- 6/30/2025
Prime Minister Modi will embark on the five-country visit from July 2, during which he will attend the BRICS Summit in Brazil and hold meetings with leaders of Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and Namibia to strengthen bilateral ties. He will start his five-nation visit with Ghana on July 2 and conclude his visit Namibia in the last leg on July 9. In the second leg of his visit, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister Modi will pay an Official Visit to Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) from July 3-4. This will be his first visit to the country as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit at the Prime Ministerial level to T&T since 1999. In the third leg of his visit, at the invitation of the President of Republic of Argentina, Javier Milei, Prime Minister will travel to Argentina on an Official Visit from July 04-05. Prime Minister will travel to Brazil from July 5-8 to attend the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 followed by a State Visit.
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00:00:00I welcome you to this special briefing on Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Ghana, Trinidad, Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia in that order.
00:00:13For this five nation tour of Prime Minister we have with us to brief us on this visit
00:00:23Secretary here Shri Damurabi, Secretary South Srimati Neenamalothra, Secretary East Shri P. Kumaran
00:00:33As also we have joined by additional secretaries and joint secretaries who are in charge of these countries and regions.
00:00:40We have additional secretaries Central America Shri Rajesh Vaishnav, Joint Secretary South America Shri Praful Chandra Sharma
00:00:52and Joint Secretary East and Southern Africa Shri Mayank Singh.
00:00:57With that I invite the Secretary here to make his opening remarks.
00:01:02Sir, the floor is yours.
00:01:05Thank you, Randhir. Good afternoon to all of you.
00:01:10What I am going to do is there are several countries on rule Prime Minister will be visiting in this tour.
00:01:16So I will cover areas that I deal with and then we will let the other secretaries take over those areas they deal with.
00:01:25So I will start with Ghana.
00:01:27The Honourable Prime Minister will be visiting Ghana on 2nd and 3rd July.
00:01:33This visit is happening after 30 years.
00:01:37The programme is quite hectic on the day of the 2nd.
00:01:44There will be a ceremonial welcome for Honourable Prime Minister.
00:01:48There will be delegation level talks during which the bilateral relations will be reviewed
00:01:56and also discuss various ways to strengthen and deepen bilateral relations.
00:02:01Honourable Prime Minister will have a one-on-one meeting with his counterpart.
00:02:05Then there will be a banquet dinner in Honourable Prime Minister.
00:02:10The next day, the Prime Minister will be addressing the Parliament
00:02:14and he also will be interacting with the Indian community there, which is about 15,000 in number.
00:02:22Let me put this in the context.
00:02:28The President John Ramani Mahama has just assumed office in about January of this year after a landslide victory,
00:02:38which is why the visit assumes importance.
00:02:41Early in his tenure, Honourable Prime Minister will be visiting Ghana.
00:02:45So it will help in the continuity as well as deepening the relationship
00:02:51and to discuss various ways to further strengthen the relationship.
00:02:56President Mahama is no stranger.
00:02:59He has been to India in the past, particularly for the India-Africa Forum Summit in 2015
00:03:05and there have been various occasions that two leaders have met in the past as well.
00:03:10India's relations with Ghana are historical.
00:03:15In the seven decades of a relationship, it has evolved to multi-Pacific.
00:03:20We took up the cause of Ghana in the UN, much before it won independence in 1957.
00:03:31And we have maintained close relationship in the multilateral forum on various issues that are important for the Global South.
00:03:44Both the countries will work towards boosting the economic cooperation and this is very important to note
00:03:51that Ghana is undergoing a deep economic restructuring, especially it has undergone the IMF conditionalities almost 17 times.
00:04:04So the economic agenda will dominate the talks.
00:04:07You know the bilateral trade between India and Ghana is about $3 billion in favour of Ghana because of the large imports of gold.
00:04:18Our investments in Ghana are about $2 billion, both private sector-wise, which is about $1 billion.
00:04:26And in the second half, you have lines of credit and the bias credit activities and projects have been undertaken.
00:04:35We have a very strong cooperation in the capacity building under ITEC and that is continuing to be stronger and deepen.
00:04:44During the visit, there will be few focus items.
00:04:49There will be agriculture, where the Ghana leader, the President is keen to engage with India.
00:04:56He is also keen on the vaccine development, creating a vaccine hub in Ghana, but not just Ghana but also the West Africa context.
00:05:05Defence cooperation will become an important item on the agenda.
00:05:10And the critical minerals and the digital public infrastructure.
00:05:16A few MOUs, memorandum of understandings are likely to be concluded, but we still do not have clarity as to which of those.
00:05:26But our understanding is that negotiations are still ongoing in Ghana with our team.
00:05:33We have, most probably in the Joint Commission, which will be renewed, traditional medicine in Ayurveda, the CEP, Cultural Exchange Program, renewed, and standards.
00:05:48But we will get details closer to the visit when it is being fine-tuned.
00:05:55Thereafter, I am going to jump now to the last leg of Andruul Prime Minister's visit to Namibia.
00:06:01That is another country that I deal with.
00:06:05Andruul Prime Minister will visit Namibia on 9th July.
00:06:10And this visit is also important.
00:06:13It is coming after 27 years.
00:06:17And the current president, who is Netumbu Nandi Ndwaitha, has assumed office in March this year.
00:06:28Which is why the visit happening so early in our tenure is very useful to renew the relationship,
00:06:36and at the same time deepen our economic engagement with Namibia.
00:06:42The program will have a ceremonial welcome.
00:06:46Andruul Prime Minister will pay homage to Dr. Sam Najima.
00:06:50There will be delegation-level talks, one-on-one discussions, and he will also address the parliament.
00:06:57The substance of the relationship is again, as you know, that India and Namibia have been a very strong relationship for a very long time.
00:07:07Historical context, the independence struggle.
00:07:11We recognized Namibia long before it got independence.
00:07:15We took up its cause in the UNGA in 1946, and also allowed to set up a diplomatic mission in India in 1986, even before it got independence in 1990.
00:07:30The bilateral relations are very wide-ranging.
00:07:34Let me focus on the trade here.
00:07:36It is 600 million, marginally in favor of India.
00:07:40Our investments are about 800 million, mostly in mineral resources like zinc and diamond processing.
