PM Modi, Brazil President Lula Hold Talks on Trade Ties

February 21, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held delegation-level talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and economic sectors. The meeting marked a significant step toward deepening the strategic partnership between India and Brazil, two major emerging economies.

Senior officials from both sides attended the talks, reflecting the importance both nations attach to enhancing long-term cooperation across multiple sectors.

Focus on Trade and Investment Expansion

During the discussions, the two leaders reviewed the current state of bilateral trade and explored measures to boost economic engagement. They emphasized the need to diversify trade baskets, encourage greater market access, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.

Both sides acknowledged the growing trade potential and underlined the importance of removing trade barriers to facilitate smoother business operations between Indian and Brazilian companies. Investment promotion, ease of doing business, and joint ventures were also key points of discussion.

Cooperation in Energy, Technology, and Defence

Prime Minister Modi and President Lula also discussed expanding collaboration in renewable energy, including biofuels, ethanol blending, and clean energy technologies. Given Brazil’s expertise in bioenergy and India’s growing renewable energy ambitions, leaders agreed to explore deeper partnerships in this area.

Technology, defence manufacturing, space cooperation, and digital innovation were identified as promising sectors for future engagement. The leaders highlighted the need for knowledge-sharing and joint research initiatives to promote innovation-led growth.

Global Issues and Multilateral Cooperation

The talks also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest. Both leaders exchanged views on developments in global geopolitics, economic challenges, and the importance of strengthening multilateral institutions. They reaffirmed their commitment to South-South cooperation and coordination within global platforms such as the G20, BRICS, and the United Nations.

The leaders stressed the importance of reforming global governance institutions to ensure greater representation of developing countries and promote a more inclusive international order.

Strengthening India-Brazil Strategic Partnership

Reaffirming their shared democratic values, Prime Minister Modi and President Lula expressed confidence that regular high-level engagements would further strengthen the India-Brazil strategic partnership. They agreed to maintain momentum through continued dialogue, people-to-people exchanges, and institutional mechanisms.

The meeting concluded with both leaders’ expressing optimism about the future of bilateral relations and committing to work closely to unlock the full potential of India-Brazil cooperation.