In a landmark move strengthening ties between two Global South powerhouses, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the inauguration of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil)’s first office in New Delhi on Saturday. This step marks a significant expansion of Brazil’s commercial footprint in India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Speaking via social media, President Lula highlighted ApexBrasil’s core mission: promoting Brazilian products and services abroad while attracting foreign investment into Brazil’s strategic economic sectors. ‘Brazil and India are two major nations of the Global South,’ he noted, pointing to their 2025 bilateral trade volume of $15.2 billion, with vast potential for further growth.
The announcement came during Lula’s high-level state visit to India, accompanied by an unprecedented delegation of over 260 Brazilian companies—the largest ever—along with nearly 14 cabinet ministers and top CEOs. Also present were key figures like ApexBrasil President Jorge Viana.
This visit unfolds against the backdrop of shifting global trade dynamics, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff impositions disrupting international supply chains. India and Brazil are seizing the moment to deepen their economic partnership, focusing on resilience and mutual benefit.
Earlier, Lula addressed the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, sharing insights on artificial intelligence’s role in technology, digital public infrastructure, and inclusive development. His participation underscores emerging tech collaboration as a fresh pillar in India-Brazil relations.
On February 21, Lula is scheduled for in-depth bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the discussions will review the full spectrum of bilateral ties, covering trade, investment, energy, defense cooperation, digital technology, and people-to-people contacts. Global governance reforms, multilateral cooperation, and Global South priorities will also feature prominently.
India and Brazil elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2006, grounded in shared democratic values and a vision for inclusive growth. Their collaboration extends across BRICS, IBSA, G20, UN, WTO, and UNESCO forums.
Experts view this visit as a catalyst for revitalizing economic cooperation amid global supply chain reconfiguration, promising enhanced trade flows and joint ventures in critical sectors.