New Delhi. India and Argentina agreed here today to develop technical and professional cooperation in the agricultural sector and foster the trade of plants and animal products between the two countries.

The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Argentine Republic, Mr. Julián Andrés Domínguez had a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of India, Shri Sharad Pawar. During the meeting, the Ministers expressed deep satisfaction with the rich, substantive, traditional and trustful bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector particularly in the context of food security.

The Argentine Minister is on an official visit to India from August 2-3, 2010. The two Ministers signed a joint statement, which is given below:

Recognizing the benefits of cooperation in the field of agriculture and the allied sectors including the agro industrial sector, towards economic and social development of the two countries they stressed the importance of developing technical and professional cooperation in the agricultural sector, as well as the importance of fostering the trade of plants and animal products between the two countries.

In this context, and in order to deepen the traditional bilateral cooperation in agriculture and allied sector, the two countries agreed that the following Memorandum of Understanding will be signed in the near future:

a.- An Umbrella Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Argentine Republic for cooperation in the Field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors; and

b.- Memorandum of Understanding on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues for Bilateral Trade of Animal Products and Plant Products between the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Argentine Republic and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of India. The visiting Argentine Minister also invited Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar to visit Argentina.