Ř
Commerce
Secretary Rajesh Agrawal Leads 4th India–Argentina JTC Meeting; Both Sides
Reaffirm Commitment to Deepen Strategic and Economic Partnership
Ř
India–Argentina
Advance Cooperation in Lithium, Energy and Agriculture; SPS Talks Open Market
Access for Indian Farm Products
Ř
India–Argentina
Strengthen Pharma Market Access, Expand Cooperation in Digital, Space and
Emerging Technologies
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Largest-Ever
Indian Business Delegation to Argentina Explores New Avenues for Trade and
Investment
·
4th
India–Argentina JTC held: The Fourth Meeting of
the India–Argentina Joint
Trade Committee (JTC) was held on 24 August 2026 in Buenos Aires.
·
Strategic
partnership reaffirmed: Both sides reviewed
progress on the roadmap agreed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit to Argentina
and committed to deepen economic ties.
·
Bilateral
trade crosses $6.5 billion: Trade exceeded USD 6.5 billion in 2025,
recording annual growth of over
17%.
·
Argentina’s
5th-largest trading partner: India has emerged as Argentina’s fifth-largest trading
partner, indicating scope for further diversification and
expansion.
·
Trade
facilitation: Argentina is working to reduce non-tariff barriers and
facilitate foreign trade, while both sides stressed the need
for greater reciprocity and balanced market opportunities.
·
Mining
and lithium cooperation: Opportunities in mining, energy and infrastructure
were discussed, with continued Indian participation through KABIL in Argentina’s
lithium sector.
·
KABIL
advances lithium project: KABIL’s project in Catamarca, the first
lithium-mining initiative by an Indian company in Argentina, has completed Phase II drilling.
Opportunities in Salta and
Jujuy are also being explored.
·
Agricultural
market access: SPS discussions are progressing for
Indian onions, milk and
dairy products, grapes, potatoes, bananas and pulses to enter
the Argentine market.
·
Benefits
for Indian agriculture: Improved access is
expected to create opportunities for Indian
farmers and agricultural exporters and expand bilateral agri-trade.
·
Pharmaceutical
access: Argentina has committed to work toward
upgrading India from Annex
II to Annex I under its pharmaceutical regulatory framework and
reducing market-entry barriers.
·
Healthcare
cooperation: The move could expand opportunities for
Indian pharmaceutical companies and improve access to affordable medicines in
Argentina.
·
Ayurveda
and Yoga: India and Argentina will strengthen
cooperation in Ayurveda
and Yoga, building on the 2019 ANMAT–CDSCO MoU.
·
Emerging
sectors identified: Both sides highlighted opportunities in aviation, space technology,
telecommunications and digital services, particularly 5G, AI and digital infrastructure.
·
India–MERCOSUR
PTA: The Preferential Trade Agreement remains
an important vehicle for expanding market access. Progress on Terms of Reference and digital certificates of origin
is expected to facilitate trade.
·
Industry-government
engagement: Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal met
Argentina’s foreign affairs minister and representatives of major industry
chambers to discuss business opportunities and regulatory barriers.
·
Sectoral
discussions: Meetings covered agriculture, pharmaceuticals, non-tariff
barriers, space, nuclear cooperation and technology, including
a proposed ISRO–CONAE
meeting.
·
First
major Indian business delegation: More
than 25 Indian business
leaders participated in the India–Argentina Business Forum on 25 August 2026,
including representatives from UPL,
Kirloskar and Aditya Birla Group.
·
Wide
range of business opportunities:
Companies explored cooperation in agriculture,
minerals, energy, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, tourism, banking and
telecommunications.
·
Focus
on tangible outcomes: The Business Forum aimed to convert
government-to-government engagement into business-to-business
partnerships, investment and expanded trade.
Key takeaway: India
and Argentina are seeking to move beyond traditional trade toward a broader strategic economic partnership,
with lithium and critical
minerals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digital technology and space
emerging as key areas for future trade and investment.
[ABS News Service/29.08.2026]
The
Fourth Meeting of the India–Argentina Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held on
24 August 2026 at Palacio San Martín, Buenos Aires. The Indian delegation was
led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, while the Argentine delegation was
led by Ambassador Fernando Brun, Secretary for International Economic
Relations. Both sides reviewed progress on the roadmap agreed during Honourable
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Argentina in 2025 and reaffirmed their
commitment to further deepening the strategic and economic partnership between
the two countries.
