Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro will on January 24 begin a four-day visit to India, primarily as chief guest on Republic Day.
He will be accompanied by seven Ministers, senior officials and a large business delegation.
“President of Brazil Jair Messias Bolsonaro will be paying a State Visit to India from 24-27 January 2020 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Bolsonaro will be the Chief Guest at India’s 71st Republic Day Parade on 26 January 2020,” Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
This is the first State Visit of President Bolsonaro to India. The last presidential visit from Brazil was by President Michel Temer in October 2016 on the sidelines of the eighth BRICS summit in Goa. PM Modi visited Brazil in November to attend the XI BRICS Summit.
On January 25, President Kovind will hold talks with Bolsonaro and will also host a banquet for him. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also call on President Bolsonaro, the statement said.
President Bolsonaro will address Indian and Brazilian Business leaders at the India-Brazil Business Forum on January 27, it said.
Bilateral trade between India and Brazil increased to USD 8.2 billion in 2018-19. This included USD 3.8 billion as Indian exports to Brazil and USD 4.4 million as imports by India. Major Indian exports to Brazil include agro-chemicals, synthetic yarns, auto components and parts, pharmaceuticals and petroleum products. Brazilian exports to India include crude oil, gold, vegetable oil, sugar and bulk mineral and ores, the statement said.
Indian investments in Brazil were around US$ 6 billion and Brazilian investments in India are estimated at US$ 1 billion in 2018. Brazilian investments in India are mainly in automobiles, IT, mining, energy and biofuels sectors. India has invested in Brazil’s IT, pharmaceutical, energy, agri-business, mining and engineering sectors, it said.
This visit is expected to further enhance and strengthen the multi-faceted ties between India-Brazil.
