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India- Brazil
Context:
The External Affairs Minister Jaishankar co-chaired the 9th India-Brazil Joint Commission with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira in New Delhi.
Key outcomes of the visit:
- Agricultural Cooperation: The commission highlighted the importance of collaboration in agricultural research and development, particularly in sustainable farming practices and food security.
- The establishment of a Cultural Exchange Program was proposed to facilitate these exchanges.
- Other aspects of the relation discussed were defence, space, security, technology.
Key dimensions of the relations
- Trade flows have been steadily growing, having reached USD $12 billion last year.
- In 2021, India became the 5th largest trading partner of Brazil.
- India-MERCOSUR PTA-: MERCOSUR includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. India signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with MERCOSUR in 2004, covering 450 items.
- Multilateral Engagement
- Cooperation in International Platforms: Both countries collaborate in IBSA, BRICS, G20, G4 and BASIC (a bloc consisting of Brazil, South Africa, India and China) and ISA.
- Common Views: India and Brazil advocate for a reformed, more representative UN Security Council.
- Defence & Security Cooperation
- Defence Agreement: Signed in 2003, with seven Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meetings, the latest in December 2021.
- Security Dialogue: Established in 2006, with agreements on Extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance, and Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
- Cyber Security: MoU signed in January 2020 during President Bolsonaro’s visit.
- Space Cooperation
- Agreements: The framework agreement for space use was in 2004; cooperation includes data sharing and satellite tracking.
- Recent Developments: Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 launched in February 2021; exhibition on India’s space program held in Brasilia in May 2022.
- Bio-fuels, Oil & Gas:
- Brazil has been a pioneer in using biofuels since the 1970s after the Oil Crisis of 1973.
- MoU: Signed in January 2020 between Indian Oil and CNPEM for bio-energy research.
- Visits: Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy visited India in April 2022; Indian delegation led by the Secretary of Petroleum and Natural Gas visited Brazil in September 2022.
- Bio-energy Cooperation: Includes the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and joint research on biofuels.
- Agriculture, Food Processing, and Animal Husbandry
- Cooperation: Joint Declaration of Intent in January 2020, with recent meetings and visits focusing on dairy development and cattle breeds.
- Exhibitions and MoUs: The Brazilian delegation attended World Food India 2023; agreements were signed with Ananda Dairy.
- Health and Traditional Medicine
- MoU: Signed in January 2020; first Joint Working Group meeting in March 2022.
- Traditional Medicine: Cooperation includes Ayurveda and Yoga; MoU signed in January 2020.