If one were to draw a map of India–Latin America relations not by geography but by economics, it would look like a network of corridors connecting resources, markets and industries across continents. The relationship between India and Latin America is increasingly being shaped by what may be called economic corridors — flows of energy, minerals, food, manufactured goods and technology moving between the two regions.

Latin America is one of the most resource-rich regions in the world. For India, the region is important as a source of crude oil, copper, lithium, gold and agricultural commodities such as edible oils and sugar. These are not marginal imports; they are critical inputs for India’s energy security, infrastructure expansion, manufacturing growth and food security. Copper from Chile and Peru is essential for electrical equipment and renewable energy systems. Lithium from Argentina and Bolivia will be important for India’s electric mobility and battery storage industries. Crude oil from Brazil, Colombia and other producers helps India diversify its energy sources. Agricultural imports from countries such as Argentina and Paraguay contribute to India’s food supply chain.

At the same time, India exports pharmaceuticals, automobiles, auto components, engineering goods, chemicals, textiles and information technology services to Latin America. Indian pharmaceutical companies play an important role in supplying affordable medicines across the region, while Indian automobile and engineering companies have established a strong presence in several Latin American markets. Indian IT companies, too, have built delivery centres and technology operations across Latin America, creating a digital bridge between India and the Americas.

Seen together, these flows form a set of economic corridors — an energy corridor, a minerals corridor, an agriculture corridor, a manufacturing corridor, a digital corridor and a logistics corridor. These corridors are gradually transforming India–Latin America relations from a distant trading relationship into a structured and long-term economic partnership.