PM Modi arrives to attend dinner hosted by Brazilian President in Brasilia

PM Modi and other BRICS leaders address closing ceremony of BRICS Business Forum

Translation of Prime Minister’s remarks at BRICS Business Forum

November 14, 2019

Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants of BRICS Business Forum,

Namaskar,
Good Evening.

I am very happy to join the BRICS Business Forum. The 11th BRICS Summit program has started with this forum. I congratulate the President of Brazil, the organizers of this forum and all the participants for making Business a priority.

Friends,

BRICS countries account for 50% of the world’s economic growth. Despite the recession in the world, the BRICS countries accelerated economic development, drove millions of people out of poverty and achieved new breakthroughs in technology and innovation. Now ten years after the founding of BRICS, this forum is a good platform to discuss the direction of our efforts in the future.

Friends,

Simplifying intra-BRICS business will increase mutual trade and investment. Tax and Customs procedures between us five countries are getting easier. The business environment is getting easier with the collaboration between Intellectual Property Rights, and Banks. I request the BRICS Business Forum to study the necessary business initiatives to take full advantage of the opportunities thus generated.

Intra-BRICS business and investment targets should be ambitious. Your suggestions will be helpful to further reduce the cost of trade between us.

I would also like to request that priority areas in business be identified among us for the next ten years and based on them blue print of Intra-BRICS collaboration should be made.

Friends,

Our market size, diversity and our complementarities are very beneficial to each other. For example, if there is technology in one BRICS country, then in other are present the related raw materials or markets. Such possibilities are especially present in electric vehicles, digital technology, fertilizer, agricultural products, food processing, etc. I would urge the Forum to map such complementarities in five countries. I would also like to suggest that at least five such areas should be identified by the next BRICS Summit in which joint ventures can be formed between us on the basis of complementarities.

Friends,

The BRICS countries are well known for the hard work, talent and creativity of their people. Important initiatives like innovation BRICS Network, and BRICS Institution for Future Network will be considered during tomorrow’s summit. I request the private sector to join these efforts focused on human resources. Connecting young entrepreneurs with these initiatives will also give more strength to business and innovation.

Friends,

There are possibilities of making tourism, business and employment between our countries more easy. I thank the President of Brazil for giving the visa free entry to Indians. We five countries should also consider mutual Social Security Agreement.

Friends,

You will be familiar with India’s continued progress in indexes such as Ease of Doing Business, Logistic Performance and Global innovation. Due to the time limit, I would just like to say that India is the most open and investment friendly economy in the world due to Political Stability, Predictable Policy and Business Friendly Reforms. By 2024, we want to make India a five trillion dollar economy. The infrastructure alone requires $ 1.5 trillion investment.

India has immense possibilities, countless opportunities. To take advantage of them, I invite the business of BRICS countries to build up and grow their presence in India.

Thank you very much.

Modi – Jinping bilateral in Brazil

Meeting of Prime Minister with Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China
 
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China on the sidelines of the 11th BRICS summit at Brasilia on 13 November 2019.

President Xi Jinping conveyed his deep appreciation to PM for hosting him at the 2nd Informal Summit in Chennai and said that he would not forget the welcome given to him by PM Modi and the people of India. He invited PM for the 3rd informal summit in China in 2020. The date and venue will be determined through diplomatic channels.

They both agreed on the importance of maintaining close dialogue on matters relating to trade and investment. President Xi thanked PM for India’s substantial participation in the just concluded China Import Export Expo in Shanghai. The two leaders agreed that the new High Level Mechanism on Trade and Economy should meet at an early date.

The leaders reviewed preparations for the 70th anniversary of Diplomatic relations next year. They agreed that this will enhance people to people relations.

The leaders noted that the Special Representatives will have another meeting on matters relating to the Boundry Question and iterated the importance of maintaining peace and security in the border areas.

The leaders also exchanged views on multilateral issues including WTO, BRICS and RCEP.

PM Modi’s bilateral with Brazilian President Jair Messias

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Jair Messias Bolsonaro, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil on the sidelines of the 11th BRICS summit at Brasilia on 13 November 2019.

Prime Minister Modi invited the President of Brazil to the Republic Day 2020. The Brazilian President has accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Both leaders agreed that on this occasion the two countries can comprehensively enhance our strategic partnership. PM Modi said that he looked forward to discussing matters relating to trade. He also outlined areas for potential investment from Brazil , including in areas of agricultural equipment, animal husbandry, post-harvest technologies and biofuels.

The President of Brazil expressed his readiness and informed PM that a large business delegation will accompany him to India. They also discussed other areas of cooperation including space and defence sectors. PM welcomed the decision of President to grant visa free travel to Indian citizens.

Putin – Modi bilateral at Brasilia in Brazil on the sidelines of BRICS summit

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation on the sidelines of the 11th BRICS summit at Brasilia on 13 November 2019. This is the 4th time the two leaders have met this year.

During the meeting both leaders reviewed the progress made in the bilateral relationship since PM’s visit to Vladivostok. PM specifically mentioned the successful visits of our Minister of Defence and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas to Russia.

The two leaders noted with satisfaction that the USD 25 billion target of bilateral trade by 2025 has already been achieved. The two leaders decided that the 1st Bilateral Regional Forum at the level of Russian Provinces and Indian States be held next year to dismantle the barriers of trade at regional level.

The two leaders noted the stability and progress made in imports of oil and natural gas. President Putin highlighted the potential of Arctic region in natural gas and invited India to invest in the region.

The two leaders also reviewed the progess made in the field of Infrastructure particularly railways in context of raising the speed of the Nagpur-Secunderabad sector railway line. The leaders also noted with satisfaction the cooperation in Defence sector and in the field of Civil Nuclear Energy. They welcomed the prospects of cooperation in civil nuclear energy in third countries.

The two leaders also noted that both sides shared common position on international issues and agreed to continue close consultations in the future.

President Putin reiterated the invitation to PM to visit Moscow to participate in the Victory Day celebrations next year, which PM gladly accepted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at capital Brasilia of Brazil

Earlier reports

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Brasilia, Brazil on 13th – 14th November 2019 to attend the 11th BRICS summit. The theme of the BRICS summit this year is “Economic Growth for an Innovative Future.”

This will be the sixth time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be participating at the BRICS summit. His first BRICS summit was at Fortaleza in Brazil in 2014.

A large business delegation from India is also expected to be present during the visit especially to attend the BRICS Business Forum where the business community of all five countries are represented.

Prime Minister is scheduled to hold separate bi-lateral meetings with the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese Premier Xi Jinping apart from the BRICS business forum closing ceremony and the closed & Plenary Sessions of the XI BRICS Summit.

In the closed session, the discussions are expected to be focused on challenges and opportunities for the exercise of national sovereignty in the contemporary world. This will be followed by the BRICS Plenary Session where the leaders will discuss the intra BRICS cooperation for the economic development of BRICS societies.

Thereafter Prime Minister shall participate in the meeting of the BRICS leaders with BRICS Business Council where in the Chairman of the Brazilian BRICS Business Council and the President of the new Development Bank are expected to submit reports.

Immediately thereafter a BRICS MoU between Trade and Investment Promotion agencies will be signed.

On the conclusion of the summit leaders will issue a joint declaration.

BRICS brings together five major emerging economies comprising 42 percent of the world’s population, having 23 percent of the global GDP and around 17 percent of the share and world trade.

BRICS cooperation has two pillars including consultations on issues of mutual interest through meeting of leaders and ministers as well as cooperation through meeting of senior officials in a number of areas including trade, finance, health, education, science and technology, agriculture, communications IT etc.

Schedule of day one

14.00 Meeting with Russian president Putin

15.00 Meeting with Brazilian president Jair Messias Bolsonaro

15.45: Meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping

17.25: BRICS business forum closing ceremony at International convention centre of Brazil

20.00: Cultural presentation

20.30: Welcome dinner hosted by Brazilian president

MEA briefing on PM’s Brazil visit (last week)

Secretary (ER), Shri T S Tirumurti:

Prime Minister will be in Brasilia on 13th – 14th November 2019 to attend the 11th BRICS summit. The theme of the BRICS summit this year is “Economic Growth for an Innovative Future.” For our Prime Minister this will be the sixth time that he will be participating at the BRICS summit. His first BRICS summit was at Fortaleza in Brazil in 2014. Besides summits, BRICS leaders also meet informally on the margins of G20 summits. Prime Minister will be accompanied by an official delegation. A large business delegation from India is also expected to be present during the visit especially to attend the BRICS Business Forum where the business community of all five countries are represented. Let me just take you through the program.

Prime Minister will arrive in Brasilia on the morning of 13th November 2019. He will have bilateral through the day. He will then attend the closing ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in the evening along with other BRICS leaders. Later in the evening there will be a welcome ceremony and a photo opportunity which will be followed by the Welcome Dinner being hosted by his Excellency President Bolsonaro.

On the morning of 14th November, after the photo-op, the BRICS leaders will attend a BRICS restricted session which will be a closed session. It is expected that the discussions during this session will focus on challenges and opportunities for the exercise of national sovereignty in the contemporary world. This will be followed by the BRICS Plenary Session where the leaders will discuss the intra BRICS cooperation for the economic development of BRICS societies. Thereafter the meeting of BRICS leaders with BRICS Business Council will take place. During this dialogue the Chairman of the Brazilian BRICS Business Council will submit his report. There will also be another report submitted by the president of the new Development Bank. Immediately thereafter a BRICS MoU between Trade and Investment Promotion agencies will be signed. On the conclusion of the summit leaders will issue a joint declaration.

BRICS brings together five major emerging economies comprising 42 percent of the world’s population, having 23 percent of the global GDP and around 17 percent of the share and world trade. Last year we commemorated the 10th anniversary of BRICS in Johannesburg. BRICS cooperation has two pillars including consultations on issues of mutual interest through meeting of leaders and ministers as well as cooperation through meeting of senior officials in a number of areas including trade, finance, health, education, science and technology, agriculture, communications IT etc.

The Sherpa mechanism is of course an important mechanism at senior officials level to take stock and give direction. Other BRICS exchanges can be broadly characterized as parliamentary exchanges, ministerial meetings, working groups and senior officials meeting. It also includes people-to-people exchanges including participation of youth and many other similar exercises.

Through a network of high-level and working group meetings BRICS agenda has expanded considerably to include issues of mutual concern. In the run-up to the summit several ministerial meetings in different sectors have already taken place. As far as 2019 is concerned, there have been some significant developments in BRICS in the area of counter-terrorism. Over the last years India has taken the lead to galvanize BRICS.

We have also worked closely with in BRICS to not only take a strong stand against terrorism but also work to bring about focused consultations on specific aspects related to terrorism. This year the joint working group on counter-terrorism has decided to constitute five sub working groups on counterterrorism in the following areas. Terrorist financing, use of Internet for terrorist purposes, countering radicalization, issue of foreign terrorist fighters and capacity-building.

It is expected that India will chair the subgroup on use of internet for terrorist purposes. In this context during the meetings of the National Security Advisors of BRICS last month, NSA has put forward a proposal to host a BRICS workshop on digital forensics in India. Brazil has also made terrorism as one of its priorities for its presidency. They held the first BRICS seminar on Strategies for Countering Terrorism.

Further, on the question of multilateralism, Prime Minister has articulated his vision for reformed multilateralism and has underlined the importance of strengthening and reforming the multilateral system itself. He has specifically underlined that when we call for multilateralism, we should not call to reinforce the status-quo of multilateralism but seek to reform multilateralism itself since this is what BRICS had originally set out to do.

The vision of Prime Minister has found mentioned for the first time in the BRICS Foreign ministers joint statement in Rio and has found resonance among the leaders. Several people to people initiative started by India and 2016 during our presidency has been continued over the years including the BRICS Film Festival, BRICS Young Scientist Forum, intensified engagement with BRICS youth etc. BRICS academic forum has had important discussions which have also fed into the BRICS process. India will also host the first BRICS Film Technology Symposium in March 2020. As regard some of the important deliverables during the summit this year, as mentioned to you earlier a MoU between trade and investment promotion agencies of BRICS will be signed. The BRICS leaders will also agree to establish the Women Business Alliance.

The IBRICS – Innovation BRICS Network, will be launched which will include networking of research institutes like science parks, incubators, accelerators etc. The leaders will also be looking at launching the BRICS Institute of Future Network. The concept of which has been agreed to by the telecom ministers in August this year. Greater focus will be given in the area of tuberculosis research. Apart from participating in the BRICS summit, Prime Minister will have a bilateral meeting with President Bolsonaro. This is Prime Minister’s second visit to Brazil and his first visit after the new administration led by the president Bolsonaro assumed office on 1st January 2019. Prime Minister met Brazilian president in Osaka earlier this year on the margins of the G20 summit.