Argentina to ease pharma market access for Indian firms
Argentina will work to upgrade India's regulatory status and reduce entry barriers for Indian pharmaceutical companies, boosting bilateral trade.
Argentina has pledged to ease regulatory hurdles for Indian pharmaceutical companies seeking to enter its market, according to the Commerce Ministry. The commitment came during the India-Argentina Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting held in Buenos Aires on August 24, 2026.
The South American nation has agreed to work towards reclassifying India from Annex II to Annex I under its pharmaceutical regulatory framework. This change is expected to significantly lower entry barriers, creating greater opportunities for Indian drugmakers and improving access to affordable healthcare in Argentina.
The discussions were led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, who visited Buenos Aires this week for the JTC. Bilateral trade between the two countries has been growing steadily, crossing USD 6.5 billion in 2025 with an annual growth rate of over 17 percent.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, the talks covered investment prospects in mining, energy, and infrastructure. Notably, India's KABIL has made significant progress in Argentina's lithium sector, completing Phase II drilling in Catamarca — the first lithium mining initiative by an Indian company in the country.
The two sides also identified emerging areas of cooperation, including aviation, space technology, telecommunications, and digital services, with particular focus on 5G, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure.
The visit holds strategic importance as India and the Mercosur bloc — comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay — look to expand their existing preferential trade agreement (PTA), which has been in effect since June 1, 2009. Progress on the Terms of Reference and the adoption of digital certificates of origin are expected to streamline cross-border commerce and make trade more efficient for businesses.