New Delhi: President of Argentina H.E. Mr. Mauricio Macri was paid a State visit to India from 17-19 February 2019 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The President of Argentina was accompanied by First Lady Mrs. Juliana Awada. Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Emilio Monzo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Jorge Faurie, Government Secretary of Modernization Mr. Andrés Ibarra, Government Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Luis Etchevehere, and senior officials was accompanied President Macri during the visit.
The main day of official engagements in New Delhi is on 18 February 2019. On 17 February President Macri visited Agra and on 19 February, Mumbai. The State visit of President Macri was taken place during the 70th year of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between India and Argentina. It closely follows on the heels of the highly successful visit of Prime Minister Modi to Argentina for the G20 from 30 November – 1 December 2018 and the very productive bilateral meeting that Prime Minister had with President Macri on that occasion. During his visit next week, President Macri meets President of India who hosted a Banquet on his honour and hold talks with the Prime Minister.
India and Argentina traditionally share warm and friendly ties anchored in mutually beneficial partnerships and admiration for each other’s cultures. Bilateral cooperation spans wide range are of areas including nuclear, space, economic and commercial, agriculture, science and technology, culture and tourism. Bilateral trade at present is around USD 3 billion. India exports mainly two wheelers, iron and steel, agro chemicals, yarn, organic chemicals, bulk drugs and drug intermediates and motor vehicles, while Argentina exports to India mainly vegetable oils (soya bean and sunflower), finished leather, cereals, residual chemicals and allied products and pulses. Indian companies have made investments in IT, agro-chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors in Argentina. The total Indian investments in Argentina are to the tune of USD 1 billion.
This visit provided an opportunity to the two sides to review progress in bilateral ties and to explore new avenues of cooperation.
