PM Modi’s Brazil visit’s main focus, when he meets President Lula da Silva next month, will be on strengthening the strategic partnership.
The meeting is part of Prime Minister Modi’s official state visit to Brazil from July 5 to 8, following his participation in the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The External Affairs Ministry said PM Modi’s talks in Brazil will cover trade expansion, defence cooperation, energy collaboration, technological innovation, and people-to-people ties.
Strategic Priorities
PM Modi and President Lula are expected to deliberate on broadening cooperation between India and Brazil in sectors such as energy, agriculture, defence, healthcare, and emerging technologies. Both nations are looking to strengthen institutional linkages and explore new initiatives in areas like space exploration and digital transformation.
Brazil’s aerospace major, Embraer, recently expanded its footprint in India by launching a wholly-owned subsidiary in New Delhi. The move aligns with India’s ‘Make in India’ push and reflects Embraer’s growing role in the Indian aerospace and defence ecosystem.
The two countries are also progressing on joint initiatives such as Embraer’s C-390 Millennium aircraft for India’s Medium Transport Aircraft program, in collaboration with Mahindra Defence Systems.
Meanwhile, Indian PSU Bharat Electronics Limited is set to open its first South American office in Rio de Janeiro, strengthening defence industrial linkages.
Brazil is currently assessing India’s Akash missile system as part of its air defence modernization efforts. The missile is known for its high-altitude and multi-target engagement capabilities.
Energy and Food Security
With Brazil being a global leader in ethanol production and flex-fuel vehicle technology, India is seeking to integrate Brazilian expertise into its renewable energy and transport fuel strategies. Collaboration is already underway between the Indian Oil Corporation and Brazil’s CNPEM on bioenergy research.
In the agricultural domain, discussions are ongoing to scale up imports of soy oil, pulses, and other agri-products from Brazil, as part of India’s broader food security agenda. Both countries are also engaged in collaborative projects on cattle genomics, leveraging Brazil’s advances in breeding Indian-origin Zebu cattle.
Exim Bank in Brazil
India’s Exim Bank is also stepping in to support bilateral trade, with plans to open its first Latin American branch in São Paulo next month. This office will provide financial backing for joint ventures in defence and infrastructure, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a major defence exporter by the end of the decade.
