India and Brazil sign 15 pacts

Action plan to further enhance strategic relations

NEW DELHI, Jan 25, (KUNA): India and Brazil signed on Saturday 15 agreements to enhance cooperation in several areas of mutual interest including trade, investment, oil and gas and cyber security.

The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the head of the government, Narendra Modi, held extensive talks with Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro who arrived in New Delhi yesterday (Friday) on a four-day official visit to participate in the Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guest.

Both sides finalised an action plan to further enhance strategic relations between the two nations. Modi said in presence of Bolsonaro: “Your visit to India has opened a new chapter in bilateral ties between India and Brazil,” adding Brazil is a valuable partner in economic growth of India.

He added that despite geographical distance between the two countries, both are on the same platform on several global issues. On his part, the Brazilian President said the signing of pacts would help consolidate existing strong ties.

The two sides inked an agreement on bio-energy cooperation, a MoU for cooperation in the field of oil and natural gas, an accord for investment cooperation and facilitation treaty, another on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, a MoU in the field of early childhood, another on cooperation in the field of health and medicine and a third on cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine and homeopathy.

They have also signed a cultural exchange programme, an agreement on social security, an accord cooperation in the area of cyber security, a programme of scientific and technological cooperation for implementing the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation, another on cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources, a second one on cooperation in the fields of animal husbandry and dairying, a third one on cooperation for establishing a nodal institution in India to carry out research on Bioenergy.

(AP) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right), shakes hand with Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro before their delegation level meeting in New Delhi, India on Jan 25. Bolsonaro is this year’s chief guest for India’s Republic day parade.