00:07:48You all are aware that India had taken a few cheetahs from Namibia and relocated to Kuno National Park.
00:08:03That phase had very successfully been implemented.
00:08:08In the development cooperation area, the capacity building, defense cooperation, defense training of the personnel of Namibia,
00:08:18the center for excellence of the information technology that we have set it up.
00:08:22Then, most importantly, what is going to happen during the visit is the unified payment interoperability.
00:08:30The technology agreement being signed has already been entered between the Central Bank of Namibia and the NPCI.
00:08:37So, this will take forward, and that, we believe, is a very important development in our relationship.
00:08:43Namibia is a very resource-rich country.
00:08:47It has natural resources of uranium, copper, cobalt, rare earths in large numbers, lithium, graphite, tantalum, and all of these are of interest to us.
00:08:58In the recent times, Namibia has also discovered new oil fields.
00:09:02There, again, going to be a broad understanding on the partnership in hydrocarbons.
00:09:07Namibia is also keen to engage with us in agriculture and pharma,
00:09:11and we will be exploring India's low-cost solutions like DPI, Jannaushidhi, traditional medicine, Ayurveda.
00:09:19You have to understand, in a broader context, how important is partnering Africa.
00:09:24We have done the India-Africa Forum Summit 3 in 2015.
00:09:28We will be very soon doing India-Africa Forum Summit 4.
00:09:32And in that context, engaging with Africa with both individual countries and the EU are very important.
00:09:39Africa, in recent times, has also evolved.
00:09:42It has become more aspirational.
00:09:43It wants manufacturing to happen in the country, and it wants value addition to happen in the country.
00:09:49The Africa-wide free trade continent is another great opportunity to engage in Africa.
00:09:54So we have to keep this at the back of our mind, dealing with Africa.
00:09:57There are lots of opportunities, and we need to look at this with more keenness.
00:10:04Let me now touch upon Anrual Prime Minister's visit to Rio.
00:10:10The 17th BRICS Summit is taking place on 6th and 7th.
00:10:15Anrual Prime Minister will arrive on the 5th evening, but the main program is on the 6th.
00:10:21As you know, the format is very clear.
00:10:23There are full members, which are 10.
00:10:26There are about 12 partner countries.
00:10:29There are 8 invitee countries at the head of state, head of government level.
00:10:34And there are 7 heads of regional and multilateral bodies.
00:10:38The theme of the Rio Summit is Strengthening Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.
00:10:47The program on the 6th includes the first agenda item, the reform of the global governance, where only the full members will participate.
00:10:58And thereafter, there is the second item on the agenda, the peace and security, which is in the working lunch format, where the leaders will discuss the agenda item.
00:11:10And all of this will be captured in the leaders' statements, which will be seen as deliverables.
00:11:20Post-lunch, the third item on the agenda is Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic Financial Affairs, and Artificial Intelligence.
00:11:30Later that evening will be an official reception.
00:11:33All the leaders will be participating.
00:11:35The next day, which is on the 7th of July, the fourth item of the agenda is Environment, COP30, and Global Health.
00:11:44As you are aware that Brazil will also be hosting COP30 later in the year, in November, which is why climate change and COP issues become very important.
00:11:54As you know, the BRICS process is led by the chair, and they set the agenda, but the decisions are in a consensus-based format.
00:12:05We are hopeful that there will be four deliverables, although discussions are continuing still at the Sherpa and the Sioux Sherpa level.
00:12:13The leaders' declaration, the leaders' statement on global governance and artificial intelligence, the leaders' framework declaration on climate finance, and BRICS partnership for elimination of socially determined diseases.
00:12:29There will also be four reports.
00:12:30There will also be four reports that will be submitted to the leaders.
00:12:34One, the deliberations happen during the National Security Advisors level, the Business Council meetings that would have happened before that, the Women's Business Alliance report, and the Civil Council report.
00:12:48As you know that all these discussions in the last few months across various platforms and working groups will find convergence in the declaration of the leaders, which will be endorsed by the leaders during that time.
00:13:04Both at the Sherpa and the Sioux Sherpa level, there have been intense discussions that have taken place.
00:13:09What we also noticed is that the Brazil's agenda more or less is encapsulating the ideas of the Global South, and these are more or less in alignment with India's positions.
00:13:23And lastly, India will be holding the chair of the BRICS next year, which is why, in this context, Honorable Prime Minister's visit is even more important.
00:13:34I will pause at this stage, and if there are any questions later, we will come back.
00:13:39Thank you very much. Over to you.
00:13:41Thank you, sir. I now invite Secretary South to brief us on Prime Minister's visit to Trinidad and Tobago.
00:13:48Ma'am, please.
00:13:49Thank you, Randhir. Namaskar, and very good afternoon to all of you.
00:13:55As you are aware, Honorable Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi will be undertaking an official visit to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:14:03from 3rd to 4th of July, 2025, at the invitation of Prime Minister Her Excellency Mrs. Kamala Prasad Bisesar.
00:14:13This marks the first visit by Prime Minister Modi to TNT or Trinidad and Tobago as Prime Minister,
00:14:20and is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to TNT since 1999.
00:14:28The visit comes at an opportune time as this year, in 2025, the country is commemorating 180 years of the arrival of Indian immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago.
00:14:40This shared history forms the bedrock of our close and enduring people-to-people ties.
00:14:47India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with TNT following its independence in 1962.
00:14:57Our bilateral ties are rooted in shared democracies, pluralism, and a vibrant diaspora connect.
00:15:05Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the largest Indian diaspora in the region.
00:15:11In fact, the Indian origin community in TNT comprises 40-45% of its population.
00:15:18I am told that currently both the President and Prime Minister are of Indian origin.
00:15:25Incidentally, both are women, both are lawyers, and both have a deep sense of pride in their Indian roots and heritage and describe themselves as daughters of India.
00:15:37We in India also celebrate and admire their achievements.
00:15:42Both have been recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, and our Prime Minister was the first foreign leader to congratulate PM KPB when she won the election in April 2025.
00:15:56She is the first female Prime Minister not only in TNT but also in the entire Caribbean region.
00:16:07The entire Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is very enthusiastic about the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi,
00:16:15and a large diaspora interaction event is being planned during the visit.
