Lula dials Modi; Brazil President plans state visit in February

PM Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday held a telephone conversation to discuss the South American leader’s possible State Visit here in February to widen Strategic Partnership and agenda for the Global Agenda.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a telephone call today (Thursday) from the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, His Excellency Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the India–Brazil Strategic Partnership and take it to even greater heights in the year ahead,” according to readout issued by the Indian government.

Recalling their meetings last year in Brasília and South Africa, the two leaders noted with satisfaction the significant progress achieved across diverse areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade and investment, technology, defence, energy, health, agriculture, and people-to-people ties.


Brazil is keen to deepen ties with India, especially in the fields of defence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and technology and in a path breaking step both countries have signed an agreement for joint vaccine production.

The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. They also underscored the importance of reformed multilateralism in addressing shared challenges, according to the readout. Last year the Trump administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs against both India and Brazil. Later the USA reduced the tariffs against Brazil following increase in prices of Brazilian produced coffee, cocoa, beef and spices in US markets. Negotiations between Brazil and the US over a broader trade framework are currently ongoing, with Lula pushing for the full removal of Trump’s tariffs from goods still subject to the tariffs. India is also negotiating trade deal with the USA and seeking to reduce to tariffs substantially.

Modi conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming Lula to India at an early date. Lula is planning to visit India for the AI Summit and State visit next month.

Last year India & Brazil launched discussions to expand scope of India-MERCOSUR PTA that could enable higher volumes of Indian exports to key South American economies including Brazil. The issue was discussed during the visit of the Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin here last October.