India-Brazil Bilateral relations

Aiming for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms, India and Brazil recently agreed to conduct regular bilateral meetings.

Key highlights of joint statement:

• There is requirement to reform the Security Council, including its expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories, with increased representation of developing nations.
• India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) shall be expanded during Brazil’s MERCOSUR Presidency, to leverage the full potential of their economic partnership.
  • MERCOSUR is a trading bloc in the South American region (Latin ) comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
  • A PTA was signed between India and MERCOSUR in 2004, sets forth margins of preference of 10%, 20% and 100% for 450 tariff lines on each side.

Historical ties:

• Pedro Alvares Cabral, a Portuguese explorer landed on the East Coast of Brazil in 1500, two years after Vasco de Gama had landed in India.
• Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Brazil and Goa, both outposts of the Portuguese imperialist empire, had bilateral exchanges that are reflected in food and dressing as well as local traditions.
• The bulk of Brazilian cattle livestock is of Indian origin.
  • The ‘Ongole’ strain from Andhra Pradesh led to the production of the zebu variety known in Brazil as ‘Nelore’.

India-Brazil trade relation:

• Trade between Brazil and India increased to $7.02 billion in 2021, with Brazilian exports worth $4.8 billion and imports from India valued at $6.7 billion.
• In 2021, India became the world’s 5th largest trading partner of Brazil (2nd in Asia), and the 5th largest source of Brazilian imports and the 13th largest destination of Brazilian exports.  
• Major Indian exports to Brazil includes processed Petroleum products, Agro-chemicals (insecticides, fungicides), Chemicals, Pharmaceutical, Textured filament yarn, and Unwrought Aluminum.
• Brazilian exports to India included Crude oil, soya oil, Gold (non-monetary), cane sugar, cotton, gum, wood and turpentine oils, chemicals (carboxylic acids) and iron ore and concentrates.

India-Brazil partnership in global arena:

• India and Brazil share a very close and multifaceted relationship both at bilateral level as well as in plurilateral fora such as BRICS, BASIC, G-20, G-4, IBSA, International Solar Alliance, as well as in the larger multilateral bodies such as the UN, WTO, UNESCO, and WIPO.
• The bilateral relationship is based on a common global vision, shared democratic values, and a commitment to foster economic growth with social inclusion for the welfare of the people of both countries.

Strategic partnership:

• The two countries have been Strategic Partners since 2006.
• As Strategic Partners, India and Brazil have several Institutional mechanisms to coordinate various aspects of their bilateral relationship.
• This includes Joint Commission Meeting (Foreign Minister level), Strategic Dialogue (NSA), Trade Monitoring Mechanism (TMM), Economic and Financial Dialogue, Dialogue on Consular and Mobility Issues, Joint Defense Commission, Joint Committee on Science & Technology and India-Brazil Business Leaders Forum.

Defence & Security Cooperation:

• India and Brazil signed an agreement in 2003 for cooperation in defence.
• Meetings of Joint Defence Committee (JDC) are held as an institutionalized mechanism for defence cooperation.

Indian Community in Brazil:

• The Indian community in Brazil is estimated to be around 5000 people, with majority of them living in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus.
• The community comprises primarily of professionals and businessmen, with some scientists/researchers also working in the fields of space, agriculture, physics and biotechnology.
• There is an Indian Association in Sao Paulo, which organizes events to celebrate national days and community festivals.

Ref: Source