00:16:20During the visit, Honorable PM will hold high-level discussions with both President and Prime Minister,
00:16:27and the leaders are expected to cover the entire gamut of our bilateral relations as well as regional and multilateral aspects.
00:16:35PM KPB will also host a dinner for Prime Minister Modi.
00:16:40India's development partnership with Trinidad and Tobago is robust and diverse.
00:16:45It includes capacity-building initiatives, grant-based projects, and healthcare initiatives.
00:16:51Both sides are now seeking to expand and diversify our cooperation into emerging areas such as pharmaceuticals,
00:17:00tertiary care, renewable energy, digital public infrastructure, agriculture, and disaster resilience in addition to innovation and technology.
00:17:10We will also continue to focus on sports, academic, and cultural cooperation.
00:17:16A set of bilateral documents in different areas of cooperation are expected to be signed.
00:17:22In a special gesture, PM Modi will also address the joint session of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:17:29The visit is expected to strengthen the bilateral partnership across key areas and reaffirm our enduring ties with the Caribbean.
00:17:38I shall stop here and will be happy to take questions later on.
00:17:42Thank you, ma'am.
00:17:44I now invite Secretary East to brief us on Prime Minister's visits to Brazil and Argentina.
00:17:53Sir.
00:17:54Thank you, Randhir.
00:17:57Thank you and good afternoon, dear friends.
00:18:01Secretary Yard just mentioned about the BRICS portion of the visit to Brazil.
00:18:07I will try and add on to that by talking about the bilateral segment of the visit, which will be on 8th of July.
00:18:206th and 7th will be the Rio segment for the BRICS summit.
00:18:24As you know, Prime Minister has earlier visited Brazil on three occasions.
00:18:29The first in July 2014, followed by another visit in 2019 to attend the BRICS summit,
00:18:35and in November last year to attend the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
00:18:39During the state visit to Brasilia, Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Lula.
00:18:50The program basically includes a ceremonial welcome on arrival, followed by a restricted meeting and a delegation-level format talks,
00:19:01culminating with a lunch hosted by President Lula for Prime Minister Modi.
00:19:07The state visit will provide an opportunity to review the entire gamut of our partnership, including trade and investments, oil and gas,
00:19:18renewable energy, mining and critical minerals, defense and security, agriculture and livestock,
00:19:24healthcare and traditional medicine, tourism, space, science and technology, DPI, and also sports and people-to-people relations in general.
00:19:34Both leaders will also be discussing during their talks global issues of mutual interest.
00:19:44The visit will be a significant milestone in the India-Brazil strategic partnership
00:19:48and is envisaged to add renewed momentum to the strategic partnership which we agreed to in 2006.
00:19:55On the trade front, India's trade with Brazil is the largest compared to any other country in Latin America.
00:20:04It had reached 16.6 billion in 2022-23 and following the drop in oil and gas prices, it is now around 12.2 billion,
00:20:15with India enjoying a trade surplus as we export goods worth $6.7 billion to Brazil and import goods worth $5.4 billion.
00:20:29Both leaders have set a bilateral trade target of $20 billion during their last meeting in November 2024.
00:20:36During their forthcoming meeting in Brazil, the two leaders are expected to discuss a way to strengthen and diversify bilateral trade,
00:20:46including through expansion of the India-Mercosur PTA, as Brazil will be holding the chairship of Mercosur from 1 July 2025.
00:20:56India and Brazil are strong proponents of global south cooperation.
00:21:01We also collaborate closely across all global platforms of which we both are members,
00:21:07including BRICS, G20, IBSA, and of course the United Nations.
00:21:12We also collaborate closely as members of G4 seeking comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council.
00:21:19We are looking at a few important bilateral MOUs and agreements, especially in renewable energy, agricultural research, and security cooperation.
00:21:30We will give you more details during the course of the visit.
00:21:34Let me quickly move to the Argentina part.
00:21:40Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi is visiting Argentina on 4th and 5th July on an official visit.
00:21:47PM has traveled earlier to Argentina for a G20 meeting in 2018, but this will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM in the last 57 years and is therefore historic.
00:22:04As part of the program, the Prime Minister starts by paying respects at the statue of General Jose Nassan Martin.
00:22:16Argentina is a revered freedom fighter and national hero.
00:22:21The Prime Minister will be accorded a ceremonial welcome.
00:22:25He will have delegation-level talks and it will be followed by a lunch hosted by President Mele for the PM.
00:22:35As you are all aware, Argentina is a strategic partner of India since 2019 and the two countries celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations last year.
00:22:48The Prime Minister's visit to Argentina comes at a particularly significant time as Argentina is undertaking major economic reforms somewhat similar to those India went through in the past.
00:23:00Both leaders will, of course, discuss subjects of economic and trade interests to further strengthen bilateral relations.
00:23:09India's advancements in defense manufacturing, in space sector, in new areas such as information technology and DPI can offer valuable expertise and we can share experiences with Argentina.
00:23:25Our expertise in telemedicine and digital healthcare solutions are also on offer for Argentina in expanding access to medical services and improving overall quality and cost-effective healthcare delivery.
00:23:40Argentina holds the world's second largest shale gas reserves and fourth largest shale oil reserves along with, of course, substantial conventional oil and gas deposits making it a potentially important energy partner for India in the future.
00:23:59Argentina's rich reserves of critical minerals such as lithium copper and other rare earth elements complement India's growing need for secure and sustainable supplies to these elements for its clean energy transition and industrial growth.
00:24:15India's public sector, India's public sector, has already won a few concessions in Argentina since 2024.
00:24:25Our leaders will be discussing more on this subject.
00:24:28The visit is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership and open new avenues of cooperation.
00:24:36These include trade and investment, health and pharmaceuticals, defense and security, infrastructure, mining and mineral resources, agriculture and food security, green energy, ICT, digital innovation, disaster management, S&T, education and people-to-people linkages.
00:24:54Thank you and I look forward to answering any questions you might have.
00:25:01Thank you sir.
00:25:02We now open the floor for questions.
00:25:04We will take a bunch of questions together.
00:25:07So we will start here.
00:25:09Yeshi.
00:25:10This is Yeshi Seli from Business India.
00:25:15I have two questions.
