The critical minerals partnership is set to boost technology transfer, exploration, and research, while allowing India to tap into Brazil’s expertise in processing and recycling….reports Asian Lite News
India and Brazil on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the field of mining and minerals required for the steel sector.
This partnership will support efficient preparation of steelmaking inputs, enable technology-led improvements across the steel value chain and strengthen resilience and sustainability of the India–Brazil steel supply chain.
According to Ministry of Steel, it provides an institutional framework for strengthening bilateral cooperation across the steel value chain, with a focus on promoting reliable and sustainable development of key raw materials required for steel production.
The cooperation will focus on attracting investment in exploration, mining, and infrastructure development in steel sector; processing and recycling technologies for minerals; automation and the use of advanced technologies in exploration and mining; use of artificial intelligence in geo-scientific data analysis to enhance exploration processes; and best practices in mineral extraction, processing, and environmental management.
The Ministry of Steel and the Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil signed the MoU in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, at Hyderabad House here.
According to an official statement, Brazil is among the world’s leading producers of iron ore and possesses significant reserves of minerals critical to steelmaking, including manganese, nickel and niobium.
“Enhanced cooperation with Brazil is expected to improve access to key raw materials and technologies necessary for sustaining long-term growth of India’s steel sector,” it added.
India currently has a steelmaking capacity of 218 million tonnes.
To meet growing domestic demand driven by infrastructure development and industrialisation, Indian companies are undertaking significant expansion in steelmaking capacity.
The partnership is an important step towards strengthening cooperation for development of mineral resources required for steel production, facilitating access to advanced technologies in mineral processing, beneficiation, recycling and data-driven exploration.
Meanwhile, India and Brazil exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of regulation of pharmaceutical and medical products.
The MoU was exchanged between India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), marking an important step towards deeper regulatory collaboration between the two countries, according to a release.
Director-President of ANVISA, Leandro Safatle and Indian Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia, exchanged the MoU today in Hyderabad House in the presence of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil.
The MoU establishes a structured framework for cooperation and exchange of information in the field of medical products, including pharmaceutical ingredients, drugs, biological products and medical devices. It aims to promote convergence in regulatory practices, enhance mutual understanding of regulatory systems and facilitate effective and coordinated oversight of medical products, the release stated.
The exchange of the MoU reflects the shared commitment of India and Brazil to ensuring the availability of safe, effective and quality-assured medicines and medical products for their populations. The agreement is also expected to contribute to strengthening supply chains, encouraging regulatory best practices and supporting access to affordable healthcare solutions.
The MoU between CDSCO and ANVISA builds upon the broader India-Brazil cooperation in the health sector and complements existing institutional mechanisms for bilateral engagement. It underscores the growing collaboration between the two countries in health, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies, particularly in the context of their shared priorities as leading Global South partners.
Through this MoU, both sides reaffirmed their intent to work closely in areas such as information sharing, regulatory capacity building, and cooperation in matters related to pharmaceutical and medical product regulation, in accordance with their respective national laws and regulations.
The exchange of the MoU is expected to further strengthen India-Brazil relations and open new avenues for collaboration in the health and pharmaceutical sectors, contributing to improved public health outcomes in both countries.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18. During the period February 19-20 participated in the India AI Impact Summit. This is President Lula’s fifth visit to India as President of Brazil. The visit comes seven months after the state visit of PM Modi to Brasilia on July 8, 2025.
