“Despite the distance that separates us in kilometers, and cultural differences in language and religion, Argentina is a good friend of India.”
How would you describe the current state of Argentina-India relations, and what are the most significant areas of cooperation between our two countries?
The relationship between our two countries is at an exceptional moment. President Milei and Prime Minister Modi met last November 19, 2024 at the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in Brazil and the consonance of visions was very deep. The Argentine ministers of the economic area highlighted this with great emphasis after the meeting.
Our two countries cooperate in many areas. However, if I had to point out some key elements, I would say that the main ones are: the trade in foodstuffs such as derivates from soybeans and sunflower, which contribute strongly to India’s food security; the growth of Indian investments in Argentina in fields such as lithium and energy; and cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and space issues.
In 2024, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Argentina-India diplomatic relations. Could you reflect on some of the key milestones in this long-standing relationship and the plans for celebrating this important occasion?
As you say, diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1949. Consequently, the Argentine Embassy in India was created in 1950. Argentina, on the other hand, had had a presence in India since much earlier, as we had opened a consulate in Kolkata in the 20s of the 20th century. Our two countries have maintained, despite the geographical distance and cultural differences, a very positive relationship over the decades, which has progressively grown and developed. If I had to identify some milestones in this decades-long construction, I would mention the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, in force since 2019, and the recent meeting of Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein and his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Summit, a few months ago.
Argentina offers diverse opportunities for long-standing relationship foreign investment. What sectors in Argentina are particularly attractive for Indian businesses looking to invest, and what incentives are being offered?
Yes, in fact, the Large Investment Incentives Regime, known as RIGI for its acronym in Spanish, is one of the main changes that our current Government has implemented since its inauguration in December 2023.
This regime (which we will refer to hereinafter as RIGI, to make it simpler… I hope it doesn’t mean anything in any Indian language), seeks the creation of conditions of predictability, stability and legal certainty for large investment projects; their special protection against possible legal breaches of the State; and the development of local production chains, among other issues. In particular, RIGI grants special incentives to projects in eight strategic sectors: forestry, tourism, infrastructure, mining, technology, steel, energy, and oil and gas.
RIGI offers tax, customs, legal, and foreign exchange benefits for investments exceeding two hundred million dollars. It is open to Argentine and international companies alike, as long as they invest in foreign currency. The deadline for companies to sign up will be two years after the scheme entered into force (which took place on August 23rd, 2024). This deadline may be extended for another year by the President.
RIGI also contains provisions for disputes between Argentina and the companies in the scheme to be resolved in international courts. If a legal dispute cannot be settled within 60 days, companies can skip national courts and go straight to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), a World Bank institution for legal dispute resolution and conciliation between international investors and states.
For Indian travellers, what are some of the must visit places in Argentina that showcase the country’s natural beauty, culture, and history?
It should be borne in mind that our country is the eighth largest in the world in terms of its area (for a comparison, India is the seventh). In addition, due to its geographical location, it includes very different natural regions: the warm and humid northeast, with jungles and a rich biodiversity; the hot and dry northwest, with high mountains, deep valleys and mineral riches; the temperate central region, with immense pastures; the cold south, Patagonia, with snowy pine forests on the one hand and desert steppes on the other.
With this in mind, I would say that the places that cannot be missed are the Iguazu Falls, in the northeast, which are the widest in the world; Ushuaia, which is the southernmost city in the world and the port of entry to Antarctica, and the city of Buenos Aires, our capital, which was called by a French statesman “the capital of an empire that never existed”.
The 25th of May marks Argentina’s National Day. How is this day celebrated both in Argentina and among the Argentine community abroad, and what does it symbolize for the nation?
This day is celebrated in Argentina with a traditional military parade and family gatherings in which traditional recipes are prepared, such as “locro“ (a hot stew with potatoes, vegetables and meat), ”empanadas“ (fried or baked, crescent-moon shaped pastries filled with a variety of ingredients, typically meats, cheese, or vegetables) and ”pastelitos” (fried dumplings filled with quince of sweet potato jam). Argentines abroad, as far as possible, seek to recreate these dishes.
For our country, May 25, 1810, when there was a revolution in Buenos Aires that established the first locally-chosen government, that is, not appointed from Spain, means the birth of our nationality from the political point of view. That revolution gave birth to the national movement that concluded with the declaration of our independence, on July 9th 1816.
There have been several high-level visits between Argentina and India in recent years. Could you highlight the most recent ones and their impact on strengthening bilateral relations?
The most recent visit was that of former Foreign Minister Diana Mondino in October 2024 to New Delhi; Prime Minister Modi, in turn, visited our country within the framework of the G-20 meeting in November 2018, and former President Macri, at his turn, paid a visit to India in February 2019. It should be reminded that on that occasion both leaders emitted a joint communiqué against terrorism, by which our country expressed its condemnation of terrorism throughout the world and especially in Kashmir.
Apart from that, as we have already said, there were very high-level meetings in third countries, such as the meeting of Prime Minister Modi and President Milei in November last year or the meeting of foreign ministers in Munich in February this year.
In today’s diplomacy, multilateral meetings are also an opportunity to develop bilateral relations. In fact, communication between leaders is permanent, taking advantage of the ne available technologies.
Argentina has a prominent role in international organizations like the United Nations, G20, and MERCOSUR. What are some of Argentina’s key priorities in international relations, and how does India feature in Argentina’s global strategy?
President Milei often emphasizes that his foreign policy is based on the defense of freedom, democracy and a free market economy. These are values that our country shares with India. In this sense, too, India is a strategic partner for Argentina, a friendly country with which we share a vision of respect for democratic values and individuals. At the same time, India is one of our main trading partners, so, accordingly, its role in our global strategy is relevant.
Bilateral trade between Argentina and India has grown steadily over the years. What are some of the key products traded between the two nations, and how do you envision the future of trade relations evolving?
At the moment, the commercial ties between Argentina and India are based, above all, on the provision of foodstuffs by our country to India, mainly products derived from soybeans and sunflower, as I’ve already mentioned.
From our point of view, the aim of our work is to enrich the basket of products that are traded between our countries; open markets for new products; and enhance the added value of what is exchanged, with the understanding that international trade is not a zero-sum game but benefits both parties.
Argentina is known for its natural resources, particularly in energy and agriculture. How can India and Argentina collaborate further in these sectors, especially in renewable energy and food security?
As you know, India is growing by leaps and bounds and requires more and more food and energy. Argentina is already a very important supplier of food; our ambition is that, aided by legal incentives such as RIGI, more and more Indian investments will arrive and Argentina will also become a guarantor of the energy supply that India needs.
Would you like to give any message to our Envoy Excellency readers?
My message is simple: despite the distance that separates us in kilometers, and cultural differences in language and religion, Argentina is a good friend of India, which will welcome with open arms Indians who want to travel as tourists or investors to our country, and who supports India in its values of democracy, freedom and fight against terrorism.