00:25:16Two of the five founding members of BRICS, their leaders are not likely to attend President Putin of Russia.
00:25:23President Xi Jinping of China.
00:25:24Is that going to impact the joint declaration?
00:25:29And secondly, you know, you are talking about UPI being introduced in Ghana, if I have heard correctly.
00:25:36How effective have the other UPIs been, you know, with the countries that we have launched them in?
00:25:42Because especially in the neighborhood, they don't seem to be working.
00:25:45Mm-hmm.
00:25:46Chidant.
00:25:47Hi sir, Chidant from Rion.
00:25:49Sir, how many bilaterals PM is expected to have on the sidelines of the summit in Brazil?
00:26:01And my second question is that PM is going to five countries and all of these five countries are part of the Global South.
00:26:08Two are from Africa, two are from South America, one from Caribbean.
00:26:11So what's the big message in terms of engagement with the Global South?
00:26:16Yes, sir.
00:26:22news nation say, uh, BRICS के मंच पर भारत की तरफ से आतंकवाद के इतना बड़ा मुद्दा होगा, खास तर पर में देखा है कि ये एक विवाद का मुद्दा बना हुआ था, लेकिन आपको उमीद है कि BRICS के मंच पर ऐसा नहीं होगा, और भारत इस तरह से आतंकवाद के मुद्दे पर �
00:26:52क喔 का मुद रसरे लाद विवकायं से अदेगत माइख पर रसने से के आतंक़ भारत कर क noाई कर पत्त higher
00:27:22Heather from the Hindu. Just to pick up on Madhurendra's question as well, are you expecting
00:27:27to see a specific mention of the Pahlgham terror attacks in the BRICS leader statement
00:27:32at the end? The second question is, we saw that India disassociated itself from the SCO
00:27:39statement on Iran. It hasn't, however, disassociated itself from the BRICS statement on the Iran-Israel
00:27:48conflict recently and I was just wondering if there was a reason why for the decision
00:27:55of one, not the other. Thank you. Okay, so we can take these questions and then come back
00:28:01for more.
00:28:12Yes, well, I think there's wide-ranging questions here. What I'll do is I'll try
00:28:18to not specifically answer each one of you, but I think I got a sense of what you're aiming
00:28:24at. First, let's say the issue of the leaders not being there, which is the Chinese leader
00:28:30and the Russian leader. But I think this is already known that Xi Jinping had been to that
00:28:37country a few occasions. Perhaps, you know, he's not going there. It's his decision. But
00:28:42I think in respect of that, we'll have to be our solidarity with BRICS. I think Prime Minister's
00:28:50visit is an expression of India's solidarity with the BRICS and we are going to hold the
00:28:54chair next year. So it's important to connect with leaders that will be there. Now look at
00:28:59the entire leadership. More or less, everyone has conformed. Other full members, the partner
00:29:04country members and the NYD country. It's a great opportunity for Anrual Prime Minister to connect
00:29:09with the leaders of the Global South, most of which will gather there. And there will
00:29:14be on the sidelines meetings, interactions with the leaders. And it's a great opportunity.
00:29:20We must look at it. On the UPI, now, it's something new for many countries in the Global South.
00:29:28You know, it's important to also understand the technology behind it. This is most countries,
00:29:34as we traveled across in Africa. First of all, to understand this concept will take time.
00:29:40When you execute it, it's a process. And an evolution of that process also will take time.
00:29:46But I think there's been a good success. I don't know the number, but I can say that
00:29:51around more than 20 countries have entered into the UPI arrangement. But to get the mechanism
00:29:57operational, it will take time. It will also mean that capacity building on both sides. The
00:30:03ability of this country to absorb the technology and to use it. I think this is a process. We
00:30:07should have some patience when it finally be able to be effective. In the meetings,
00:30:14Siddhanda has asked about how many meetings in the Global South and five countries. Yes,
00:30:21I think with a great opportunity, all the countries that Anrual Prime Minister is visiting are members
00:30:26of the Global South in some way or the other. And it's again reiteration of the solidarity,
00:30:31where the more meetings with the Global South is better. There is something which both sides
00:30:36should be able to learn from each other. One of those issues on the Global South, not getting
00:30:43adequate attention in the multilateral forum, reform of the multilateral system. These are
00:30:48all very important. Climate change, climate finance, artificial intelligence, the elements
00:30:55related to it, the ethical use of AIs. Again, India's low-cost solutions, which is the digital
00:31:02public infrastructure. These are all very important. One need to engage with each other to have convergence
00:31:10and consensus and also adapt those solutions that are useful for countries in the Global South.
00:31:17Now, terrorism, I don't deal with the SCO at this point of time, but I think, let me focus
00:31:24myself just on BRICS. There is no contradiction in the way the members have come out with their
00:31:32understanding and their sympathy and their solidarity with India and Belgium. I think this has been
00:31:37very well captured in the declaration. And all the members are very sensitive to this matter. And there is
00:31:44also a broader understanding in how to deal with this menace of terrorism. And there should no one be spared
00:31:51in dealing with it. I think that is very well captured. And I don't have to go into details. I think when you get
00:32:01the declaration out, you will see the language is much to your satisfaction there. In terms of currency, local currency and trade,
00:32:08let me tell you that countries in the Global South are also looking for alternatives. Again, it is not a
00:32:15de-dollarization issue. The countries are also doing trade settlement in national currency. This has been going on for quite
00:32:23some time. But what is happening in the BRICS is precisely that we are trying to bring in some understanding of how
00:32:29important it is to have alternative mechanisms in being able to do trading in the national currencies and also
00:32:36to be able to do projects in the national currencies. Now, this is again a process. You know, countries will have to
00:32:44understand the mechanisms and how to do it. It is also not just the countries and the central banks, but also businesses
00:32:50have to plug in to this idea. So that's a process and we are confident it will find traction more and more
00:32:57in the days to come. In terms of critical minerals, again, the new technologies of the 21st century, all of them
00:33:06depend on critical minerals. And we have to be aware of the fact that these technologies of the 21st century,
00:33:11critical minerals are very, very important. We have to find ways to
00:33:18to get bilateral understanding mechanisms to be able to capture that. And just not in the context of bilaterally,
00:33:28but also in terms of partner countries, partnering with many countries to be harnessing critical minerals,
00:33:35both in terms of the processes and acquiring these minerals around the world. But I think, you know,
00:33:42Secretary East has already mentioned that we have achieved good progress in Argentina. And Africa is full of those minerals.
