India and Mexico on Wednesday signed an agreement for space cooperation during the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between the two countries on Wednesday. As per MoU signed between ISRO and Mexican Space Agency on Space Cooperation for Peaceful Purposes, both sides will work together in remote sensing, satellite communication and areas relating to the peaceful use of outer space.
The Sixth India-Mexico JCM was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. This is the first time that the JCM has been held at a ministerial level since the establishment of the mechanism in 1984. The Mexican Foreign Minister was accompanied by Vice Foreign Minister Carlos de Icaza and a large inter-ministerial delegation.
Kuribrena, who also spoke at the Munich Security Conference held in New Delhi on Tuesday, pushed for reforms at the United Nations Security Council saying the international body should be more representative, responsive and inclusive in its structure.
During the meeting the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political, economic and trade, energy, traditional medicines, science and technology, space, education tourism, consular and cultural issues were discussed by the two Ministers. Regional and multilateral issues including India’s ongoing engagement with Community of latin American Caribbean States (CElAC) and Pacific Alliance also came up for discussion.
The two nations will also explore possibilities of cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector. India is one of biggest importer of crude oil from Mexico besides fertilizers, iron- steel, and engineering goods. The Indian exports to Mexico are chemicals and petrochemicals, engineering goods, automobiles and auto parts, electrical machinery and equipment, mineral fuels and oil, pharmaceuticals, textiles and garments, gems and jewellery. During the meeting Swaraj and Kuribrena underlined the need to expand the ties, particularly in the trade sector. Though the bilateral trade volume has increased substantially the two countries are looking at the potential of reaching $10 billion by about 2015.
On cultural side Mexico will be setting up an ‘India Room’ in the National Museum of Cultures in Mexico City for which India has gifted 108 pieces. The Mexican Foreign Minister also handed over Swaraj invitation from Mexican President of Mexico for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the country.