INDIA-BRAZIL RELATIONSHIPS

INDIA-BRAZIL RELATIONSHIPS

- india-brazil are large constitutional sized countries with social diversity, democratic governments, a multiethnic soicety, a large population base.
- both posses advanced technologies.
- the two countries share similar perceptions on issues of interest to developing countries & have cooperated in the multilateral level on issues such as international trade & development , environment reform of the UN & the UNSC expansion.

Economic Relations :
- the 2 nations 2 way trade in 2007 nearly tripled to US$ 3.12 billion from US$ 1.2 billion in 2004.
- given this unprecedented growth pattern , it is certain now that the trade target of US$ 10 billion between the 2 countries set during the visit of president lulu to india in june , 2007, will be achieved ahead of its schedule in 2012.
- at least 18 indian pharmaceutical companies have opened their offices in brazil.
- TCS are providing jobs to 2000 brazilians in brazil .
- global software giant, wipro technologies, also set up a business process outsourcing centre in curitiba to provide shared services to AmBev, the largest brewery in latin america.
- the major indian oil company , OVL, has already invested close to US$ 750 million in brazil.
- there are many inititatives on behalf of indian companies to invest in raising ethnol sector of brazil.

south-south cooperation :
- both countries are deeply commited to IBSA initiatives & attach atmost important to this trilateral cooperation between the 3 large multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious developing countries , which are bound by the common principles of pluralism & democracy.

Trilateral cooperation :
1. Agriculture :
- a joint development project in the field of agriculture sectore has been under taken in guinea bissau.
- this project envisages support for the national authorities for the development of capabilites for the sustainable management & use of agriculture & livestock resources.

2. Culture :
- the working group on culture was established in 2005.
- IBSA countries agreed to host regular cultural activities one in each countries.

3. Education :
it is the powerful instrument for achieving the goals of social equality, has been included by the government of india, brazil, south africa, as an area of cooperation in brasilia declaraiton.

4. Energy :
- IBSA aims to promote the production & use of biofuels as environmentally friendly & sustainable fuels.
- it also creates an opportunity for information exchanges on renewable energy & biofuels value chains.

5. Health :
focus of IBSA is on the exchange of information & best practices in the follwoing areas of cooperation :
* epidemiology surveillance
* sanitary regulations
* traditional medicines.
- IBSA fund for alleviation of poverty & hunger has alrady provided for capacity building in east timor & for the fight aganist HIV/AIDS in burundi.

6. science & technology :
it was one of the key areas identified for trilateral cooperation in the brasilian declaration.
- activities in this area are guided through annual meeting of the science & technology of IBSA.
By N Putti by indianofficer.com