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For nearly fifty years after independence, India's relations with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries remained cordial but limited. The two subcontinents had divergent foreign policy perceptions; and their inwardlooking development strategies also gave little incentive for any meaningful economic exchanges. This changed in the 1990s. A liberalizing Indian economy initiated the export-promoting "Focus LAC" strategy in 1996. On its part, the LAC region also reached out to India and other dynamic economies of Asia with a view to boost regional economic growth momentum. The interests converged on global trade and political issues too; and political dialogue increased in frequency. The past decade witnessed sizeable growth in trade and investment, preferential trading arrangements (PTAs) and special relationships; bilateral visits at ministerial and summit levels; and cooperation in fora such as G-20+, O-5, IBSA, G-4, BRIC and BASIC.
There are probably two sets of questions one can ask at the moment. What is the "next step" for India in Latin America? Besides trade and investment, the LAC region is important for the emerging power India in terms of its energy and food security, knowledge-based activities, and exchange of "best practices" in areas of social protection and inclusive growth. Crucially, reform of multilateral institutions, challenges in global governance and the issue of climate change are likely to see the two subcontinents cooperate and compete. The diasporic and democratic make-up of the Commonwealth Caribbean and Suriname require a concerted effort beyond the present ad hoc approach. Or India may have already been side-stepped by others. It is a very late comer and might possibly remain only on the fringe of the LAC region in terms of business, diplomacy, culture and politics.
Is it time to put India's relations with the LAC region on a different and new keel? For fifty years, it was Indian philosophy, Yoga and Ayurveda that appealed to small elitist sections of Latin American societies; whatever the export promotion since the 1990s, it should not create an impression of materialistic, even exploitative, Indian pursuits. Whatever India does or doesn't do, it is clear that old approaches and frameworks simply won't do.
Indian Foreign Affairs Journal posed these questions to three eminent scholars and policy practitioners. Broadly identified, but not exclusive, themes and subjects for...