India-Mexico Relations

In this article, you can read all about India’s relations with Mexico. India’s relations with other countries is an important part of the international relations segment of the UPSC Syllabus. Read on for more insights.

It is important for IAS Exam aspirants to understand the India’ international relations for the preparation of Mains General Studies Paper-II.

India-Mexico Ties Introduction

• India and Mexico have uncanny similarities in geo-climatic conditions, physiognomy, biodiversity, people, cultural and family values, as well as European connections from the colonial past.
• Both nations are inheritors of great civilizations and contacts between them go back centuries.
• Mexico was the first Latin America country to recognize India after Independence.
• Diplomatic relations were established between both countries as early as in 1950.
• Mexican wheat varieties used in Indo-Mexican hybrids were the backbone of India’s Green Revolution in the sixties.
• Gandhiji’s statues and busts adorn four major Mexican cities. And, there are roads and several schools named after him.

Political Relations

• In the cold war years, Mexico and India had worked together closely as members of the UN, G-77, G-15 and G-6 (nuclear disarmament), both actively championing the interests of developing countries such as in the Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations.
• There are differences in the expansion of the permanent membership of the UNSC.
• There are also differences on issues of climate, environment and non-proliferation.
• Nevertheless, the relationship is marked by warmth and friendship.
• Till the middle of the 80s, there were many visits between the countries at the highest level.
• The relationship garnered momentum again in 2007 with the visit of the then Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and a visit by the then President of India Pratibha Patil to Mexico in 2008. This established a “Privileged Partnership”.
• More recently, other visits have also been made at the ministerial levels to Mexico. In May 2017, the then MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju visited that country.
• The bilateral relationship received a boost when in November 2014, Prime Minister Modi met President Peña Nieto on the sidelines of G-20 meeting at Brisbane; and also in June 2016 at the sidelines of the UNGA in New York.
• The two countries have several bilateral agreements & MOUs, including for Investment Promotion and Protection, Double Taxation Avoidance, Extradition, Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, Air Services, S & T Co-operation, Space Cooperation, Promotion of Traditional Medicine, Tourism Promotion, Cultural Exchanges, etc.
• India gives 20 scholarships to Mexico under the ITEC program, and Mexican diplomats are also given training at FSI.
• The Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Centre has been operating in Mexico since October 2010, teaching Yoga, Indian dances, musical instruments, Indian languages Hindi and Sanskrit and Indian cooking.
• Leading Mexican university ‘Colegio de Mexico’ and the ‘National Autonomous University of Mexico’ have important centres of Indian studies.

Learn about India’s international relations with other countries from the links provided below:

Commercial and Economic Relations

• In 2016, the bilateral trade between both countries was USD 6.32 billion.
• India’s exports to Mexico:
  • Vehicles and auto parts
  • Electrical machinery and electronic equipment
  • Organic chemicals
  • Readymade garments
  • Aluminium products
  • Iron and steel products
  • Gems and jewellery
• India’s imports from Mexico:
  • Crude oil
  • Organic chemicals
  • Electrical goods and machinery
  • Vehicles and auto parts
  • Iron and steel
• Since 2014, the balance of trade has been in India’s favour because of the sharp decline in the price of oil.
• There are 13 Mexican companies present in India and over 100 Indian companies in Mexico.
• Mexican investment to India is about USD 800 million, while Indian investment in Mexico is about USD 2 billion.
• Indian companies such as Infosys, TCS, NIIT, Wipro, HCL, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s Labs, Wockhardt, etc. have established joint ventures in Mexico because of the investment-friendly policies, large market and strategic location.
• Mexican IT company Softtek became the first Latin American company to have a presence in India as a service provider.

Aspirants of UPSC can go through the following links to assist themselves and prepare even better-

Indian Community in Mexico

• The Indian community comprising of NRIs and PIOs in Mexico is estimated to be around 7000.
• They mostly comprise of executives from IT companies and other international companies.
• There are also some academics in the local universities.
• Apart from that, there are a few private businessmen in the garment sector.
• The two nations have also seen a surge in tourism.
• India has extended the online e-Tourist Visa facility to Mexico.

Related Links: