Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 23 (ANI): Ambassador Mariano A Caucino was invited to the 49th edition of the Kolkata International Book Fair, whose focal country for this year was Argentina.

In a statement at the opening of the Kolkata International Book Fair, Ambassador Mariano A. Caucino thanked the authorities for inviting Argentina as the focal theme country for this year's edition.

Founded in 1976, the Kolkata Book Fair is one of the largest and most dynamic literary gatherings in the world, attracting millions of readers, writers and publishers every year.

Ambassador Caucino highlighted the opportunity for foreign countries to showcase their culture in West Bengal. 'This edition marks a historic milestone, as Argentina has been selected as the focal theme country for the first time in history. We are deeply grateful to the people and government of West Bengal for their support and warm welcome', he said.

'Every time we come to Kolkata, we are able to observe that, taking aside the 17,000 kilometres that separate us, there are many common elements to cement the Argentina-West Bengal friendship', Caucino said.

'One, of course, is football. Bengalis' passion for football is very similar to that of Argentines. Another is our colours: the light blue and white that are seen both in the streets of Buenos Aires and in those of Kolkata. Yet another, the famous meeting of Rabindranath Tagore and Victoria Ocampo, which took place in Buenos Aires in 1924, and which united both writers forever', the statement noted.

As per the statement, Ambassador Caucino emphasised that Argentina-India relations are witnessing a period of 'great cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries'. The Argentine envoy reminded that 'India has become our sixth largest partner' and stated that '2025 marked a new record for Argentine exports to India, consolidating our position as the leading supplier of vegetable oils to the world's most populous country'.

Caucino stated that 'Prime Minister Modi's visit to Argentina last July is a clear demonstration of the growing importance of a strategic relationship for our countries'.

The envoy affirmed that 'under the leadership of President Javier Milei, Argentina has undertaken a process of economic reforms and deregulation that, to some extent, resembles those implemented by India in the recent past, having managed to become the most dynamic economy in the world and the country with the highest growth rate today'.

The Argentine envoy stated that 'our countries enjoy a high level of economic complementarity. This is evident, for example, in agricultural and mining cooperation'.

Caucino reminded that 'Indian companies are doing very well in northern provinces (states) of Argentina where some of the world's most important lithium reserves are located'. (ANI)