Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Saturday pitched for a sharper economic and strategic alignment, setting a target to take bilateral trade beyond USD 20 billion in five years while jointly calling for reform of global institutions and a stronger Global South voice.
Addressing a joint press conference after delegation-level talks in the national capital, the two leaders underlined that their partnership extends beyond commerce to global governance, peace, and multilateral reform.
“I am delighted to welcome President Lula and his delegation to India. India-Brazil relations have long benefited from President Lula’s vision and inspiring leadership… President Lula’s visit has graced the historic AI Impact Summit and given new energy to our strategic partnership,” Prime Minister Modi said.
India-Brazil trade to cross $20 billion in five years
PM Modi reiterated that Brazil is India’s largest trading partner in Latin America and said both countries are committed to expanding commercial ties.
“Brazil is India’s largest trading partner in Latin America. We are committed to taking bilateral trade beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Our trade is not just a figure; it’s a reflection of trust. The large business delegation accompanying the President reflects this confidence. The expansion of the India-Mercosur trade agreement will further strengthen our economic cooperation. Our cooperation in technology and innovation is important for both countries as well as the entire Global South,” he said.
President Lula arrived in India with a large delegation of top CEOs who are expected to participate in a Business Forum.
Digital, AI and renewable energy cooperation
The Prime Minister said the two sides are working towards establishing a Centre of Excellence for Digital Public Infrastructure in Brazil and prioritising collaboration in artificial intelligence, supercomputers, semiconductors and blockchain.
“Both countries believe that technology must be inclusive and must become a bridge for shared progress,” Modi said.
Energy cooperation, he added, remains a strong pillar of the relationship, spanning hydrocarbons, renewable energy, ethanol blending and sustainable aviation fuel. He welcomed Brazil’s active participation in the Global Biofuel Alliance and its proposal to co-chair the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
Call for dialogue, diplomacy and UN reform
On global issues, PM Modi said, “We believe that all problems must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. India and Brazil are unanimous that terrorism and its supporters are enemies of all humanity. We also agree that reform of global institutions is essential to address the challenges of our time. We will continue to work together in this direction.”
“India and Brazil’s partnership on the global stage has been strong and influential. As democratic nations, we will continue to advance the priorities and aspirations of the Global South. When India and Brazil work together, the voice of the Global South becomes stronger and more confident,” he added.
Echoing the sentiment, President Lula said the two leaders discussed at length how to persevere on the path to peace.
“Prime Minister Modi and I talked at length about how we can persevere on the path to peace. There is no possibility of having a fair, sustainable development in a conflicted world… We emphasise our commitment to the UN reform, particularly of the Security Council, so that it may represent the interests of the Global South, which have Brazil and India as natural candidates,” Lula said.
He recalled PM Modi’s remarks at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, saying it is “impossible for us to run 21st-century software in old typewriters from the 20th century”.
Strategic dialogue and multilateral governance
Describing the current global environment as turbulent, Lula said, “A turbulent global scenario requires our countries to strengthen and deepen our strategic dialogue… India and Brazil are crucial voices at the UN, the WTO and G20… partners in building a multilateral governance which is more just, peaceful, and governed by international law.”
He also referred to PM Modi’s July 2025 visit to Brasilia. “A few months ago, in July last year, I had the honour of hosting my friend Modi in Brasilia. His visit was a milestone… We signed several agreements that provide concrete quality to our cooperation in these areas,” Lula said.
Calling his return to India his sixth visit, Lula said, “The meeting between India and Brazil is a meeting of superlatives. We are not just the two biggest democracies of the Global South. This is a meeting of a digital superpower with a renewable energy superpower… We both defend multilateralism and peace.”
Earlier in the day, President Lula was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were among those present during the talks.
Lula’s visit follows Prime Minister Modi’s July 2025 trip to Brasilia, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over 50 years.