17 Sep 2025|Noida | Amity University, Noida
International Conference “VIJIGISHU-2025” on the theme “Asia’s Presence in the Americas: A Multidimensional Perspective”, held at Amity
Amity Institute of International Studies (AIIS), Amity University Noida campus organized a three-day International Conference “VIJIGISHU-2025” on the theme “Asia’s Presence in the Americas: A Multidimensional Perspective”, from 17th September to 19th September 2025, in collaboration with Embassy of Brazil, New Delhi & Red Lantern Analytica Foundation, New Delhi.
Deliberating upon India-Latin America Bilateral Relations, Keynote Speaker Ambassador Deepak Bhojwani, Founder- LatIndia Consultancy and Former Ambassador to Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba, averred, “India shares a great relationship with Latin America and India-Latin America trade peaked at $50 billion in 2022, which is projected to reach $100 billion by 2027. India is among the top 5 largest export destinations for Latin America and Indian companies have invested around $12-16 billion in Latin America, with Brazil being a major recipient. Indian IT companies employ over 40,000 people in the Latin America region. However, it is important to consolidate this relationship, and Indian companies need to invest more in Latin America to strengthen their economic ties.”
Addressing the gathering during the Inaugural Session, Chief Guest, Ambassador R. Viswanathan, Former Ambassador to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela and Independent Director of Caplin Steriles Ltd, opined, “Trump’s tariffs are a betrayal of the friendship and partnership which America shared with India. However, for Latin America, India is an important export destination, as compared to other countries such as France, Germany, Japan, UK, etc. Food Security is another important area, and four billion dollars’ worth of soya oil is exported to Latin America, from India. China has established strong economic ties with Latin America, posing a challenge to India's growing presence in the region. India is seeking to secure energy and mineral supplies from Latin America, particularly lithium from Argentina's lithium triangle.”
Ambassador Virendra Gupta, President, Antar Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad and Former Ambassador to Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago and South Africa, stated, “Over the last few years, India has strengthened relationship with Latin American countries. We live in a multi-polar world. If we look at the trajectory of India-US, the relationship between the two countries has progressed and India is a major strategic partner of the US. A large Indian diaspora resides in the US, i.e., around 4 billion people and India is viewed favourably in the US. India is a huge market for America, especially when it comes to technological and defence products. It is a mutually beneficial relationship which can be further strengthen through mutual cooperation and strategic partnership,”
Prof. (Dr.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, said, “The world economy, including India, is hugely impacted by the Trump tariffs. However, when there is a challenge, there is an opportunity as well and with your determination and imagination you can find a solution to any problem. India needs to become a self-reliant economy and therefore, there is an urgent requirement to become a product-based economy rather than a service-based economy. All the products need to be manufactured in India so that the world can look up to India for fulfilling their requirements.”
Welcoming the guests on this occasion, Conference Chair, Prof. (Dr.) Nagalaxmi M. Raman, Director AIIS, said, “The Conference will be extremely beneficial for the students and will serve as a great learning platform, providing them the opportunity to listen to the esteemed speakers on a very relevant topic, thereby enhancing their understanding and knowledge.”
An Abstract comprising of the proceedings of the Conference, was also released during the Inaugural Session. During the three-day Conference, Technical & Plenary Sessions on topics such as “Asia and the Americas in Global Environmental Politics”, “Cinematic Crossroads, Literature and Philosophy in Asian American ties”, “India- US Strategic Partnership and Global Governance Cooperation”, “India-US strategic equation in a multipolar world”, and others will be organized.