Rare earths on Lula’s agenda for trip to India
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will make two official visits spanning from February 17 to 24. His first destination will be India, where he should remain until February 21. The following day, he is expected to depart for South Korea, returning to Brazil on February 24.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations disclosed the details of the trip on Thursday (Feb. 12). Among the topics to be discussed are critical minerals and rare earths – key to the energy transition – and security in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) – the central theme of an event scheduled for February 18 and 19 in New Delhi, India.
“This will be the first time a Brazilian president participates in a high-level global event on AI,” said Eugênio Vargas Garcia, director of the ministry’s Department of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Intellectual Property.
Garcia said the AI summit will discuss sources of funding for the democratization of AI, as well as its use for social empowerment, innovation, and social development.
The Brazilian president is expected to speak on February 19, during the high-level plenary session, after the opening of the event, which will be led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
State visit
February 20 and 21 will be dedicated to the state visit. This will be the fourth time Lula and Modi meet each other. The Brazilian president will be honored with a lunch hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu.
According to the ministry’s secretary for Asia and Pacific affairs, Ambassador Susan Kleebank, the two countries will sign partnerships and memoranda of understanding on rare earths and critical minerals.
“It will also be an opportunity to advance the preferential trade agreement between Mercosur and India,” said Susan Kleebank.
These meetings are expected to result in the extension of tourist visas from the current five to ten years.
Advances are also expected in the collaboration between Brazilian plane maker Embraer and India’s Adani Defense & Aerospace – one of the leading companies in the Indian aerospace sector.
Joint statement
Lula will also attend the inauguration of exports and investment agency ApexBrasil’s office in India. The Ministry of Foreign Relations organized a business forum on February 21, which has attracted over 300 Brazilian companies from sectors such as agriculture, health care, technology, mining, food, and pharmaceuticals.
At the end of the visit, Brazil and India should issue a joint statement. Susan Kleebank has revealed some of the points that have been agreed upon by the two countries, which, she said, have “coinciding positions on the international agenda.”
The document will address issues such as challenges to multilateralism and international trade, changes in the United Nations Security Council, and the situation in Gaza.
South Korea
The presidential delegation will then travel to South Korea. From February 22 to 24, President Lula will meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and leaders of major companies in that country.
According to the ministry, the Brazilian government intends to use the trip to boost trade between the two nations. To this end, a business forum has been scheduled and a plan is to be signed with actions to be implemented by 2029.
The actions will be aimed at boosting business in areas such as agriculture, aviation, trade, health care, financial cooperation, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, science, and technology.
To date, more than 130 companies have registered to participate in the Brazil–South Korea Business Forum. Lula will return to Brazil on February 24.
