Will PM Modi Enhance India-Argentina Relations with His Visit to the Iconic Boca Stadium?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Historic bilateral meeting between India and Argentina after 57 years.
- PM Modi will visit Boca Stadium to promote cultural ties.
- Discussion on strengthening economic relations is key.
- India-Argentina trade has seen significant growth.
- Argentina is a major supplier of edible oils to India.
Buenos Aires, July 4 (NationPress) The relationship between India and Argentina is poised for a significant uplift during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the South American country beginning Saturday, as highlighted by Ajaneesh Kumar, the Indian Ambassador to Argentina, in an exclusive interview with the IANS.
"This visit holds critical importance from a bilateral perspective. Although PM Modi had previously visited in 2018 for the G20 Summit, this official bilateral meeting marks the first such visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 57 years," Kumar stated.
Argentina will serve as the third destination in PM Modi's five-nation tour, which includes stops in Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Following Argentina, he will travel to Brazil (July 5-8) and Namibia (July 9).
During this visit, the Prime Minister will begin by paying tribute at the statue of General Jose de San Martin, a celebrated freedom fighter and national icon of Argentina. A ceremonial welcome will follow, along with delegation-level discussions, and a luncheon hosted by President Javier Milei.
Since 2019, Argentina has been recognized as a strategic partner of India, and last year marked the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
"In the evening, as he wraps up his busy schedule, PM Modi plans to take a few moments to visit the Boca Stadium. This visit underscores the importance of sports in fostering people-to-people connections between both nations, especially given Argentina's global reputation in football," Kumar added.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has indicated that both leaders will engage in discussions centered around economic and trade interests to further enhance bilateral ties.
Notably, India-Argentina trade has seen remarkable growth, more than doubling from 2019 to 2022, reaching a peak of USD 6.4 billion in 2022. In both 2021 and 2022, India ranked as Argentina's fourth largest trading partner.
Argentina is a key supplier of edible oils, specifically soybean and sunflower oils, to India. By 2024, total annual bilateral trade between the two countries increased by 33 percent to USD 5.23 billion, making India Argentina's fifth-largest trading partner and export destination.