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Opinion: Brilliant Brazil, Incredible India

08/28/2015 - 09h27

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SUNIL LAL
AMBASSADOR OF INDIA TO BRAZIL

Brazilians do not adequately comprehend India through local newspapers or television; neither do Indians learn much about Brazil through their media. True, the Football World Cup drew worldwide attention and many Indians saw the "beautiful game"; millions caught glimpses of Brazil on TV.

The Rio Olympics will attract even more interest. The general impression in India is that Brazilians dance the Samba with panache; that Rio is a great city; and, the mighty Amazon River flows across much of the country. They also know Pelé and that he is from São Paulo. Few Indians know that Brazil's land area is more than two and a half times that of India.

Most Brazilians have heard of Mahatma Gandhi; they know that India's population is well over a billion; that Yoga came from India; and Taj Mahal is an Indian monument. Tourists and businessmen have explored both countries but not in large enough numbers.

Our peoples need to be better connected and informed about each other. In this information age distance and language constraints are easily overcome. Folha has given me an opportunity to start a dialogue; I am indebted to them.

At the leadership and official levels our ties are extremely close. Being strategic partners and members of influential groupings like G-4, BRICS, IBSA, and BASIC enables us to play leading roles in international affairs. This partnership is strong as we share a common vision of peace and development for the welfare of our peoples.

It also helps when Brazil has its 'jeitinho' and India its 'jugaad' aimed at finding solutions. Historically, cassava and cashew went to India from Brazil while spices, mango, and coconut came to Brazil from India. A large percentage of Brazil's cattle population is of Indian origin; this fascinating story needs a separate feature article.

We are cooperating in frontier areas of science, technology, space, and our trade is robust. Brazil can play an important role in India's energy and food security while India can contribute significantly to Brazil's IT, Manufacturing, and Health sectors.

There are joint possibilities in Defence and Traditional Medicine. But most of all, we need to step up people to people exchanges in education, culture, and tourism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious agenda for India to become a global manufacturing hub. The 'Make in India' policy is designed to bring the world's best technology and expertise to India as a base for their products.

India is one of the world's biggest consumer markets; we are a democracy with rule of law; a reservoir of scientific and human resources; and a shining example of 'unity in diversity'.

The idea is to raise the contribution of manufacturing to 25 per cent of GDP. This will make India a developed nation able to look after the needs of its people.

'Digital India' is an enabling mechanism using communication tools to quicken the pace of development and to make it easier to do business in India. Another key policy 'Swaatch Bharat' or Clean India is as much an attempt to clean up India, as it is to inculcate a philosophy and psychology that fosters nation building.

Brazil is also faced with similar challenges and there are a number of areas where sharing of experiences and best practices can benefit each other. We must find more ways to connect, cultivate, and consummate our growing partnership. In this, the media has a major role to play.

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