The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) is promoting a series of actions to drive business and attract investments in India. The trade mission began on Tuesday (11) and will work on different fronts: the BRICS Trade Fair in New Delhi and a Business Roundtable in Mumbai.

The BRICS Trade Fair, which will be held for the first time, takes place on the sidelines of the VIII BRICS Summit (the group comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The event will have stands with presentations of products and services from each country, and will also feature business meetings, discussion forums and spaces for connecting countries with potential investors.

Apex-Brasil is organizing the Brazilian section of the Fair, which will feature 11 companies as well as representatives from trade chambers and industry associations. Participants include business from several sectors, including food and beverages, building and construction, machinery and equipment, technology and health, IT and fashion.

“In addition to the chance to promote their businesses to the Indian market, our entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to negotiate and discuss topics of interest with the other delegations of the [BRICS] countries," said Rafael Prado, Apex-Brasil's Business Development coordinator.

Staff from Apex-Brasil will also be on-site at the event to provide information on how to invest in Brazil. The organisers of the BRICS Trade Fair anticipate that players from many sectors considered to be priorities by Apex-Brasil will be in attendance (such as agribusiness, auto and auto parts, green energy, health and pharmaceuticals).

The Business Roundtable in Mumbai (India's main industry and business centre), in turn, will feature a day of pre-scheduled meetings between Brazilian and Indian buyers selected by the Apex-Brasil and the Trade Promotion Section of Brazil's Consulate in Mumbai, in partnership with the local WTC (World Trade Centre).

The India trade mission is being organised by Apex-Brasil in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and entities representing the participating sectors.

Exports

India is one of the target countries of Brazil's 2015-2018 National Exports Plan. The country's imports reached US$ 459.37 billion in 2014. Brazil's share of Indian exports is still small, however, corresponding to only 1.21% of that total. Brazil exported US$ 3.2 billion to India in 2015, of which US$ 2.08 billion were manufactured goods. Currently, 1,314 Brazilian companies sell to the country.

A study by Apex-Brasil indicates that there are many opportunities for opening new markets in India, specially for food and beverages (particularly coffee, meat, mate tea, fruit, cocoa and confectionery), home and construction (wood), machinery and equipment (cars and auto parts) and minerals and chemicals.