00:33:51And we believe that, you know, we have to be much more focused in being able to tap that resource in Africa.
00:33:58And I think Kabul and National Mineral Development Corporation, they are very much actively looking at opportunities in Africa.
00:34:06And I think in this context, honorable prime minister's visit to both Ghana and Namibia become very important.
00:34:13These are areas where we believe there is a lot of opportunity and we will be looking at it very closely.
00:34:20On the leaders' statement on Falcom, I have already touched about it. Now, Iran. Now, this is a development that had happened very recently.
00:34:32There again, all the leaders in the Sherpa and the Shu Sherpa level were able to find convergence.
00:34:39And that language has been acceptable to all the members.
00:34:44What happened in the SCO, I am not able to tell at this point of time.
00:34:47But I think in terms of the developments, the geopolitical tensions in West Asia,
00:34:53that language is much to the satisfaction of all members at this point of time. Thank you.
00:35:00So, I would like to add something, sir.
00:35:03Let me also try and supplement something to what Secretary E.R. said.
00:35:08On critical minerals particularly, you know, Argentina is a part of the lithium triangle which comprises Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.
00:35:20We are talking to all three of them.
00:35:22We are also talking to Peru and Bolivia to try and acquire mining concessions that hold lithium, molybdenum and other critical minerals that are useful for our green transition and for advanced manufacturing.
00:35:37Between Kabul and Coal India Limited, they have picked up four concessions in Argentina.
00:35:44Negotiations are ongoing.
00:35:46This is in Catamarca province of Argentina.
00:35:50There is an Argentinian PSU, provincial PSU called Camien with whom they are working, partnering to develop these sites and to pick up lithium from there, refine it and then bring it into India for our purposes.
00:36:07In addition, there is also private sector interest in rare earth minerals in Argentina, Greenco of India and another Indian owned company based in UAE called World Metal Alloys.
00:36:22They are also interested in investing in Argentina.
00:36:26They have also picked up one concession and there is from what we have very, very recently, there are other Indian companies also interested in picking up stakes in lithium mining companies and refining companies in Argentina.
00:36:43We hope to be able to share more details whenever they are available with us.
00:36:50So, we have a short point on what Secretary Yair said about UPI launches in other countries.
00:36:54In fact, UPI launches, we have been taking it at two levels.
00:36:58One is sharing the UPI model itself as it is with other countries.
00:37:06The other is to try and connect existing systems there with our UPI system through cross-border linkages.
00:37:13We have done that with Singapore.
00:37:15We are looking at Thailand, Philippines.
00:37:17We have also done that with France.
00:37:19I can tell you that with Singapore it is working extremely well.
00:37:23I have tried it myself.
00:37:25And the challenge with launching UPI in other countries is that there are a lot of associated challenges that come with just the source code.
00:37:37It is not a box that we give to other countries and it starts working the next day.
00:37:42There are regulatory capacity building requirements.
00:37:45There are legal adjustments that need to be done.
00:37:49All that needs capacity building and training people to pick up and run once the software is in place.
00:37:58So, those are the reasons why it takes more time than you would normally expect.
00:38:02But we are on it.
00:38:03We are working with a lot of private sector partners, NGOs, etc.
00:38:08to try and push UPI solutions to help countries of the Global South enhance their citizen service delivery.
00:38:19Ma'am, do you have anything to add?
00:38:22No.
00:38:23Just wanted to add, I think most of the points have been covered by the two secretaries.
00:38:28I just want to say that India has always been committed towards addressing the needs and aspirations of fellow developing countries.
00:38:35But in the last few years, in the last 10 years or so, our engagement has intensified considerably.
00:38:41If you see CARICOM, in fact, the last visit of PM was seven, eight months ago to Guyana when we had the second India CARICOM summit.
00:38:48So, this visit comes within a span of eight months of that visit.
00:38:54And in between, we have had several high-level visits from that Global South countries, particularly from South Central America as well as Caribbean.
00:39:04We had, in fact, the visits by the presidents of Peru and Chile.
00:39:09We had a foreign minister of Honduras.
00:39:12We have had the minister, deputy prime ministers of Jamaica.
00:39:16And we also had a big India lac conclave where we had 15 ministers from various countries.
00:39:24So, there is a huge focus on the CARICOM and the Latin America part.
00:39:29And we are now diversifying our engagements into emerging areas.
00:39:34So, this visit is basically a reaffirmation of our focus on the Global South.
00:39:39And it takes forward the process that we initiated with the Voice of Global South summit during G20.
00:39:46And thereafter, we have had two summits already.
00:39:49So, we look forward to having more intense engagements with this region.
00:39:53Next round.
00:39:56So, we start here.
00:39:57Huma.
00:39:58Sir, I am Huma Siddiqui from Stat News Global.
00:40:03I have two questions.
00:40:04One, you talked about Brazil and you talked about defense in space.
00:40:09So, is any defense deal expected to be announced or talked about during the visit?
00:40:15And in the space sector, especially with Brazil, what is the status there?
00:40:22And in Argentina, will there be any talk related to nuclear small plants, reactors?
00:40:32And they were talking about it.
00:40:34So, if there is any update on that?
00:40:37Pranay?
00:40:38Sir, Pranayv Paithai from TV Today Network.
00:40:40My question is that in this foreign visit, how many countries Prime Minister would be receiving some awards and civilian awards and honors?
00:40:51So, if you can list out?
00:40:52Krishnam Mohan.
00:40:53Sir, Pranayv Paithai from Sarma, Bharata Express.
00:40:54My two questions are related to one of the two questions.
00:40:55One is related to the Prime Minister's visit and the BRICS meeting.
00:40:56Is there any other ministers in the BRICS meeting?
00:40:57Is there any other ministers in the BRICS meeting?
00:40:58Is there any other business delegations in our country?
00:40:59Okay.
00:41:00Just enjoy.
00:41:01Sir, during the visit to Argentina, which has faced terror attacks, significant terror attacks in the 90s.
