India, Argentina Deepen Strategic Trade Partnership

• India-Argentina bilateral trade crossed $6.5 billion in 2025, growing more than 17% annually.
• Both sides advanced cooperation in lithium, energy and agriculture.
• Argentina agreed to work towards improving market access for Indian pharmaceutical products.
• India led its largest-ever business delegation to Argentina to explore trade and investment opportunities.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 29th Aug: India and Argentina have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen their strategic and economic partnership, with cooperation advancing across lithium, energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digital services, space and emerging technologies.

The Fourth Meeting of the India-Argentina Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held on August 24, 2026, at Palacio San Martín in Buenos Aires. The Indian delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, while Argentina was represented by Ambassador Fernando Brun, Secretary for International Economic Relations.

The two sides reviewed progress on the roadmap agreed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Argentina in 2025 and discussed measures to further expand bilateral economic engagement.

Bilateral trade between India and Argentina crossed $6.5 billion in 2025, registering annual growth of more than 17%. India has emerged as Argentina’s fifth-largest trading partner.

Both countries stressed the need to reduce non-tariff barriers, facilitate foreign trade and promote investment while ensuring greater reciprocity and balanced opportunities for businesses.

Mining, energy and infrastructure emerged as key areas of investment cooperation. The meeting noted progress in the activities of KABIL in Argentina’s lithium sector. KABIL’s project in Catamarca, the first lithium mining initiative by an Indian company in Argentina, has completed Phase II drilling. Further opportunities in Salta and Jujuy are also being explored.

Technical discussions on sanitary and phytosanitary measures are progressing to facilitate the entry of Indian onions, milk and milk products, grapes, potatoes, bananas and pulses into the Argentine market.

Significant progress was also reported on pharmaceutical market access. Argentina has committed to work towards upgrading India from Annex II to Annex I under its pharmaceutical regulatory framework and reducing entry barriers for Indian medicines.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in Ayurveda and Yoga, building on the 2019 memorandum of understanding between Argentina’s ANMAT and India’s CDSCO.

Aviation, space technology, telecommunications and digital services were identified as emerging areas of cooperation, including opportunities in 5G, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.

The engagement continued at the India-Argentina Business Forum held in Buenos Aires on August 25.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal led India’s largest-ever business delegation to Argentina, comprising more than 25 business leaders, including representatives from UPL, Kirloskar and Aditya Birla Group.

Indian and Argentine businesses explored opportunities across agriculture, minerals, energy, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, tourism, banking and telecommunications.

The two sides also discussed the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement, including progress on the Terms of Reference and adoption of digital certificates of origin to facilitate cross-border trade.

Agrawal separately met Argentine officials dealing with agriculture, deregulation, innovation, science and technology to discuss market access, non-tariff barriers, pharmaceuticals, space and nuclear cooperation.

The government said stronger cooperation across traditional and emerging sectors could expand trade, deepen investment and create new avenues for value creation in both economies.