Foundation to be set up for Indian diaspora
“Brazil holds great potential for Indian businessmen”
SAO PAULO: President Pratibha Patil on Sunday lauded the emergence of India and Brazil as leading players in the global arena because of their large manpower resources, big land mass, vibrant trillion-dollar economies and the spirit of entrepreneurship. Her visit here would deepen the bonds.
She was addressing the Indian diaspora at a reception given in her honour.
The first woman President of India received a standing ovation after her address. Many of the guests later queued up to be introduced to the President, even if some of them were disappointed that the function was “too brief”.Shared perceptions
During the first leg of her three-nation visit to Latin America, Ms. Patil said the warm and friendly ties between the two countries had been bolstered by shared perceptions and endeavours. “The friendship between India and Brazil goes back in time. Both the countries have a common historical bond that was reflected in the food, linguistic vocabulary and the folk music traditions of the two countries.”
She recalled that the two countries shared folk traditions and stories such as ‘Panchatantra’ and ‘Poikal Kudhirai’ of southern India and Boi Bumba of northern Brazil. Indian philosophy had influenced Brazilian intellectual tradition and was reflected in the works of philosophers such as Farias Brito and poets Cruz e Souza and Cecilia Meirles. Sao Paulo, a favourite destination of the Indian community, had the only university in the world on yoga.
Ms. Patil said an “India Development Foundation” was on the anvil to allow the diaspora to contribute to the social development causes. Work had begun on the ‘Diaspora Network’ which was an electronic platform to facilitate transformation of ideas into community action in India.
Describing the Indian community as small, successful and vibrant, Indian Ambassador in Brazil Hardeep Singh Puri said it was significant that the President’s first official engagement in Latin America was in Sao Paulo. This was the first time that a business delegation had accompanied the President. Business delegation
Speaking to The Hindu, Madhur Bajaj of Bajaj Auto, who is leading the Indian business delegation, said the biggest growth of his company was in Brazil. The country was not only a leader in agri-business and far, exports including ethanol, but also held great potential for Indian businessmen. P.R. Dhariwal of Essar group is looking at setting up business in minerals.
A surprise inclusion in the business delegation is of the Self-Employed Women Association (SEWA). Mona Dave, chief executive officer of SEWA’s Trade Facilitation Centre, said they were looking for tie-ups with other NGOs and markets in handicrafts.
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India, Brazil to sign extradition treaty
Sao Paulo: India and Brazil will sign at least four agreements during the ongoing visit of President Pratibha Patil. These will include pacts on Extradition Treaty, Oil and Natural Gas, Civil Defence and Humanitarian Assistance and Agriculture.
Two Joint Working Groups will be established in agriculture and oil and natural gas for implementation of the treaties.
The Extradition Treaty will provide for extradition of any person against whom an arrest order is issued, punishable in both countries with imprisonment of at least one year. In the case of financial or revenue-related crime, the extradition may take place even if both countries do not have the same quantum of punishment.
The treaty, however, will exclude extradition of own nationals by either country and also prohibit extradition for trivial crimes of political nature.
The Oil and Natural Gas MoU will include greater ties between Indian and Brazilian companies, execution of projects like Oil and Gas pipeline projects, oil energy and environmental issues, training and exchange of personnel and information and market development.
Under the Civil Defence and Humanitarian Assistance pact, both countries will undertake joint exercises and exchange experiences, technical personnel and exports. They will work together for the prevention and reduction of natural disasters and disasters caused by human activities.
The MoU for cooperation in agriculture will stress expanding understanding in farm research and development, production technologies and equipment, financing micro-credit system for small farmers, post harvest technology, agro and food processing, animal husbandry, dairying, sanitary and phytosanitary issues.
Both countries will also exchange expertise and experience in rural development programme for poverty alleviation through wage and self-employment schemes. The Union Cabinet last week gave its nod for an agreement in this sector.
Brazil has become a superpower in agriculture and allied sectors. Its export of ethanol from sugarcane is the largest in the world. About 80 per cent of its cars run on flexi-fuel, i.e. blending of petrol with ethanol. Recently it gained success in making alternative diesel with soyabean.
According to official sources, there is a likelihood of working out a pact on alternative energy. However, the only glitch is that Brazil wants to export ethanol to India but the latter fears this will harm the domestic sugar industry and is not so eager.
Gargi Parsai
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