India has officially approved imports of apples, pears and quince from Argentina after ten years of negotiations. The move gives Argentine topfruit exporters access to a market of 1.25bn people, and marks another milestone in the South American country’s quest to diversify its export markets for fruits and vegetables.
Together with China, Indonesia and South Korea, India is one of Argentina’s most important markets partners in Asia and trade between the two countries has risen steadily in recent years, reaching US$1.937bn in 2013. Up to now the biggest Argentine exports to India have been soya oil, copper, leather goods, sunflower oil and maize.
Last week, the Argentine Chamber of Commerce hosted the 6th Indian Festival in Buenos Aires. During a business seminar at the event, Amarendra Khatua, the Indian ambassador to Argentina, said the past year had been dedicated to identifying niches to diversify and expand bilateral trade. He noted that India represented a potential US$200m market for Argentine fruits and vegetables.
The Buenos Aires Herald reported that the governors of Entre Ríos, Jujuy, Catamarca and Salta are due to visit India next year to strengthen contact between the two regions.
