External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will be visiting Brazil from October 14 to 17 during which he will co- chair the sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his counterpart Luiz Alberto Figueiredo in Brasilia.
During the JCM, both sides will discuss the entire gamut of India-Brazil strategic partnership including political, economic and commercial, agriculture, science and technology, defence, cultural, hydrocarbon, etc. They will also exchange views on regional developments and international issues of common interest.
Khurshid will also chair the annual Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Regional Heads of Indian Mission (HOM) Conference in Rio de Janeiro on October 16 and 17.
Diplomatic relations between India and Brazil were established in 1948. Both countries enjoy cordial and friendly relations, which are characterized by regular exchange of visits at all levels, shared values and convergence of views on issues of mutual interest. President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff paid a state visit to India in May 2012, while Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh participated in the Rio + 20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.
Brazil is an important trading partner of India in Latin America and Caribbean. Bilateral trade has grown significantly from US$ 828 million in 2000 to US$ 10.6 billion in 2012-13. India's exports are valued at US$ 6 billion and imports at US$ 4.6 billion. Indian companies have made significant investments in Brazil which are estimated at US$ 2.5 billion in the fields of agriculture, IT, pharma, manufacturing, hydrocarbons, etc.
