Mexico aims to double agri trade volume with India: Minister
2011-09-23 12:09:30
Mexico said it would target to double agriculture trade with India from US$75 million in the next one year.
"Our trade volume with India presently stands at US$75 million. We would try to double it in the next one year," Mexico Vice - Minister for Agriculture, Mariano Ruiz Funes, told PTI on Wednesday.
Mexico has a total trade volume of US$45 billion in agri-food sector out of which the share of trade with India is a mere US$75 million, he said.
"There is ample scope to expand the trade volume with India and the present visit is aimed at this," he said.
Funes, who is a heading a high level delegation of entrepreneurs, said his country wants to expand partnership with India, particularly in the private sector.
He said he had detailed talks with Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and his deputy Harish Rawat on Monday on expanding bilateral cooperation. The focus would be on increasing productivity of crops like wheat, cereals, maize and sorghum.
Funes said he urged the minister to facilitate visit of agri scientists from India to help Mexico fight adverse impact of climatic change on the farm sector.
The Mexican minister said he paid a visit to Karnal based Wheat Research Institute yesterday to learn about latest research in the staple foodgrain commodity.
Highlighting about the similar climatic conditions of the two countries, he said there was scope to deepen partnership in sectors like agri-biotechnology, farm equipment, fertilisers and agro-chemicals.
He also stressed on mutual cooperation in areas like agricultural machinery, spices, poultry, seeds and grains and dairy products.
At present, the balance of trade with respect to agricultural products is in favour of India.
While Mexico exported agri and agri food products worth US$5.1 million to India in 2010, it imported items from India valued at US$69.9 million during the same period, the Mexican minister said.
India's exports to the Latin American nation include sesame seeds, plants for perfume or medicine and tea extracts.
The major products exported by Mexico to India are chickpeas, beer, instant coffee, fish flour and essential aromatic oils.
The Mexican minister said his country has advanced technology in building silos and low cost foodgrains storages and would be happy to assist India in the area.