India and Brazil strengthen bilateral ties in food processing
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Pashupati Kumar Paras, engaged in a bilateral meeting today with the Governor of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, Mauro Mendes Ferreira. The meeting, graced by the presence of Additional Secretary Minhaj Alam and senior officials from the Ministry, also included the participation of H.E. Kenneth Nóbrega, the Ambassador of Brazil to India, and other esteemed Brazilian government officials.
During the discussion, both sides delved into the longstanding historical ties between the two nations, spanning over 70 years. The recent high-level interactions and visits were underscored as evidence of the mutual commitment to fortifying bilateral relations. Pashupati Kumar Paras highlighted the productive meetings between the respective Prime Ministers during the G7 and G20 Summits, emphasizing the need to sustain and enhance this positive momentum.
Governor Mauro Mendes Ferreira expressed Brazil’s recognition of India as a key strategic partner and commended the visionary initiatives undertaken by the Indian government to drive development. He also praised India’s recent achievements in space missions and the robust performance of its food processing, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors.
Addressing agricultural matters, Paras sought information on Brazil’s agri-food production, particularly in the context of agro-climatic conditions, with a specific focus on Mato Grosso. Brazilian officials expressed keen interest in expanding their exports of soybean, corn, cotton, and poultry meat to India in the near future.
Recognizing their strategic roles in global food security, both nations acknowledged the potential for collaboration. India, as a major agri-food producer, and Brazil, as one of the leading food exporters, discussed avenues to work together in ensuring global food security. The Brazilian side highlighted a significant 32% expansion in bilateral trade between the two countries, reaching US$15.2 billion in 2022.
The discussion extended to exploring synergies and possibilities for collaboration in the food processing sector, including the exchange of goods and human resources. Both sides affirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration, aiming for increased exchange of goods and ideas in the future.
