New Delhi [India], February 21 (HBTV): A ceremonial welcome was accorded to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday as he began his state visit to India. President Lula was presented with a Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Lula was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.
On Friday, President Lula inaugurated the first office of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) in New Delhi. Sharing details in a post on X, he said the office would promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of Brazil’s economy.
‘Brazil and India are two of the largest nations of the Global South. We had a trade flow of US$ 15.2 billion in 2025, with plenty of room for growth,’ the post added.
Brazil’s envoy to India, Kenneth da Nobrega, on Friday appreciated the efforts of the Indian government in organising the AI Impact Summit 2026. He said President Lula and Prime Minister Modi share strong personal rapport and described their relationship as extending beyond professional engagement.
Speaking on the growing ties, he said, ‘This is taking the bilateral relations historically to a new level. There is a very good chemistry. I think they are not only colleagues, but they have become more and more friends. That’s a fact.’
He further said, ‘This is a historical summit in the Global South, and Prime Minister Modi is really trying to include the Global South in this essential new wave of technology, which is AI, which will transform our lives.’
On the significance of India hosting the summit, the envoy said, ‘Yes, India definitely is becoming a new hub for AI.’
The Brazilian envoy said President Lula has arrived in India with the largest-ever delegation from Brazil, comprising more than 11 cabinet ministers and over 300 business representatives, including 50 CEOs, noting that this marks a significant elevation in bilateral relations.
President Lula’s visit follows Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Brasilia in July 2025, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than 50 years.
The Brazilian President has arrived with a large delegation of top CEOs from Brazilian companies, who are expected to participate in a Business Forum during the visit.
(ANI)