Bolivia, known to have the largest reserves of Lithium, has offered the metal -- used in making batteries of electric vehicles, laptops and smart phones -- to India, the South American nation's ambassador, Sergio Dario Arispe Barrientos, said today.
Barrientos said his country is willing to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) -- a pact between countries that provides preferential access to certain products by lowering tariff and other conditions -- with India for select goods.
Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi as somebody respected in the international community for a host of measures being taken by him, the Bolivian ambassador said he expects him to explore Latin America more to create a win-win situation for both the countries.
Talking to PTI, Barrientos said Bolivia has the largest reserve of Lithium in the world and it can become a strategic partner to India in providing the resource.
"We have the largest Lithium reserves. We would like India (both the government and the private sector) to explore this opportunity," he said.
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Referring to reports that India was looking at an all-electric car fleet by 2030, the ambassador said in the years to come Lithium will become a very important commodity.
"I think the sooner we consolidate the links with particular countries, which have markets, I think it would be better in way of ensuring your needs (of meeting supply demands of Lithium)," he said.
According to a Niti Aayog report: "In line with its aspiration to achieve 100 per cent electric vehicle (EV) sales by 2030, India can rise among the top countries in the world in manufacturing batteries."
It said India's market for EV batteries alone could be worth as much as USD 300 billion from 2017 to 2030.
"India could represent more than one-third of the global EV battery demand by 2030, if the country meets its goals for a rapid transition to shared, connected, and electric mobility," the report said.
Barrientos, who is also known as 'the Lithium Ambassador' among many, said India must push forward in latin America with stronger objectives.
"I think you will be surprised how we receive you, he said, suggesting an all-favourable atmosphere for Indian industries in his country.
Asked whether it will not be expensive to ferry Lithium from Bolivia, he said most commodities travel throughout the world.
"I think these imaginary seas cannot limit us how we see the world. I think considering the two digit growth India aims to achieve there is no other way (than to engage itself in more countries like Bolivia)," Barrientos said.
He said China is already acquiring Lithium from Bolivia.
The ambassador said Bolivia is trying to have the PTA with India to cater to markets in each other's country.
"We have already sent a letter that we want to start the negotiations on the PTA. We are still waiting to hear back from them. I understand it takes time. These things don't start just like that. But the first step has been taken, Barrientos said.
He, however, rued the fact that India does not have its embassy in Bolivia. "We still don't have an embassy of India in Bolivia. We have a concurrent embassy. If India wants to be the world's largest economy, it needs to have presence everywhere," Barrientos said.
"A country as large as yours needs to be everywhere on the ground because it is the only way of understanding in depth possibilities of increasing both economy and bilateral relations," he said.
The Indian Embassy in Lima is concurrently accredited to Bolivia since April 1981.
"China has an embassy, which they opened several decades ago. It is the key means to understand the realities of the countries," he said.
Barrientos said Bolivia would like to see more and more Indian travellers and businessmen.
"We want more Indian travellers to visit this part of the world. There have been some Indian guys who have been there, who have shot their films. We have Japanese and Chinese already travelling to these areas and hopefully Indian nationals will start frequenting to these areas.
"So, once you have done travelling to London, Bangkok or to Washington DC, come to Bolivia, you will be genuinely surprised. It is one of the calmest countries in Latin America, he said.
Barrientos said both the countries need to invest in expanding diplomatic ties. "We must invest in understanding us (India-Bolivia relations). We must invest in knowing each other. We should take our children to each others countries, he said.
The Bolivian ambassador said Latin America is thriving on infrastructure and Indian firms can seize this opportunity and build some important and ambitious projects being planned in Bolivia.
"I have already spoken to some big companies like Shapoorji Pallonji. I believe one day Shapoorji Pallonji can build a hospital in Bolivia. We are due to invest USD 1.3 billion in hospitals in Bolivia over the next two to three years," Barrientos said.
He said Latin America is willing to have more Indian entities to invest in the education sector.
Appreciating the Indian government's policies, he said PM Modi is very energetic. "(He is) A man willing to take chances. A man that I think is respected in the international community for certain measures that he is taking here. I would expect him to explore Latin America more," Barrientos added.
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