Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will make his first trip to Latin America this week, before heading to Antartica -- thus making him the first Indian foreign minister to step onto the icy continent.
Khurshid will visit Chile from February 5 to 7 and Argentina from February 7 to 8. Till the previous week, there were doubts whether Khurshid could make it to Latin America, due to his tight diplomatic schedule. Though the minister will be visiting the continent, Colombia has been dropped from his itinerary.
According to sources, Colombia was dropped as the minister needed to be back in India to deal with “political issues”. It is currently a hectic political season in Delhi, as parties gear up for the budget session of Parliament, which begins on February 21. India has been trying to court the Latin American countries, with whom the economic ties rose to $30 billion in 2012. The total Indian investment in the region is said to be around $15 billion. The 33-member Community of Latin American and Carribean states (CELAC) chose India as the first country to hold ministerial level discussions last year in August.
Chile is the only country in the region, with whom India has a preferential trade agreement. The trade volume, between the countries, currently stand at over $2 billion. Despite the warming ties, Khurshid will be the first Foreign Minister to visit Chile and hold diplomatic talks with Chile Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno Charme. Five years ago, President Pratibha Patil had visited Chile, which led to a reciprocal state visit by the then Chilean president Michelle Bachelet in March 2009.
After three days in Chile, Khurshid will travel to Argentina, becoming the first foreign minister to visit the country in 20 years. Politically, this is an important visit, as Argentina is currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
On the economic front, Indian companies had invested over $1 billion in Argentina, with potential joint ventures in agro-industries, oil and hydrocarbons, mining ICT, infrastructure industries, chemicals and auto industries, being examined.
Official sources said that India views Argentina as an “important partner in India’s long term food security strategy”.