9 MoUs bridge continental divide

An Indian head of government8217;s bilateral visit to Brazil was happening after 38 years. A total of nine MoUs and agreements were inked.

An Indian head of government8217;s bilateral visit to Brazil was happening after 38 years. A total of nine MoUs and agreements were inked. But what was more gripping were the speeches from both sides. If Brazilian President Lula8217;s speech was an example of fine oratory possibly reflecting that he is pretty much in election gear now, with polls less than three weeks away, Manmohan Singh had also found his comfort zone, speaking in terms once very familiar and very dear to him, in his avatar as Chairman of the South Commission, the theme of 8220;as have-nots of the world, we have to toss all the balls in the air8221;.

Today, he also said 8220;India will support all efforts to ensure a qualitative transformation of our bilateral relations and their elevation to that of a strategic partnership, a strategic dialogue has been agreed to.8221; In fact, in a rare display of emotion, the PM said 8220;I have come to Brazil for the first time, but am leaving a part of my heart behind8221;.

President Lula had earlier already fleshed out the spirit of what was bringing together large and sprawling democracies together, despite being continents apart. He said, 8220;Your visit is a crowning moment for us, who dared to dream, oceans no longer working against our partnership.8221; Lula referred to pressures on both countries to only stick with 8220;traditional partners, only and only rich countries,8221; and the need to fight it. He said there was a need to be 8220;not just one country, but together, form a community.8221; Referring to the cementing force that IBSA could turn out to be, he said the 8220;political cohesion8221; demonstrated by groups like the G 20, led by the IBSA initiative, 8220;can guarantee a fairer world, a humane world, and one without extreme poverty.8221;

The nuts and bolts underpinning this rhetoric are areas the two heads of state identified as of mutual benefit and advantage. The Indian premier spoke of Brazil8217;s advantage as a producer of alternate fuel 8212; ethanol 8212; which would go a long way in securing India8217;s energy needs and in the areas of agricultural technology, off-shore drilling techniques and aerospace. The PM said he was gratified that Brazil was allowing companies like Tata Consultancy, Ranbaxy and Dr Reddy8217;s to invest there and set up shop. Even ONGC Videsh Ltd OVL was taking advantage of opportunities in Brazil and had put out 400 million dollars for acquiring stake in south east Brazil. India, on the other hand, offers opportunities in information technology, bio-technology and pharmaceuticals.

A total of nine agreements and MOUs were signed, the agreements are on scientific and technological cooperation and one on air services which implies laying down the legal framework for expanding plane services between the two countries. The MOUs signed include one between OVL and Petrobras looking at deepwater oil exploration, Plant Health Cooperation, between the two countries8217; Bureau of Standards seeking to exchange expertise in the fields of certification and standardization, a work plan between ICAR and its Brazilian counterpart Brazilian Agricultural research Cooperation, an MoU for culture weeks in the tow countries, and finally an MoU on cooperation in the field of human settlements.

That President Lula is a Football fanatic is well-known, that he also has had rows with his star players like Ronaldo on his widening girth during the world cup is also well known, and what could delight footer fans in India is that Brazil has agreed to train Indian football players and coaches 8212; a request routed to President Lula by Sports Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, at the highest level, so finally, it may be kick-off time in India.