00:41:16Do we expect a joint declaration on terrorism?
00:41:32Secondly, perhaps one of the few countries in the world which has sent Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs to India on visits,
00:41:45is Brazil.
00:41:46And the Brazilians, during their visit here, expressed a lot of interest in Indian-made defense equipment, including artillery and so on.
00:41:59Now, the Brazilians are also keen on a swap because there appears to be a requirement for Embraer aircraft in India.
00:42:07And Brazil seems to be keen on exchanging the Embraer aircraft for Indian-made military equipment like artillery and like other equipment.
00:42:21Could you tell us a little more about this, please?
00:42:24Keshav?
00:42:25So, thank you.
00:42:26Keshav Padmanabhan from the print.
00:42:27Seeing that at least three or four of these countries are development partners, I just wanted to understand, are we looking at extending lines of credits to any of these countries during this visit?
00:42:43Are there talks for that?
00:42:44And if so, could you highlight the status of that?
00:42:48And secondly, just to add on to the earlier question of local currencies, a discussion at BRICS, the reason is we've all heard from the US, you know, questions about de-dollarization and strong statements against that.
00:43:01So, how exactly is BRICS then looking at promoting local currencies given the current geopolitical status?
00:43:08Manas.
00:43:09This is Manas from PTI Press Trust of India.
00:43:14Secretary, you just referred to the alternative mechanism for trade.
00:43:19So, is India looking at a BRICS framework for this kind of use of national currencies for trade among the member nations?
00:43:28And is it going to be, first off, a number of possible steps before rollout of a BRICS currency in the foreseeable future or distant future?
00:43:37And the second quick question is, in fact, PM is visiting these five countries at a time when the Global South countries are nervous about various trade-related issues, including President Trump's trade policy.
00:43:51So, what will be the big underlying theme for Prime Minister's visit to these five countries?
00:43:58Sir, we can take these questions, we'll come back.
00:44:04We'll come back to you later.
00:44:06Sir.
00:44:07Okay.
00:44:08Let me restrict myself to only BRICS because bilaterally there are other issues which two secretaries may answer.
00:44:26See, in terms of the awards, I have no clarity at this point of time.
00:44:33But I think, you know, the Prime Minister is a global leader and a statesman.
00:44:37So, any country naturally wanting to honor him.
00:44:41So, at this stage, I have no clarity.
00:44:43So, we leave it at that when the visit actually happens.
00:44:47In terms of BRICS delegation,
00:44:54I have no idea of this, but already, the working group level or the ministerial level meeting has been in the BRICS format.
00:45:05Business Council, business delegation, the meetings will be in the fourth and fifth.
00:45:11After that, the deliberations will come to the declaration,
00:45:16you'll get a chance to meet with Prime leaders on the sixth.
00:45:22Otherwise, there are about 150 deliberations happening in the BRICS context.
00:45:27So, many of the tracks have covered ministerial dialogues, interactions,
00:45:34and the business interactions have already been adequately covered.
00:45:38So, all of this will feed into the leaders' declaration.
00:45:43In terms of LOCs, whether there are new LOCs being offered,
00:45:48now, the LO lines of credit, India, as you know,
00:45:54has extended to countries in the global south quite enormously.
00:46:00Now, our exposure to Africa itself, over 12 billion,
00:46:04their ongoing projects, and concluded successfully many projects.
00:46:09The overall commitment of India is about 32 billion dollars,
00:46:15both for the neighboring countries, Africa, and the global south,
00:46:19and a lot of it has been successfully concluded.
00:46:22And many countries who have received the lines of credit are grateful to us
00:46:27for the way this has helped them also in their own development agenda.
00:46:32There are no requests at this point of time,
00:46:36but definitely countries, both in the context of Ghana and Namibia,
00:46:42they are keen to engage with India in their own value-added manufacturing units.
00:46:49Now, how that will translate into, we will have to get into details
00:46:53when we sit on specific issues.
00:46:56Whether it will be LOC, it will be a grant, or it will be just a concessional loan.
00:47:01Now, that clarity will evolve as a follow-up to honorable premises.
00:47:06So, we will have to wait what shape it will take.
00:47:10The local currency, I think a lot has already been covered,
00:47:14but let me be very clear in what I want to focus here.
00:47:17This is a track which is dealt with by the Department of Economic Affairs.
00:47:21So, they take a lead and they take a decision as to how far we can engage collectively in the BRICS.
00:47:26But what is important for us to note is that many countries are already doing it.
00:47:31Whether in the BRICS context or bilateral context, countries are doing it.
00:47:36And why this is happening?
00:47:37And we have to understand that the geopolitical context, there is an economic angle.
00:47:43Countries of the Global South become more vulnerable
00:47:45when there are problems elsewhere in the world as well.
00:47:48So, which is why the alternative formats and the methods that countries in the global South want to use is very natural.
00:47:55For example, trade settlement in rupee.
00:47:58We have tried with many countries and that effort is ongoing.
00:48:02Many countries in the BRICS are also doing it.
00:48:05But the idea of whether the national currencies is negating dollar utilization in the world,
00:48:15I don't think that we have to get into the debate of dollar versus national currency.
00:48:20Dollar will continue to exist in the global trade.
00:48:22It is the most dominant currency.
00:48:24I don't think there is a competition there.
00:48:26It is just that countries will look for alternatives and we have to appreciate their effort in the direction.
00:48:31So, Trump's trade policy, I don't want to get into it because that's completely a different area,
00:48:39which will require a huge, a large session to come to some kind of understanding or no understanding at the end of it.
00:48:46So, but the underpinnings of the Honourable Prime Minister's visit,
00:48:50it's an excellent opportunity to reiterate our solidarity, our commitment to the Global South.
00:48:57Issues of the Global South that require a greater understanding and deliberations at the international level, global level.
00:49:06This is, I think, is an opportunity.
00:49:09In all the countries that he will visit, there will be reiteration of the Global South issues
00:49:15and the need for reform of the multilateral institutions, the climate change issues
00:49:20and low-cost solutions that India has successfully introduced in our own country
00:49:24and how these can be replicated elsewhere.
00:49:27I will pause at this point of time. Thank you.
00:49:29Sir.
