Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s recent visit to India marked a significant milestone in the growing partnership between the two emerging economies. Arriving in India on February 18, 2026, President Lula participated in the India AI Impact Summit held from February 19 to 20. His visit was highlighted by a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by high-level discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his delegation at Hyderabad House. This visit is President Lula’s fifth to India since taking office and comes just seven months after Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to Brasília in July 2025, indicating a robust and ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
One of the most notable outcomes of the visit was the agreement to substantially increase the bilateral trade target between India and Brazil from $20 billion to $30 billion by 2030. This new target reflects the growing economic potential and mutual commitment to deepen trade and investment ties. The decision to revise the target was underscored by Brazil’s President Lula himself during discussions with Prime Minister Modi, emphasizing that the previous goal did not fully capture the breadth of opportunities available. Secretary (East) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, P Kumaran, explained that while the earlier target was set at $20 billion during the Prime Minister’s visit to Brazil, President Lula felt this was not ambitious enough. He advocated for a higher goal of $30 billion, reflecting the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the Brazilian delegation, which included 11 ministers and 300 business leaders. This high-level representation underscores the seriousness with which Brazil approaches the partnership with India.
The expanded trade target is just one facet of a broader strategic vision to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors. During the visit, India and Brazil signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), focusing on critical minerals, the steel supply chain, and a pioneering joint action plan on a Digital Partnership for the Future. These agreements are expected to bolster economic ties and facilitate joint ventures in areas pivotal for sustainable development and technological advancement.
President Lula highlighted India’s strengths in cutting-edge fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and space technology, pointing to these as fresh avenues for collaboration. “This translates our commitment with an agenda that places technology in service of inclusive development,” he remarked. He further emphasized the importance of increasing investments and cooperation in renewable energy and critical minerals, which form the core of the newly signed agreements. This focus aligns with global trends towards sustainability and the green economy, reflecting the shared priorities of India and Brazil in addressing climate change and energy security.
The scope of bilateral cooperation extends across a wide spectrum of sectors. Secretary P Kumaran detailed the areas of focus, which include oil and gas, renewable energy, satellite technology, biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel, agriculture and livestock, healthcare, and traditional medicine. Notably, space cooperation is set to deepen with plans for launching Brazilian satellites from India and joint satellite development projects. This collaboration leverages India’s advanced space capabilities and Brazil’s growing ambitions in space technology.
In the energy sector, both countries are exploring opportunities in bioenergy and biofuels, critical components of the green economy transition. Sustainable aviation fuel, an emerging field aimed at reducing carbon emissions in air travel, is also a key area of cooperation. Agriculture and livestock, traditional pillars of both economies, will benefit from shared research and technology exchange. Healthcare collaboration includes agreements between Brazil’s Health Regulatory Agency and India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, facilitating cooperation in drug regulation and public health initiatives.
An interesting cultural element of the partnership is the growing interest in Yoga in Brazil, which has been identified as an area of mutual interest. This reflects the broader people-to-people connections supplementing the official diplomatic and economic engagements.
The visit also resulted in agreements covering the coastal sector, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) entrepreneurship, and crafts, further diversifying the cooperation framework. These initiatives aim to support inclusive growth and sustainable development by empowering smaller businesses and promoting cultural exchanges.
The joint action plan on a Digital Partnership for the Future is particularly noteworthy, as it signals a forward-looking approach to harnessing digital technologies for economic and social development. This partnership aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, capacity building, and joint innovation in emerging digital fields, reinforcing the strategic alignment between India and Brazil in technology-driven growth.
President Lula’s delegation, comprising 11 ministers and 300 business leaders, underscored the high level