New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro on Saturday evening (local time) on the fourth leg of his five-nation tour. He is set to participate in the 17th BRICS Summit and undertake a state visit. PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome marked by cultural performances by members of the Indian diaspora and a Brazilian music group. The highlight was the performance of the devotional song “Jai Jagadamba Maa Durga”.
Before arriving in Brazil, Prime Minister Modi completed a bilateral visit to Argentina — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 57 years — where he held wide-ranging discussions with President Javier Milei. The visit saw agreements to diversify two-way trade and enhance cooperation across sectors including defence, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, energy, and mining.
A productive visit to Argentina
In a social media post on platform X, PM Modi described his Argentina visit as “productive” and shared a video montage of his engagements there. “I am confident that our discussions will add significant momentum to our bilateral friendship and fulfil the strong potential that exists. I thank President Milei, the Government, and the people of Argentina for their warmth,” he wrote.
PM Modi and President Milei reiterated the need to strengthen cooperation in areas like agriculture, green energy, digital innovation, sports, and defence. Modi thanked Argentina for its support following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
The PM further pitched for smoother entry of Indian pharmaceutical products into Argentina by suggesting a regulatory upgrade, and showcased India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a successful model for digital payments. President Milei expressed keen interest in understanding its impact on monetary policy.
PM Modi honoured in Buenos Aires
PM Modi was also honoured by the City Government of Buenos Aires. Jorge Macri, the Chief of the City Government, presented him with the Key to the City — a symbolic recognition of Modi’s contributions to India-Argentina ties.
“Honoured to receive the Key to the City of Buenos Aires from Mr. Jorge Macri,” the prime minister posted on X.
India and Argentina’s bilateral trade stood at USD 5.23 billion in 2024, making India Argentina’s fifth-largest trading partner and export destination.