Argentina–India relations
Bilateral relations between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of India, have existed for decades. Argentina has an embassy in Delhi and a Consulate General in Mumbai whilst India has an embassy in Buenos Aires. Both countries are members of G20, Group of 24 and Group of 77. History Rabindranath Tagore visited Argentina in 1924. He stayed there for two months as the guest of Victoria Ocampo. Tagore wrote a series of poems under the title "Purabi" about his stay in Argentina. Victoria Ocampo was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Viswa Bharati University in 1968. India opened a Trade Commission in Buenos Aires in 1943. This was converted into an embassy on 3 February 1949. Argentina had established a consulate in Calcutta in the 1920s. In 1950, it was transferred to Delhi as an embassy. Argentina opened a Consulate General in Mumbai in April 2009. Argentine President Arturo Frondizi visited India in December 1961, the first state visit by an Argentine President. President Reynaldo Bignone visited in 1983 to attend the NAM summit. President Raul Alfonsin was the chief guest on Republic Day in 1985. President Carlos Menem visited India in March 1994 and President Cristina Kirchner in October 2009. In 1968, Indira Gandhi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Argentina. President Zail Singh visited the country in April 1984. P. V. Narasimha Rao visited Argentina in 1995 to attend the G-15 Summit. Economic relations Several India companies such as TCS, Wipro, CRISIL, Bajaj, Cellent, United Phosphorus Ltd (UPL), Synthesis Quimica, Glenmar and Godrej operate in Argentina. They employ 7000 Argentines as of 2013. ONGC signed a MoU with ENARSA for possible joint ventures in Argentina for oil exploration. Argentine companies operating in India include IMPSA, Biosidus and BAGO. Indian investment in the country totaled $930 million in 2013. Argentine investment in India totalled $120 million in 2013. Trade A preferential trade agreement between India and Mercosur (of which Argentina is a member) came into operation in 2009. Bilateral trade between India and Argentina was worth US$1.838 billion in 2012. India exported US$574 million worth of goods to Argentina. By 2016, bilateral trade between India and Argentina was worth US$2.9 billion. India exported US$700 million worth of goods to Argentina and Argentina exported US$2.2 billion worth of goods to India. Argentina exported $1.8 billion worth of goods to India in 2014, or 2.6% of its overall exports. The top 10 exported commodities were: Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $1.4 billion Oil: $204.4 million Ores, slag, ash: $94.2 million Raw hides excluding furskins: $41.9 million Organic chemicals: $10.8 million Machines, engines, pumps: $8.1 million Inorganic chemicals: $7.9 million Wool: $6.7 million Vegetables: $4.7 million Tanning, dyeing extracts: $4.2 million Science and education In January 2007, ISRO launched Pehuensat-1, an Argentine nano-satellite on board PSLV. India and Argentina are both members of the Antarctic Treaty. An MoU for Antarctic co-operation was signed by the two countries in 1998 and renewed in 2006. India provides five ITEC scholarships to Argentine candidates