00:49:30Thank you. Let me, I think I had two questions.
00:49:34One about the joint declaration on counter-terrorism, if any, with Argentina,
00:49:40where as of now there is no joint declaration planned with Argentina.
00:49:43Argentina has supported us very strongly on counter-terrorism initiatives in all forums where we are both members and also in the UN.
00:49:53They have also issued a very strong statement supporting us on the Pahalgam terror attack.
00:49:58So, we are fairly clear about where Argentina stands as far as our cooperation on counter-terrorism is concerned.
00:50:05I think Ms. Huma's question about defense and nuclear cooperation with Brazil.
00:50:12Yes, there is going to be discussions on defense cooperation and enhancing it with Brazil.
00:50:21We are looking at avenues for joint research, technology sharing and training exchanges.
00:50:26We are still talking about what kind of cooperation is possible, what kind of defense platforms we can sell to Brazil,
00:50:34but there is still not much progress made.
00:50:36But broadly, we have a few areas that seem to be of interest to the Brazilian side.
00:50:41They are interested in secure communication systems on the battlefield.
00:50:47They are also interested in offshore patrol vessels, OPVs.
00:50:53Brazil has Scorpene submarines.
00:50:56They are interested in partnering with us in maintaining those submarines.
00:50:59They also seem to be interested in the Akash air defense system and in coastal surveillance systems,
00:51:06Garuda artillery guns and so on.
00:51:09They are also interested in manufacturing defense industry joint ventures with us.
00:51:14Joint R&D of course and co-development of systems.
00:51:18Somebody had mentioned the Embraer platform.
00:51:21Yes, we do use the Embraer platform to develop reconnaissance systems, etc. on top of that.
00:51:29So there is a lot of potential for us to work with Brazil given their strength in the Embraer and in the aircraft industry in general.
00:51:38On nuclear cooperation, yes, there is interest.
00:51:41Both countries want to move away towards greener sources of energy and therefore there is a scope for partnership there.
00:51:50We also work together on biofuels.
00:51:52But on the specific issue of SMR, small modular reactors, I don't have anything.
00:51:58Both of us are looking to partner with other countries in fact to try and get SMR technology.
00:52:03So hopefully we will have something to share with you by the time the visit ends.
00:52:09Just two small points.
00:52:11There is no LOC proposal for Trinidad and Tobago.
00:52:15I may add that many of the Caribbean countries, including TNT, they have become high income economies.
00:52:22So per capita income of TNT is roughly $19,000.
00:52:26So according to our rules, LOC conditions may not be very attractive to them.
00:52:31But in the past, we have granted LOCs to some of the Caribbean countries.
00:52:36Regarding Global South, the big message as Secretary has already mentioned that India has always championed the cause of human-centric development of fellow developing countries.
00:52:49And Trinidad and Tobago is a very important player in CARICOM as well as in SID, small island developing states, which form a collective authoritative voice on climate change issues.
00:53:01There is also an increasing convergence of reform of global financial architecture as well as global reform institutions.
00:53:08And I think all the countries appreciate the fact, all the CARICOM countries as well as countries of the Global South appreciate the fact that India has increased the focus on needs and priorities of the Global South.
00:53:21So that is one.
00:53:22And I think, is there any other point, Amiri?
00:53:28About the awards, I think there is, as of now, no clarity.
00:53:31But as Seketia said that our Prime Minister is a global leader and in recognition of his achievements and his contribution towards advancement of causes of Global South,
00:53:46he has in the past been awarded in the Caribbean region.
00:53:51In fact, last year when he went to Guyana, he was given the award.
00:53:54Even countries such as Barbados and Dominica also have conferred their orders, national orders on him.
00:54:02So we'll take one last round.
00:54:03We have Manish, Rishikesh, Akhilesh and Yeshi with those four wheel rounds.
00:54:09Finish the round.
00:54:11Manish.
00:54:12Hello.
00:54:13Sir, I'm Manish.
00:54:14I'm from TV9.
00:54:15I'm from TV9.
00:54:16The E.M.
00:54:18is now in Washington.
00:54:19The Quartz meeting is in the Quartz meeting.
00:54:23Prime Minister Bricks is going to go.
00:54:25Now, we have to balance balance with Bricks and Quad.
00:54:29But the Bricks is particularly a member of the narrative that India is not a reliable partner.
00:54:36Because it is always right in the West.
00:54:39So, the trust factor is so important in the Bricks summit.
00:54:43Especially when the issue of Iran has come,
00:54:46and the Bricks of many countries are seeing that India is more of the West.
00:54:53Okay.
00:54:54Rishikesh.
00:54:55Sir, Rishikesh from PTI.
00:54:59So, in April this year, Bricks foreign ministers have failed to reach a consensus on joint statement.
00:55:06So, what steps have been taken to resolve these differences?
00:55:10And now, because terrorism is also becoming an issue.
00:55:14So, are you hopeful of issuing this joint statement?
00:55:20Okay.
00:55:21Akhilesh, please.
00:55:22Sir, I am Akhilesh from Durdarshan.
00:55:27Actually, this Bricks summit is taking place at a time when there are so many conflicts in the world.
00:55:34And it includes some of the Bricks members.
00:55:37So, do you think that the Bricks can establish a dialogue mechanism so that these issues can be addressed by the Bricks members?
00:55:46Because Americans and Europeans are already intervening.
00:55:49Do you have any plans, sir?
00:55:51Sridhar.
00:55:52Sir, Sridhar here from the Asian Age and Technic Chronicle.
00:55:55Just wanted to know, out of the five countries, in three countries, the Prime Minister would be addressing the parliament of those countries.
00:56:02Is it just a recognition of the historical relationship that we have had with the Caribbean and Africa?
00:56:08Or is there a large objective?
00:56:11And also, the Bricks, are we, you know, we had a very long campaign ahead, building up to our chairmanship of the G20.
00:56:23So, the Bricks now being almost seen as a rival to the G7 and comprising ten members already.
00:56:30Are we also looking at sort of a repeat of that process so far as leadership of Global South is concerned?
00:56:39Yeshi, you had a follow-up question?
00:56:42This was on Ambrier aircraft, you know, Ambrier is already in talks with Indigo and Air India.
