Welcome Address By Mr. V K Topa, FICCI

Mr. Mauro Couto, Coordinator for Trade Promotion at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil,
Mr Juan Quiroz, Director of APEX, the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency,
and Friends.

On behalf of FICCI, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Mauro Couto and Mr. Juan Manuel Quiros. Mr. Mauro Couto is a Diplomat whose most recent posting was in Japan. He is currently coorinator for Trade Promotion at the Cabinet of the Brazilain Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Mr. Luiz Fernando Furlan.

Mr. Quiros, currently Director of APEX, was Director of the International Relations and Foreign Trade Department of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (FIESP). He also director the Centre for International Business and coordinated the Division of Trade Promotion of SPEX (Sao Paulo Exports) promoted by FIESP to orient businessmen in all processes related to International Trade so as to encourage the growth of exports in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

India and Brazil share a democratic, socially diverse, multi ethnic population base. Both the developing countries are synergising their march to becoming developed countries. We share common concerns and issues on multiple international fora.

Our relationship is now growing stronger both bilaterally and multilaterally. The cooperation will be growing exponentially, with the formation of the Dialogue Forum for trilateral cooperation between both countries and South Africa, which gives a new dimension to the already existing links.

Brazil has identified India as a major trading partner along with USA, France, Germany, China and Japan. Brazil India trade crossed US$ 1.2 billion mark last year . The growth during the first eight months has been 28.2% compared to the previous year. I am confident, that with continuous interaction, we will identify mutual core competencies and synergise areas of cooperation.

The sectors of common interest are:

• Bulk Drugs & Pharmaceuticals,
  
• Bio Technology,
  
• Diesel Oil
  
• Chemicals & agro chemicals
  
• Automotive sector,
  
• IT and ITES
  
• HRD & IT Education
  
• R & D
  
• Textiles
  
• Agro Industries
  
• Construction etc from India, and
  
• Petroleum Oils,
  
• Soya & Soya oil
  
• Copper & Aluminium products
  
• Sugar
  
• Ethanol
  
• Iron Ore & concentrates
  
• Automobile sector
  
• Engineering goods
  
• Minerals etc.
  
• from Brazil.

Cooperation in Aerospace sector, Tourism, Railways, Infrastructure Development, Projects Exports, Shipping, Inland Waterways, Sequestration of Carbon and Non Conventional Energy sources, etc are some of the areas of mutual interest. The program mixing ethanol to gasoline, that is similar to the PROALCOOL programme enhances the possibilities for bilateral cooperation in goods and services. Both the countries can provide relevant contribution in the fields of: IT, Biotechnology, especially in the fields of health and medicine;, agriculture and genomics. Indian launch vehicles can help launch Brazil's scientific micro satellites.

EXIM Bank has extended a credit line of US $ 10 million with a Brazilian Bank, Bradesco as an incentive for trade.

The Government of Brazil has initiated a Preferential Trade agreement between India and MERCOSUR, which will open up new vistas for mutual cooperation. FICCI is the coordinating agency for the Indo Brazil Commercial Council and I look forward to synergising our competencies to become powerful and significant economic partners.

I would now like to invite Mr Juan Quiros to make a presentation.

Thank you.