Speeches/Statements

My brothers and sisters,

It is my first opportunity to address you since our arrival to Brazil on 1st of June this year. India and Brazil, two countries nearly 15000 kms apart, are said to be divided by two oceans. However, I believe that the two countries are connected by two oceans since sea water is a good conductor of energy.

Both countries are large in geographical area, Brazil the 5th largest and India the 7th. Both have large populations, though India has much higher population density owning to about 1.45 billion people. Both are among the largest economies in the world, India the 4th largest and Brazil the 10th. And above all, both are democratic countries. I think this bond of democratic traditions is among the most vital connects between the free peoples of both countries.

With these commonalities and a similar vision towards future, we elevated our relations to the level of strategic partnership in 2006, during the first mandate of President Lula. The partnership between two traditionally friendly countries has since broadened to include a host of issues such as trade & investment, economic partnership, science & technology, digital cooperation, healthcare and traditional medicine, energy – including oil and gas as well as renewable, defence partnership, counter-terrorism, agriculture, livestock and mining & minerals.

The recent State Visit of Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji has added further momentum to the deepening of relationship between our two countries. I am looking forward to working with all the stakeholders in the federal government of Brazil and all the State governments to broaden this partnership.

Meanwhile, I have taken the initiative of strengthening our Commercial team in the Embassy to ensure that we assist Indian and Brazilian businesses to meaningfully pursue their economic linkages. Our Consular Wings in Brasilia and as well as in our Consulate in Sao Paulo are geared to issue tourist and business visas to Brazilians in less than 24 hours besides the quick electronic visa facility available to them.

I would like to encourage the governments and businesses in Brazil to travel to India to fathom the diversity of India which is an important pillar of democracy and rapidly growing economy. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his Cabinet, the Congress and the Senate, as well as State governments for giving my wife Seema Bhatia and me a very warm welcome in Brazil. Looking forward to building strong bridges over the two oceans.

Thank you for your participation this morning. I wish to take this opportunity, on behalf of my wife, and on my own behalf, to wish success, prosperity, peace and, above all, health to you and to your families.

Dhanyawad. Namaskar!

Kindly repeat after me – JAI HIND – 3 TIMES, JAI BHARAT – 3 TIMES