Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have set a joint goal to boost bilateral trade to $20 billion over the next five years. The announcement came during PM Modi’s official visit to Brazil, where he received a ceremonial welcome at the presidential residence and held high-level discussions with President Lula.
According to MEA Secretary (East) P. Kumaran, both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of India-Brazil ties, with a strong push for expanded partnerships in defense, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, AI, renewable energy, and digital transformation. A ministerial-level trade oversight mechanism will be created to monitor the new trade goals.
PM Modi urged Brazil to support expanding the India-Mercosur trade pact during Brazil’s presidency of the group. Lula affirmed Brazil’s commitment and asked his team to move forward on this request.
This marked PM Modi’s fourth visit to Brazil, but only the second dedicated bilateral visit in nearly six decades. He was honored with Brazil’s highest civilian award, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, which he dedicated to the people of India.
Key areas of cooperation discussed included climate action, semiconductor and critical minerals, bioenergy, and industrial collaboration. Brazil’s reserves of lithium, copper, and rare earths align with India’s clean energy needs, opening doors for joint mining and refining projects.
PM Modi also proposed stronger pharma collaboration, including faster Brazilian approvals for Indian medicines already vetted by the U.S. FDA or EDQM. An MoU was signed on agricultural research, and India highlighted how such collaborations can make healthcare more affordable in Brazil.
Six agreements were finalized or are in the pipeline, including MoUs on counter-terrorism, digital public infrastructure, renewable energy, agricultural research, intellectual property, and protection of classified data.
The two leaders also emphasized people-to-people ties, sports cooperation, and cultural exchanges. Over lunch, they exchanged views on multilateral issues, reaffirming joint leadership in platforms like BRICS, G20, and the UN.
PM Modi invited President Lula to visit India, and the invitation was warmly accepted. Modi also thanked Brazil for its solidarity following the Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed India’s unwavering stand against terrorism in all forms.
