New Delhi What role does a region from where India imported just 0.9% of goods between 2008 and 2010, and exported only 1% in the same period, have to play in the overall economy of the country? A lot... if it happens to be Latin America. The region, which is emerging to be an essential supplier of raw materials, could help India attain food security and meet its growing feedstock demand.

So far, Latin American exports have been dominated by natural resource-based products, while imports from India consist mainly of natural resource-based and technology products.