Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. Bom dia!
It gives me immense pleasure to take part in this Solemn Session on India’s 75 years of Independence in one of the most respected democratic institutions of the world! It is a great honour for the 1.3 billion people of India and I carry with me to this House, their greetings and warm wishes of friendship. It is also a great privilege for me, to address this august gathering of leaders of the vibrant democracy of Brazil.
It is also a happy coincidence that Brazil is celebrating 200 years of Independence. On behalf of the Government and the people of India, I extend my best wishes to the people´s representatives gathered here and to the people of Brazil on this momentous milestone in your history.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Brazil on the success of the recently held elections.
We as friends of Brazil are proud of your success and the achievements over the last 200 years. Brazil is an important member of the global community playing its rightful role as a leader of the global south.
I wish to convey my heartfelt gratitude to President Arthur Lira and Federal Deputy Soraya Santos for making this solemn session happen. This is a profound gesture, reflective of our strong partnership and our shared values and ideals centered on democracy.
We are also grateful to the three India-Brazil Friendship Associations led by Senator Nelson Trad, President of India-Brazil Friendship Front; Federal Deputy Vinicius Carvalho, President of India-Brazil Parliamentary Friendship group and Federal Deputy Daniel Pires Coelho, President of India-Brazil Parliamentary Front, for their noble efforts to strengthen our relationship. Parliamentary ties between India and Brazil are a cornerstone of the deep and wide-ranging Strategic Partnership between the two countries, which complements and enriches our multi-sectoral institutional engagements.
Excellencies,
India’s journey of the last seven and a half decades is a reflection of the hard work, innovation and enterprise of ordinary Indians. We made remarkable progress and substantial improvement in the quality of life of an average Indian. The exhibition that we will visit shortly shows the journey of India over these years, ranging from agricultural production to nuclear and space technology, from affordable health care to world-class educational institutions, from Ayurveda to biotechnology, from giant steel plants to becoming an IT superpower, and to having the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world.
Excellencies,
The India-Brazil ‘Strategic Partnership’ forged in 2006 continues to provide a solid framework to deepen our multifaceted ties, and the creation of plurilateral forums such as IBSA, the G4 and BRICS have given a new meaning and brought greater dynamism to our relationship. As members of the United Nations Security Council this year and as countries aspiring to be its permanent members, we continue to work together for the reform of the multilateral fora, in order to better represent in the evolving global order the interests of the Global South. Next year, we have the important responsibility of taking on the mantle of G20 Presidency; Brazil follows us. With coordinated efforts, we can drive a more inclusive and equitable agenda at the G20.
Excellencies,
Today, our Strategic Partnership has deepened and substantive progress has been made in priority areas of Bio-energy, Oil and Natural Gas, Animal Husbandry, Healthcare, Defence, Space and Cyber Security. There has also been a rapid growth in bilateral trade and investment, with over 63% increase in trade last year, making India the 5th largest trading partner of Brazil. The unprecedented economic transformation taking place in India opens up immense opportunities for bilateral cooperation and I am confident that our countries will soon reach the bilateral trade target of USD 15 billion.
I am also happy to see the increase in the number of Indian companies investing in Brazil and this year alone over US$3 billion have been invested by Indian companies in Brazil. This marked surge in investment flows will only complement our already growing trade ties.
India has made rapid advances in the field of renewable energy and is moving quickly towards a green future. As we strive to make India the world's green hydrogen hub, we look forward to collaboration with Brazil in our endeavor.
It is also heartening to note that a key area of our engagement is Bio fuels. This has been a remarkable success story of our partnership and will go a long way in realizing our shared quest for a clean energy future, to keep up our commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate change is an inescapable reality, and its impact on food security and poverty, particularly for the developing world, is undeniable. India is second to none when it comes to climate action. Last month, Prime Minister Modi launched Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), in the presence of the UN Secretary General H.E. Antonio Guterres. Mission LiFE is envisioned as an India-led global mass movement towards "mindful and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption”.
India is providing institutional solutions to global challenges. We had initiated the International Solar Alliance, a game changer in harnessing solar power. We have presented the dream of ‘One Sun-One World-One Grid’ before the world. We wish to enable the whole world to fight against disasters through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). I am glad to note that Brazil is a partner in our efforts in both these initiatives.
India’s traditional system of medicine is a holistic science of life and I am quite delighted to witness that Yoga and Ayurveda are increasingly getting popular among Brazilians. Mahatma Gandhi’s message of solidarity and nonviolence made him a dear historical figure in Brazil – revered, for instance, in the traditional street parade, Carnival bloc called Filhos de Gandhy, the most remarkable event of the Carnival in Salvador.
Excellencies,
During the last eight years, Indian economy has grown from US$1.83 trillion to US$3.53 trillion. From being the 10th largest economy in nominal values, India has now become the 5th largest economy in the world.
Our growth and development mirrors a new confidence in the country. It has been the effort of the government that every section of the society is covered in our developmental efforts and we take along everyone keeping in line with our philosophy of ‘Sab ka saath, Sab ka vikas, Sab ka vishwas, Sab ka prayas’ (Everyone's support, everyone's development, everyone's trust and everyone’s efforts).
India has also become a global leader in adoption of technology. India’s Digital Payment System, the UPI has become the best-performing real-time ecosystem in the world with nearly 6 billion transactions a month.
On the healthcare front, India launched the world’s largest medical insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat covering over 500 million people.
Following the Covid 19 pandemic, Government of India has been providing additional 5 kg free rations per person per month for 800 million people, to augment food security.
We believe that national good and global good can be entirely in harmony. It is this conviction and the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - "the whole world is one family” that guided us to supply vaccines to over a 100 nations through our ‘Vaccine Maitri” initiative.
Excellencies
India today is full of unprecedented possibilities. Under the leadership of a strong, stable and decisive government, India is also dreaming new dreams, taking new resolutions and working hard to realize those resolutions. As announced by our Prime Minister on our Independence Day on 15th August, we are determined to steer the economic developments for India over Amrit Kaal or Golden Period in the next 25 years from India @ 75 to India @ 100, making India a developed country by 2047. We invite you to be our close partner in this growth story.
On this historic solemn session, I would like to thank the distinguished members for their profound support to this deep partnership between our two large and vibrant democracies and to our efforts to bring in prosperity for our peoples and to build a better future for them. I once again convey to all those gathered here today my warm felicitations on this special solemn occasion and wish you all success in further strengthening the India-Brazil partnership.
Thank you very much! Muito Obrigado!
********