Bilateral
trade between India and Argentina crossed USD 6.5 billion in 2025, registering
consistent annual growth of over 17 per cent. India has emerged as Argentina’s
fifth-largest trading partner, highlighting the significant potential for
further expansion and diversification of the bilateral trade basket.
Argentina’s ongoing efforts to facilitate foreign trade, reduce non-tariff
barriers and promote investment are expected to support greater participation
by Indian companies in the Argentine market. Both sides emphasised the
importance of ensuring greater reciprocity and a more balanced framework of
opportunities for businesses as the economic partnership expands.
Investment
opportunities across mining, energy and infrastructure were also discussed,
including the continued engagement of India’s KABIL in Argentina’s lithium
sector. KABIL’s mining activities in Catamarca, the first lithium mining
initiative by an Indian company in Argentina, have progressed significantly
with the completion of Phase II drilling. Opportunities for further engagement
in the provinces of Salta and Jujuy are also being explored to deepen the
strategic partnership between the two countries.
The
discussions also noted encouraging progress in facilitating the entry of Indian
agricultural products into the Argentine market. Technical-level discussions on
sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are advancing for Indian onions, milk
and milk products, grapes, potatoes, bananas and pulses, marking an important
step towards their market access. These developments are expected to create
greater opportunities for Indian farmers and exporters, strengthen bilateral
agricultural trade and contribute to India’s broader objective of achieving Viksit
Bharat 2047.
Significant
progress was also made in facilitating market access for Indian pharmaceutical
products. Argentina has committed to work towards upgrading India from Annex II
to Annex I under its pharmaceutical regulatory framework and reducing barriers
to entry. This is expected to provide greater opportunities for Indian
pharmaceutical companies and contribute to improving access to quality and
affordable healthcare in Argentina. Building on the 2019 Memorandum of
Understanding between Argentina’s ANMAT and India’s CDSCO, both sides also
committed to strengthening cooperation through joint initiatives in Ayurveda
and Yoga.
Emerging
areas of cooperation, including aviation, space technology, telecommunications
and digital services, were identified as areas offering further opportunities
for both countries, particularly in 5G, artificial intelligence and digital
infrastructure.
The
India–MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement also remains an important avenue
for expanding market access and strengthening economic integration. Progress on
the Terms of Reference, along with the adoption of digital certificates of
origin, is expected to facilitate trade and make cross-border commerce more
efficient for businesses.
The
JTC was followed by a meeting with Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,
International Trade and Worship, H.E. Mr. Pablo Quirno, along with
representatives of the G6 industry chambers. The interaction provided valuable
insights from the Argentine business community on opportunities within the
India–Argentina economic relationship and reinforced the importance of aligning
government initiatives with the needs and aspirations of industry.
Commerce
Secretary Rajesh Agrawal also held meetings with Mr. Sergio Iraeta, National
Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, to review the roadmap on
onions, citrus, dairy, walnuts, grapes and bananas; Mr. Alejandro Cacace,
Secretary of Deregulation, to discuss non-tariff barriers and regulatory
recognition for Indian pharmaceuticals; and Secretary of Innovación,
Ciencia y Tecnología Mrs. Adriana Baravalle, along
with Ms. Josefina Pérez of CONAE and Ms. Jimena Schiaffino, Director for the
Nuclear and Space Sector, to discuss space and nuclear cooperation, including a
proposed ISRO–CONAE meeting.
The
engagement was further strengthened through the India–Argentina Business Forum,
held on 25 August 2026 at Palacio San Martín. The Forum brought together
government representatives and leading businesses from both countries. Commerce
Secretary Rajesh Agrawal led the first and largest-ever Indian business
delegation to Argentina, comprising more than 25 business leaders, including
representatives from UPL, Kirloskar and Aditya Birla Group. The delegation
engaged with the Argentine business community to translate the shared vision of
the two countries into tangible commercial outcomes.
The
Forum provided an important platform for Indian companies to engage directly
with their Argentine counterparts, identify new avenues for trade and
investment, and explore partnerships across key sectors, including agriculture,
minerals, energy, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, tourism, banking and
telecommunications. Discussions focused on translating government-to-government
engagement into tangible commercial outcomes by improving market access,
addressing regulatory and trade barriers and facilitating greater
business-to-business engagement.
The
India–Argentina economic partnership presents significant opportunities to
expand trade, deepen investment and create new avenues for value creation.
Strengthening cooperation across traditional and emerging sectors can further
contribute to the growth and prosperity of both economies.