♤ In 2016-17, India exported more to Mexico ($3.5 billion) than to neighbours such as Thailand ($3.1 billion), Myanmar ($1.7 billion) and Iran ($2.4 billion) or traditional trade partners Russia ($1.9 billion) and Canada ($2 billion).

♤ India’s exports to Colombia ($787 million) were more than the exports to some West

European countries such as Austria, Ireland and Scandinavian countries.

♤ Guatemala imported more from India ($243 million) than some Central Asian and East European countries.

♤ India’s trade with the Dominican Republic ($900 million) was more than the trade with

Portugal, Greece and some other European countries.

♤ Latin America was the leading destination of India’s vehicle exports with a share of 23% of India’s global exports. Mexico continued to be the main buyer of Indian cars with $1.6 billion accounting for 25% of India’s global exports. Vehicle exports to Mexico have been steadily increasing in the last three years and the increase from last year was an impressive 39%. Colombia, which was the number one buyer of Indian motorcycles came down to the third rank in 2016-17 with imports of $185 million, after Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In 2016- 17 Latin America imported motorcycles worth $354 million from India in 2016-17, which was 25% of India’s exports to the world.

1 R. Vishwanathan, the Wire, 21 July 2017, https://thewire.in/159810/trade-india-latin-america/