New Delhi, Feb. 20 -- In a significant move to enhance bilateral cooperation in critical minerals, India and Argentina have formalised a partnership focused on lithium exploration and mining through a new memorandum of understanding.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday in New Delhi between Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL), operating under India's Ministry of Mines, and the Provincial Government of Catamarca, Argentina.

The accord emerged from high-level discussions between India's Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, and Catamarca Governor Raul Alejandro Jalil.

Their meeting centred on expanding collaboration in mining operations, with particular emphasis on lithium exploration and investment opportun...