with the Presidential Delegation and met various producers and Directors who have shown interest.
Trivandrum based “Toonz Animation India” and Illusion Studios of Argentina have tied up for co- coproduction of a animation film “El Gaturro”. It is based on a famous Argentine cartoon character ¨Gaturro¨. The Film, costing 5 million dollars is a 50 : 50 Joint Venture.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is becoming popular and there are some Ayurvedic Spas and massage centres in Argentina. The University of Buenos Aires and the University of Cordoba are running courses in Ayurveda. University of Cordoba recently started a two year post graduate course in Ayurveda from April 2010. Dr Jorge Luis Berra is the organiser of these courses. Our Honorary Consul General in Cordoba city Dr. Sergio Suraez is a well-known Ayurvedic expert. The Department of AYUSH of the Indian Health Ministry has agreed to the proposal of the Embassy to support promotion of Ayurveda in Argentina.
Education
Jawaharlal Nehru University has signed an MoU for Cooperation with San Luis University of Argentina. Other Argentine universities have shown interest in collaboration with Indian universities.
Thinktanks
The Indian Council for World Affairs has signed a MoU (April 2009) with the Argentine Council for International Relations. More Argentine think tanks have shown interest in exchanges with their Indian counterparts.
Economics
Raul Prebisch, the renowned Argentine economist was conferred Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1974. Argentine economists have participated in conferences organized by Indian think tanks such as ICRIER. Indian economists such as Rakesh Mohan and Rajiv Kumar have participated in seminars in Argentina.
Sports
Maradona visited Kolkata in December 2008 at the invitation of the Indian Football Academy and inaugurated a football school named after him. The Indian Football Academy is establishing a collaboration programme with the Argentine Club “River Plate” for training and exchanges. In June 2009 an Argentine professional football player Sebastian Monesterolo signed for Kingfisher East Bengal club to play in the Indian premier football league.
A Junior Hockey team from India played a series of friendly matches with the Argentine team in December 2008 in Buenos Aires and the Senior Hockey team played in Argentina in the second half of January 2009. An Indian women´s hockey team also toured Argentina to play a friendly series in 2009.
An Indian Army Polo team played matches with their Argentine counterparts in December 2008 at Buenos Aires and sent an Indian officer for a one-year equestrian training in Argentina. Argentine Polo players have been playing in Indian teams. Indian Polo players visit Argentina for training and participation in tournaments.
CONSULAR RELATIONS
Under the 1968 Visa agreement, fees for transit and tourist visas have been abolished. Under the new visa agreement signed during Argentine Presidential visit in October 2009, it has been agreed that five year multi-entry business visas would be given free of cost. The Embassy of India in Buenos Aires gives Cafe Con Visa (coffee with visa) to Argentine visitors. The applicants are invited for coffee and visa is given immediately. This has been praised by the Argentine media, public and the Foreign Minister himself.
INDIAN COMMUNITY
There are about 100 Indians in Buenos Aires of which half are those settled for over thirty years. Most of these are from the Sindhi community. Others are professionals working with Indian companies and multinational corporations.
About 300 Sikhs from Punjab have settled down in Salta province in the course of the early and mid twentieth century. They have become Argentine citizens and are well assimilated in the local population. Most of them are in retail and wholesale trade. The first generation immigrants speak Punjabi. There is a Gurudwara in the town Rosario de la Frontera, where they celebrate Guru Nanak Day every year. President Zail Singh had visited the Gurudwara in 1984.
Political
Relations between India and Uruguay are cordial and friendly. Two rounds of Foreign Office Consultations have been held (last in September 2004) between the two countries.
The Indian embassy in Buenos Aires is accredited to Uruguay. There is a Honorary Consul of India in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in New Delhi, which was opened in 1997.
Visits
Uruguay to India
1999 Dr. Hugo Fernandez Faingold, Vice President
2004 Mr. William Ehlers, Vice Foreign Minister
2010 Uruguayan Parliamentary Delegation
The Ex President of Uruguay wanted to visit India in November 2007 but the date did not suit the Indian side because of short notice and prior commitments. The actual President has also expressed his admiration for India for its democratic tradition, model of economic development and peaceful multicultural society. In a meeting with Ambassador in December 2009, he said that one of his dreams is to visit India.
India to Uruguay
1968 PM Smt. Indira Gandhi
2002 Shri Digvijay Singh, MOS, MEA
2003 Dr. Jasjit Singh Randhawa, Minister of Public Health & Rural Development of the State of Punjab
2008 Shri Anand Sharma, MOS, MEA
Agreements
MOU establishing Joint Commission – January 2007
2. MOU on Foreign Office Consultations- 1999
3. Agreement between the Uruguayan Diplomatic Academy and the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India- 1999
4. Agreement on Exemption of Visa for holders of Diplomatic and Official passports- 1994
5. Agreement on long-term visa for businessmen- 1999
6. BIPPA (February 2008)
ITEC
India gives 3 ITEC scholarships to Uruguayan candidates every year.
FSI Training
Uruguayan diplomats attend training courses of Foreign Service Institute of India from time to time.
