Delhi, 22 November (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a significant bilateral meeting on Saturday, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between their nations, with a particular focus on expanding trade and cultural exchanges.
In a statement following the meeting, Prime Minister Modi expressed his pleasure in meeting President Lula, stating, India and Brazil will continue to work closely to boost trade and cultural linkages for the benefit of our people. The discussions highlighted the consistent positive momentum in India-Brazil relations.
This meeting follows PM Modi's state visit to Brazil earlier in the year, underscoring a shared commitment to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.The economic partnership between India and Brazil has seen substantial growth, with bilateral trade reaching $12.20 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Both nations are working towards a goal of $20 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. The trade balance has been in India's favor, with exports to Brazil amounting to $6.77 billion against imports of $5.43 billion in 2024-25. Key Indian exports to Brazil include processed petroleum products, while Brazil's main exports to India are soybean oil and raw sugar.
Cultural ties between the two countries are also flourishing, with Indian philosophy, spirituality, and classical arts finding an enthusiastic audience in Brazil. Yoga and Ayurveda are particularly popular, with a strong community of practitioners in Brazil.
The two countries are also working on renewing their Cultural Exchange Programme for 2025-2029 to foster a vibrant flow of ideas and traditions. Indian cinema and culinary arts have also been recognized as significant cultural bridges between the two nations.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
