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The visit of the Foreign Minister of Argentina is taking place after a gap of 12 years.
The Foreign Minister is accompanied by a 80-member delegation including Provincial governors, officials and 50 businessmen. This is the largest-ever Argentinian delegation to visit India. The delegation will visit Mumbai on 3-4 July 2006 and Delhi on 5-7 July, 2006. CII is organizing Business Seminars in Mumbai (4 July) and Delhi (6 July).
The Argentinian Foreign Minister will hold talks with Minister of State for External Relations, Shri Anand Sharma on 5 July 2006. He will call on the Prime Minister the same day.
A Joint Commission Meeting with the Argentinian delegation will be held to discuss cooperation in areas such as agriculture, science & technology, energy, sports and tourism. Agreements will be signed for cooperation in some of these areas.
India’s exports to Argentina in 2005 were 269 million dollars and imports 746 million dollars. Main exports of India are engineering products, vehicles, auto-parts, two-wheelers and chemicals. Soya oil accounts for 80% of the total imports from Argentina. The other imports are leather, wool, paper pulp, minerals and metals.
India has concluded a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Mercosur of which Argentina is an important member. The trade with Argentina will be boosted when the PTA becomes effective in the second half of 2006.
New Delhi
July 3, 2006
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