Argentina and India are celebrating the 75 Anniversary of their bilateral relations

In May 2024, H.E. Mr. Mariano Agustín Caucino was appointed as the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to India, presenting his credentials to the President of India on July 11, 2024. Ambassador Caucino brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously served as the Argentine Ambassador to Costa Rica (2016-2017) and Israel (2018-2019). A distinguished lawyer and specialist in Foreign Affairs, he is also an accomplished author with numerous essays and books on Contemporary History and International Relations to his credit.

As Ambassador Caucino embarks on his mission in India, the timing could not be more significant, with Argentina and India celebrating the 75th anniversary of their bilateral relations. In this interview, he shares his vision for the future of Argentina-India relations, highlights opportunities for economic cooperation, and discusses the shared values and goals of both nations in various international forums.

 

 

1. As the new Ambassador of Argentina to India, what is your vision for the future of Argentina-India relations? What milestones do you hope to achieve during your tenure?

Argentina and India are celebrating the 75 Anniversary of their bilateral relations. Both countries share common values regarding democracy and open economies. I am sure we will be able to develop further cooperation between our countries in many fields, such as trade, science, education, culture and even regarding nuclear capacities. We have a deep admiration for the Indian people and its struggle for independence. We recognize India´s efforts and contributions in the multilateral forums. In recent years we witnessed India´s outstanding achievements, having become one of the five World´s largest economies.

I also look forward to continuing counting with India’s support to the resumption of negotiations between Argentina and the UK in order to find a definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute related to the Question of the Malvinas Islands.

 

2. What are the key sectors where Argentina and India can enhance economic cooperation? Are there any specific incentives or policies to attract Indian investors?

Argentina is currently exporting oils, pulses, and agricultural products to India, while India exports pharmaceuticals, textiles, and machinery to Argentina. The bilateral trade volume has seen steady growth, reflecting the complementary nature of the two economies.

There is vast potential for agricultural cooperation between India and Argentina. Argentina, ranking as the eighth largest country by land area following India, boasts a rich agroclimatic diversity that directly benefits agricultural production in both nations. While India has a history of agriculture spanning over 4500 years, Argentina’s agricultural practices date back no more than 250 years. The exchange of agricultural knowledge and technology between these two countries can be mutually advantageous. Argentina places great importance on expanding this relationship, as evidenced by the operation of one of the six agricultural attachés office they have worldwide in India.

I would like to point that there are many Indian companies that have been operating in the last years in Argentina, such as TATA Consultancy Services, Mahindra, UPL, Royal Enfield, Hero Motors and Cognizant, among many others.  Argentina has also presence in India through Globant, Techint and INVAP.

Last but not least, Argentina’s company CAMYEN has recently signed an agreement regarding lithium exploration and further development of lithium blocks with India’s state-owned mining firm Kabil.

3. Argentina and India are both active members of various international organizations like G20. How do our countries collaborate on multilateral platforms to achieve common goals?

It is very important considering that the G20 is probably the most representative platform to discuss many of the main world´s issues, as it is a forum that combines both the developed countries and the developing world. It is in that area that we found common ground with India for example regarding the need to promote development, prevent terrorism and fighting all forms of colonialism.

Last year, when India hosted G20, we were able to reach a common declaration which under the geopolitical situation was acknowledged as a real breakthrough.

4. Education and research are vital for future growth. What steps are being taken to promote academic collaborations and student exchanges between our two countries?

I am convinced that educational and research cooperation builds bridges between countries. During many years, when I was young I used to work in the private sector as educational cooperation director for UCES university in Argentina, a position that allowed me to know perfectly well how beneficial it is for the educational institutions the exchange of student and professors. I have witnessed the profound impact that collaborating with other countries has for the educational sector.

Argentina and India have a strong bilateral collaboration in terms of educational and technological cooperation and I hope to continue working in this field. We have a tradition of cooperating in the research and logistic support in Antartica, in the bases Bharati and Maitri. Moreover, we cooperate in peace missions and we have signed last year and agreement to exchange knowledge and resources between Argentinian Center of Joint Training for Peace Operations (CAECOPAZ) and the   Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK)

We are moving forward, in this sense, through the signing of MOU with several universities to increases both students and teachers exchanges. In 2023 we had the honor to inaugurate the Indo-Argentine Center of Excellence in Information Technologies, based in Buenos Aires, with the aim of training students and teachers to carry out concrete projects in this field. We have also been invited to participate in seminars of the National Defense College.

We are also working in the identification of agricultural cooperation projects that are of interest to both countries.

 

 

5. Argentina is renowned for its exceptional wines, especially Malbec. How has the wine industry contributed to Argentina’s economy and cultural identity? Are there any collaborations with Indian wine producers or events planned to promote Argentine wine in India?

Argentina is among the top ten producers of wine in the world.  Wine is a big part of Argentina’s cultural and gastronomy identity. One of the most important traditions in Argentina is to get together for an “asado” (Argentinian barbecue) with family and friends while also sharing good wine.

We are exporting wine to India, mostly Malbec, and I am sure that Argentine wine could become a great choice for Indians. Of course, as you can imagine, it is no secret that we would like to have less taxes on wine imports.

6. Argentina is also famous for its passion for soccer and has produced some of the world’s greatest footballers. How has soccer influenced Argentine society and its global image? Are there any initiatives to promote soccer collaboration or exchanges between Argentina and India?

Argentina has recently won Copa América, in the final match against Colombia and won its third World Cup (2022). Argentina’s leadership in terms of Soccer is world known. Our football players are known everywhere and have become an important image of Argentina. Usually, to many people the first thing that comes to their mind when they hear about Argentina is “soccer”. During the last World Cup for Argentinians it was thrilling to see how many Indians were supporting us, specially in states like Kerala and West Bengal. Dibu Martínez (our goalkeeper) has visited Kolkata in July 2023. We would love to have more members, if not the whole Argentinian team, visiting India.