Press statement by President Lula during the visit of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi

It is a great joy to receive Prime Minister Modi.

Two superlative countries, India and Brazil, cannot remain distant.

The solidity of our democracies, our cultures' diversity, and our economic abundance attract us towards each other.

I was at the forefront of the celebration of the Brazil-India Strategic Partnership in 2006.

Much has changed since then.

Threats to peace, prosperity, and the planet are escalating.

I reiterated to Prime Minister Modi my condolences for the recent attack in Kashmir and reaffirmed our repudiation of all forms of terrorism.

The negotiation of a cease-fire between India and Pakistan sets an example of prudence for the world.

As members of the G20 and BRICS, we act in defense of multilateralism and for a more inclusive global governance.  

Prime Minister Modi correctly stated, during the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, that 21st-century software cannot be run in old 20th-century typewriters.

It is unacceptable that countries the size of India and Brazil still do not hold permanent seats at the UN Security Council.

We are natural allies in the response to one of the largest challenges of our time: eradicating hunger and poverty and tackling climate change.

I thanked Prime Minister Modi for India's participation in the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.

Our livestock sector owes much to India. Ninety percent of Brazilian Zebu cattle are the result of 60 years of intense bilateral cooperation in genetic improvement techniques.

These breeding stock came from Gujarat, the Prime Minister’s home state.

The agreement between EMBRAPA and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research will foster innovation projects in the field of food production.

We will reach COP30 as leaders of the fair energy transition.

We will demonstrate that it is possible to associate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with economic growth and social inclusion.

In August, Brazil and the United Nations will hold, in New Delhi, the second round of the Global Ethical Stocktake to mobilize civil society from across the world in preparation for COP30.

India’s candidacy to host COP33 strengthens the leadership of the emerging countries in tackling climate change.

Brazil and India can become the engines of a new development model based on clean energy sources.

We are already partners in the Global Biofuels Alliance, launched during India’s G20 presidency.

India has the world's fastest-growing bioenergy market.

The country has established a goal of 20% for the ethanol blend in gasoline and a 5% proportion of Biodiesel in diesel fuel.

Brazil has half a century of experience with biofuels and is a pioneer in the market for flex-fuel engines.

We already add 30% ethanol to gasoline and 15% Biodiesel to diesel.

I invited India to join forces with the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, which will financially reward countries that conserve their forests.

The future of our relationship will also be founded on two other important pillars: technological development and defense.

India's public digital infrastructure policies, which are based on open data, code, and open models, counter the concentrated dynamics of private companies.

We want to create a center of excellence with India to bring this potential to Brazil.

We are interested in collaborating on the development and production of vaccines and medicines to strengthen Brazil's health industrial complex.

With its missions to the Moon, India has set a successful example in the exploration of outer space.

We received India’s support for the launch of Amazônia 1, the first satellite projected and operated entirely by Brazil.

In an increasingly polarized world, the search for autonomy brings our defense policies closer together.

The three Commanders of the Brazilian Armed Forces have been visiting India since the beginning of the current administration.

I shared with Prime Minister Modi EMBRAER’s availability to consolidate its presence in India through partnerships with local businesses, providing technology transfers and professional training.

EMBRAER aircraft can help India accomplish the UDAN plan so that "every common citizen in India can fly."

Today, we signed an Agreement on Combating Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime that will expand our cooperation.

As part of this effort, Brazil’s Federal Police will open an Attaché Office in New Delhi.

Deepening our partnership also depends on strengthening our economic relations.

Our twelve-billion-dollar trade flow does not match the strength of our economies.

When I was in India, 20 years ago, we expected to reach 15 billion dollars.

We are determined to accelerate this goal, tripling this amount in the short term.

Since the G20 summit in New Delhi, in September 2023, more than 70 Brazilian missions have been to India to promote trade and investments.

In the same period, we hosted 40 technical visits from India.

The Business Council we created during this visit will multiply channels between business people and connections between our productive chains.

I thanked Prime Minister Modi for the recent opening of the Indian market to Brazilian poultry and cotton.

Expanding the MERCOSUR-India agreement can greatly contribute to reducing the tariff and non-tariff barriers that still obstruct our trade.

Currently, only 14% of Brazilian exports to India are covered by the agreement.

My dear friend Modi,

In a month’s time, celebrations of 'Raksha Bandhan' — an Indian tradition that celebrates the links between brothers — will begin.

May the symbolism of this festivity inspire us to strengthen the ties we have built together today.