IPGA hold talks with the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Trade

On 27 April 2022, Indian Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the nodal body for India's pulses trade and industry, held productive talks with Santiago Cafiero, the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Hugo Gobbi, the Argentine Ambassador.

The meetingled by Bimal Kothari, the newly appointed chairman of IPGA, was attended by other delegatory authorities including Sunil Sawla, the treasurer; Satish Upadhyay, core committee member, Sonia Kulkarni, chief executive officer and Pranav Marne, deputy chief executive officer. The focus of the meeting was chiefly inclined towards promoting relations between India and Argentina and providing an impetus to ongoing trade while also opening up potential avenues between the two countries. Kothari put forth the potential that the two countries have tofurther increase trade volume in the Agri-products space and pulses, especially lentils.

Cafiero and Gobbi were keen to have a delegation from IPGA visit the provinces of Salta and Cordoba in July this year and welcome their insights on the overall agriculture system and explore trade opportunities between the two countries.

Kothari extended an invitation to a large number of delegates from Argentina to attend the eagerly awaited sixth edition of 'The Pulses Conclave 2022' to be hosted by IPGA in September in Mumbai.

All the ideas and concerns put forward by IPGA, as well as its Argentine counterpart, received unanimous support from members and guests present for the meeting, stressing the importance of improving access to markets, achieving a sustainable food future, fostering new opportunities for value-addition, and creating jobs in particularly semi-urban and rural areas.

IPGA stated, "We recently held and concluded a productive meeting with Santiago Cafiero and Hugo Gobbi while on their visit to India. We not only appreciate their presence but also the insights and perspectives that were shared on the Indian-Argentina trade. Both parties discussed avenues further to strengthen the healthy ongoing trade in the agricultural sector and explore the high potential for growth in trade and investments. Members present at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to enable smoother bilateral trade and investment flows via enhanced and continued agreement. This proves that, through dialogue and the quest for common ground, we can create a new framework that fulfills the end goal set by involved parties."