The Government of India has announced (2008) that it would set up a IT training centre in Montevideo. This is under process.
Agreements proposed to be signed
DTAA – Two rounds of negotiations were held. But the negotiations were not concluded since Uruguay has undertaken some tax reforms recently. Negotiations are underway on this.
Bilateral Trade
(US $ in million)
Year |
Exports from India |
Imports by India |
2009 |
47.5 |
10.5 |
2008 |
75 |
8.5 |
2007 |
49 |
8.5 |
2006 |
35 |
5 |
2005 |
37 |
4 |
2004 |
22 |
4 |
2003 |
13 |
10 |
2002 |
11 |
5 |
2001 |
23 |
2 |
Indian exports
Chemicals, automobiles and auto parts, pharmaceuticals, garments and synthetic fibres
Indian imports
Wool, leather and wood.
The Embassy organized the first major business seminar in Uruguay in the month of June 2009 during the visit of the CII delegation for India Latin America Conclave. It got a very good response.
Investment and Joint Ventures
TCS has established a software development centre in Montevideo employing 800 local staff. They inaugurated a new US $ 4 million building in December 2007.
TCS has also established a Regional Software Training Centre in Montevideo. In this, 3000 candidates from the region will be trained.
Indian IT Company Geodesic Ltd acquires a Uruguayan software company in Montevideo in May 2009. The Uruguayan firm Interactive Networks specializes in short messaging solutions.
Mittal Steel has acquired a Uruguayan stainless steel company CINTER SA in December 2007.
A consortium of Indian vegetable oil companies is exploring opportunities for investment in acquisition of soya farms in Uruguay. A study team visited Uruguay in November 2007.
A number of Indian companies, including Reliance and Sakti pumps, use the bonded warehouse facilities of ‘Grupo Ras’, which is keen to provide the facility as well as marketing support.
The Government of Uruguay gives attractive incentives for foreign investment. They give five-year multi-entry visas for Indian business visitors. They give work permits (quickly) for Indian executives based in Uruguay. With this, the executives can travel to Mercosur countries and Chile without the need for visa.
Carlos Ott, the world famous architect of Uruguay has got the contract to design the 250 million dollar IT park of TCS in Chennai, the largest software development centre in the world, employing 24000 professionals and spread over 28 hectares.
Indian community
There are about 60 Indians most of whom are employees of TCS.
Political
The Indian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is concurrently accredited to Paraguay. A leading businessman, Mr. Rodolfo Javier Zuccolillo, has been appointed as India’s Honorary Consul General in Asuncion. Paraguay opened its Mission in India in 2005.
An MOU on Foreign Office Consultations was signed in 2002.
Visits
Paraguay to India
2002 Mr. Jose Antonio Moreno Ruffinelli, Foreign Minister
2004 Mrs. Leila Rachid, Foreign Minister
2005 Mrs. Leila Rachid, Foreign Minister
The President of Paraguay has shown interest in visiting India in 2010.
India to Paraguay
2002 Shri Digvijay Singh, MOS, MEA
2003 Shri Satyabrata Mookherjee, MOS, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Bilateral Agreements
Agreement between India and Paraguay on Exemption of Visa for holders of Diplomatic and Official passports – 1996.
Cooperation
India gives 3 ITEC scholarships to Paraguayan candidates every year.
Paraguayan diplomats attend the courses of Foreign Service Institute of India from time to time
The Government of India has announced (2008) that it would set up an IT training centre in Asuncion. The MoU in this regard is under consideration of the Paraguayan Government.
Bilateral Trade
(US$ in million)
Year |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
India’s exports |
5.61 |
12.55 |
16.83 |
20.90 |
24.30 |
46 |
59 |
50.6 |
11.9 |
India’s imports |
2.79 |
0.14 |
3.47 |
4.26 |
3.11 |
23 |
38 |
56.3 |
12.8 |
India´s exports to Paraguay
Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, tractors, two wheelers, Mahindra vehicles and textiles.
An Indian IT Company, Flatworld Solutions, in collaboration with a local company, runs a call centre employing around 1300 Paraguayans
A Paraguayan company has ordered 20 million dollars worth machinery from India in August 2008 for a new cement plant.
India´s imports from Paraguay
Soya oil (94% of imports) sunflower oil, leather and wood. Indian imports of soya and sunflower oil are expected to increase in the coming years, given the growing shortage of edible oil in India.
INVESTMENT
A Consortium of Indian edible oil companies have a proposal to invest 40 million dollars for acquisition of farmland in Paraguay to grow oilseeds and food crops.
The Embassy organized a business seminar in Asuncion on 8 March during the visit of an EEPC delegation. The Paraguayan Minister of Industries Mr. Don Francisco Rivas was the keynote speaker. The seminar contributed to the Paraguayan understanding of the Indian market and opportunities for business between the two countries.
Indian community
About 300 Indians live in Ciudad del Este, a city on the border with Brazil. These Indians are in trading, wholesale and retail business. Most of them are of Gujarati and Sindhi origin.
The Embassy organized a mini Festival of India in November 2010 with Indian dance programmes in Asuncion and Ciudad del Este and food and film Festival in Asuncion.