India and Mexico Relations

On the occasion of Mexico's National Day (16 September), India sent its best wishes and greetings to all Mexican citizens and remembered the 72 years since diplomatic relations were established.

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Historical Ties:

• India and Mexico have historical ties due to their colonial status.
• In 1950, Mexico became the first nation in Latin America to recognise India after its independence and to establish diplomatic ties with it.
• The 1960s Green Revolution in India was built on Mexican wheat types used in Indo-Mexican hybrids.
• Mexico and India maintained a close working relationship during the Cold War as UN members who actively promoted the interests of developing nations, such as during the Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations (under the World Trade Organisation).
• Both nations are G-20 members.

Political and bilateral cooperation:

• In 2007, the nations formed a "Privileged Partnership."
• Both nations decided to work toward establishing a "Strategic Partnership" in 2015.
• The two nations have a number of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), including ones for the promotion and protection of investments, extradition, administrative assistance in customs matters, and space cooperation, among others.
• Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, India provides 20 scholarships to Mexico, and Mexican ambassadors also receive training at the Forest Survey of India (FSI).

Economic and Commercial Relations:

• Mexico's tenth-largest trading partner is India, with an eight-year trade surplus in India's favour.
• India's top trading partner in Latin America right now is Mexico.
• India's exports to Mexico in 2021 totalled USD 5.931 billion, and Mexico's imports totalled USD 4.17 billion, bringing the total amount of trade to USD 10.11 billion.
• Vehicles and auto parts, organic chemicals, electrical machinery and electronics, aluminium products, ready-to-wear clothing, iron and steel products, jewels, and jewellery are among India's exports.
• Crude oil, mineral fuel, fertilizers, etc. are imported by India. 75 per cent of Mexico's exports are crude oil.
• In 2020, India's pharmaceutical exports climbed by more than 80% while remaining stable.

Security:

Both nations are concerned about the expanding traditional and non-traditional security issues, especially the escalation of international terrorism.

Cultural ties:

• Since October 2010, the Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Center has been operating in Mexico, where it teaches yoga, classical dances, music, and other arts.
• A cultural cooperation agreement has been in place since 1975, and four-yearly "Programmes of Cultural Cooperation" are used to carry out cooperation activities.

Indian Community:

• There are thought to be around 7,000 Indians living in Mexico, the majority of whom work as software engineers for Indian IT firms, academics/professors, and independent company owners.
• The number of travellers between the two nations is continuously rising, and Mexican citizens now have access to the online e-Tourist Visa option.
• Indian nationals with regular passports who have a valid visa for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Schengen area, or Japan, as well as those with permanent residence in those nations or in one of the Pacific Alliance members, namely Colombia, Chile, or Peru, are exempt from the requirement for short-term tourist or business visits to Mexico.

Differences:

• On the subject of nuclear non-proliferation, Mexico and India have held opposing positions. However, Mexico vowed support for India's application to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister in 2016. (NSG).
• On the subject of UNSC reforms, there are disagreements between the two nations.
• Mexico has been a part of the United for Consensus (UfC) group/Coffee Club, which opposes the increase of permanent membership in the UNSC in contrast to India and the other Group of Four (G-4) countries (Japan, Germany, and Brazil).

What recent developments are there?

• India and Mexico agreed to work together in space in June 2022, concentrating on everything from trade and investment to health and medicines.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation inked the special collaboration agreement on agricultural monitoring, drought assessment, and capacity building (ISRO).
• The most recent Memorandum of Understanding on Space Cooperation for Peaceful Purposes between ISRO and AEM (Mexican Space Agency) was signed in October 2014.

Way ahead

Geo-climatic characteristics, biodiversity, physiognomy and people, cultural norms, and family values are strikingly comparable between India and Mexico. Both are descended from great civilizations, and there have likely been interactions between them for many years.

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