00:56:49Is there likely to be some kind of formalization of contract?
00:56:52Because these airlines, especially Air India is very challenged because they don't have a fleet.
00:56:57So, can we expect something during the course of this summit or on the sideline?
00:57:02Last question, Amiti.
00:57:04Hi sir, Amiti from Hindu Business Line.
00:57:07So, recently we have seen a very fast expansion in Bricks membership.
00:57:11And there are lots of countries who are already in line and there are talks of three or four who are up front.
00:57:18So, what is the pace and, you know, the ultimate size of expansion that India would be looking at and would be comfortable with?
00:57:29Sir, we had a whole set of questions on Bricks.
00:57:35But again, as I said, I will try and merge them and try and give some overview.
00:57:42So, first of all on the statement, I will take the statement here.
00:57:45So, the joint declaration, the leaders' declaration has been in the making for quite some time.
00:57:55The negotiations have been taking place at the Shetpa and the Shushetpa level for almost now or six months.
00:58:01And all the deliberations at the ministerial level, working group level have got into it.
00:58:05We are very confident that we will be able to have a declaration.
00:58:09And that's India's constructive role.
00:58:12And all the members understand that it's important to have the leaders' declaration.
00:58:17Because that's also a success of not just the host, but all the Bricks members also need to reflect that sentiment.
00:58:25So, keeping that in view, we are confident that we will have a declaration.
00:58:30The question about EM's visit to Washington, Quad, and India being perceived very differently closer to the West.
00:58:39But I think these are perceptions.
00:58:41Perceptions of individuals, people will differ.
00:58:43India is a country that can play a meaningful and constructive role in every group.
00:58:50Bricks, G20, Quad, everywhere.
00:58:53And I think that is important for us to understand because we are an important nation on the global stage.
00:59:00And what we say and how do we articulate our views are very important in defining the outcomes.
00:59:08So, I see it's a complementary.
00:59:11We can take up the issues of Global South in every forum and ensure that we are able to have a constructive outcome, keeping that in mind.
00:59:21So, I don't say competition here.
00:59:23And I see this also both in the context of G7.
00:59:26One of the questions that came, G7, G20 versus Bricks.
00:59:30It's not a competition.
00:59:31In my view, India can play an important balancing role in all the forums to ensure that the issues of the Global South, the ideas that we would like to present in all these forums are able to find traction.
00:59:49So, I'll keep that brief on how Bricks and other forums are.
00:59:57Conflicts in the world, yes, it is a serious times we all are facing.
01:00:02The world is facing.
01:00:04And when there are conflicts, the geopolitical conflicts and tensions, the countries of the Global South are the most, most affected.
01:00:12They become more vulnerable.
01:00:14Which is why it's important for us to have this kind of discussions, come back to the table with those items and to find common understanding of how to solve them.
01:00:26So, the issue of the Bricks expansion, which Amiti has asked about, whether we are satisfied with this.
01:00:38I think you will have to see that the Bricks expansion is a very natural way it has happened.
01:00:44You know, 2010-09, when South Africa came in, there was a long gap after that for the new member countries wanting to come in.
01:00:53So, then the expansion happened 2023.
01:00:56But that decision, there's a background to it.
01:00:59There were aspirations of many countries wanting to join Bricks.
01:01:02And it had evolved very naturally.
01:01:05Today, we are at full member countries at 10.
01:01:10But they are aspirational countries.
01:01:11The partner countries are another 12.
01:01:13But there are more countries lined up to become members.
01:01:16We don't know where this process will stop.
01:01:18I don't think, you know, we will be comfortable or not comfortable is not an issue.
01:01:22Because the decisions in the Bricks are consensus-based.
01:01:25But what is important for us is also to see that the consolidation takes place first, within the Bricks, after the expansion, before you can talk about further expansion.
01:01:36I think that one is aware of.
01:01:39Most members at this point of time think that let us work towards institutional consolidation and strengthening before you talk about further expansion.
01:01:48So, I think, on the Parliament addressing in few countries, the Honourable Prime Minister, but I think it's, again, a great honour to be able to talk to the leadership of those countries.
01:01:59And, you know, when the Honourable Prime Minister is talking, he's talking not just the bilateral context, but also putting the relationship in a broader perspective.
01:02:09And I think it's a great opportunity to be able to talk with the members of Parliament in every country that he goes.
01:02:15In the case of Ghana, there is an opportunity there.
01:02:19And Namibia also, there is one.
01:02:21Other secretaries will mention if there are others.
01:02:25So, I'll pause here and let others speak.
01:02:29Sir.
01:02:30Well, thank you.
01:02:35Just as a matter of fact, there is no speaking opportunity for the Honourable Prime Minister.
01:02:42At the parliaments in either Argentina or Brazil.
01:02:45There was also one question from you on civil aviation cooperation opportunities on Embraer platforms.
01:02:55You know, my understanding is that Embraer produces mostly regional jets or business jets or medium lift transport aircraft.
01:03:05These are not of immediate interest to us.
01:03:09Most of our carriers use, I think the smallest plane that flies in India with budget carriers is A320, which is about 200 plus CETA.
01:03:18Embraer doesn't produce aircraft of that capacity.
01:03:23So, right now it is more about collaborating for using Embraer as platforms for our early warning systems and reconnaissance systems.
01:03:33And using them to try and develop technologies that can be used for defense usages.
01:03:39So, that seems to be the current area of interest.
01:03:42Nothing to do with civil aviation right now except perhaps small orders for business planes, etc.
01:03:48Thanks.
01:03:49Ma'am?
01:03:50Yes, PME is addressing the joint session of parliament in Trenad and Tobago.
01:03:57I think it is just symbolic of our strong parliamentary traditions as well as democratic values.
01:04:03TNT also always had a very peaceful transition of power.
01:04:07And it's somewhat special this time because both the president and the prime minister are of Indian descent.
01:04:13And both are women and who are achievers in their own way.
01:04:17I may add that the chair in the parliament, the speaker's chair in the parliament has been gifted by India,
01:04:24which is again a symbolic reminder of the strong democratic and parliamentary traditions between our two countries.
01:04:30With that, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the close of this session.
01:04:36We'll keep you updated as the visit progresses.
01:04:38Thank you very much.
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