Modern Delhi – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, embarking on a four-day state visit underscored by the largest Brazilian business delegation to ever accompany him on an overseas trip. The delegation, comprised of over 120 executives representing sectors from aviation and mining to IT services and green hydrogen, signals a concerted effort to deepen economic ties and explore new avenues for collaboration between the two nations. The visit is expected to focus heavily on skilled worker mobility, technology transfer, and strengthening South-South cooperation in critical supply chains, particularly as global trade dynamics shift.
A key announcement preceded even the formal bilateral summit: a memorandum of understanding between Embraer, the Brazilian aerospace conglomerate, and Tata Advanced Systems of India to assemble E-Jets in Nagpur. This partnership, described by both companies as a “two-way mobility bridge,” will facilitate the exchange of Brazilian engineers and Indian technicians under streamlined work-visa protocols. The agreement highlights a growing trend toward localized manufacturing and knowledge sharing, aiming to reduce reliance on external supply chains. According to Firstpost, This represents Lula’s sixth visit to India, with his last trip occurring during the G20 Summit in September 2023.
Boosting Cooperation in Critical Minerals and AI
Beyond aerospace, the visit is also focused on expanding cooperation in critical minerals and artificial intelligence. Brazil’s health ministry, accompanying President Lula, confirmed plans to import Indian-made AI components for its federal Tele-Saúde network, and will host Brazilian biomedical researchers for assignments of up to 18 months in Bengaluru. This exchange underscores a mutual interest in leveraging technological advancements to improve healthcare access and outcomes. Simultaneously, India and Brazil have agreed to boost cooperation on rare earth minerals, a crucial component in renewable energy technologies, as reported by The Associated Press. This collaboration aims to curb both nations’ dependence on China, the current dominant player in the rare earths market.
The push for greater mobility is a central theme of the discussions. Diplomatic sources indicate that talks are underway to expand the existing 2016 bilateral working-holiday scheme, which currently offers 1,500 annual visas, to a “Young Innovators” category with 5,000 slots. This expanded program would allow graduates under the age of 35 to live and work in either country for up to two years. India is expected to expedite the processing of business e-visas for Brazilian citizens, reducing the turnaround time from three days to 24 hours by integrating applications onto the ICEGATE platform.
A Diversification Strategy Amidst Global Uncertainty
The scale of the Brazilian delegation underscores President Lula’s commitment to diversifying Brazil’s trade partnerships, particularly in light of ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. Tariff policies. With planned visits to Hyderabad’s genome valley and the semiconductor corridor outside Delhi, Brazilian officials are actively seeking to attract Indian firms to invest in Brazil under the Tech Visa regime, which was quietly introduced in December 2025. The initiative aims to facilitate the deployment of skilled Indian specialists to Brazil, fostering innovation and technological exchange.
Analysts emphasize that streamlined mobility is crucial for the success of the Embraer deal. While initial assembly kits will be shipped from São José dos Campos in Brazil, the long-term vision involves up to 50% localization, requiring the deployment of hundreds of Brazilian aeronautical engineers to India for training purposes. Discussions are also reportedly underway regarding a potential social-security totalization agreement to prevent double contributions for assignees, although sources indicate these talks are “advanced but not yet closed.”
The AI Summit and Future Collaboration
President Lula’s visit also includes participation in the India AI Impact Summit, held February 19-20. This participation highlights Brazil’s growing interest in artificial intelligence and its potential applications across various sectors. The summit provides a platform for both countries to explore collaborative opportunities in AI research, development, and deployment. According to Firstpost, Prime Minister Modi and President Lula last met in Brasilia in July 2025 to discuss expanding bilateral trade.
The visit comes at a time of increasing global focus on South-South cooperation, with both India and Brazil positioning themselves as key players in a multipolar world. The agreements reached during President Lula’s trip are expected to strengthen economic ties, promote technological innovation, and foster greater understanding between the two nations. The focus on easing visa restrictions and facilitating the movement of skilled workers is a particularly significant step, signaling a commitment to building a more interconnected and collaborative future.
Looking ahead, the implementation of the agreements reached during this visit will be closely monitored. The next key milestone will be the formalization of the expanded working-holiday scheme and the rollout of the expedited business e-visa process for Brazilian citizens. Further details regarding the social-security totalization agreement are also anticipated in the coming months.
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