India is set to strengthen its engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) through an official visit to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Cuba from November 4 to 10, 2025.
The visit, led by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, aims to boost cooperation in trade, technology, critical minerals, and development partnerships.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit reflects India’s growing focus on the LAC region as part of its South–South Cooperation strategy, which promotes collaboration among developing countries and enhances access to key natural resources supporting India’s clean energy transition.
In Ecuador, discussions will review bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, health, and education, and take forward preparations for the opening of a resident Indian Mission in Quito. Ecuador’s Pacific coastline and its potential in energy and technology make it a strategic partner in India’s outreach to the Andean region.
The visit to Bolivia will include participation in the inauguration of the newly elected President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in La Paz on November 8, 2025. Bolivia holds some of the world’s largest lithium reserves, primarily in the Salar de Uyuni salt flats, and has emerged as a key partner in India’s Critical Minerals Mission.
India and Bolivia signed an MoU on cooperation in lithium and other minerals during the 2019 visit of former President Ram Nath Kovind, laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration in resource development. Bilateral trade, currently estimated at USD 120–150 million, includes Indian exports of pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and machinery, and imports of minerals, gold, and agricultural products.
Bolivia’s full membership in MERCOSUR—the regional trade bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—offers new avenues for regional market access and industrial partnerships. For India, this development expands opportunities to integrate with South American value chains and pursue technology-driven collaboration in mineral processing and manufacturing.
In Cuba, the discussions will centre on cooperation in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health, digital public infrastructure, and capacity building. The visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of India–Cuba diplomatic relations, a partnership rooted in friendship and shared developmental priorities.
Cuban Ambassador to India Juan Carlos Marsán said the visit would reinforce political ties and broaden cooperation in sectors such as pharma, biotechnology, AYUSH, IT, and tourism, following recent exchanges between leaders of both countries.
Ecuador, Bolivia, and Cuba represent three distinct pillars of India’s Latin American engagement—economic diversification, critical mineral access, and development cooperation—underscoring New Delhi’s intent to strengthen regional partnerships across the Global South.
