How does this affect the Indo-Brazilian relationship?

published on 13th February 2020

On 24th December 2019 the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister of India, gave the approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Brazil on Bioenergy cooperation. This MoU includes a framework to cooperate and promote investment in Bioenergy, especially in biofuel and biogas supply-chains, including feedstock, industrial conversion, distribution and end-use sectors. In addition, the MoU covers other salient features e.g. exchange information on agriculture practices and policies regarding biomass for Bioenergy, including sugarcane, corn, rice, oil-crops, and lignocellulosic crops; policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using Biofuels, Engine and fuel modification that may be necessary for requiring Biofuel blend with fossil fuels; trade aspects and the promotion of a joint position to address market access and sustainability of biofuels, including advanced biofuels.

The cooperation between India and Brazil on Bioenergy is not new. Since 2016 India and Brazil are working together on the project “Biorefining of sugarcane bagasse for production of bioethanol and value-added products” under Indo-Brazil bilateral collaboration with IFSC/USP, Brazil and GNDU, Amritsar, which is funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology.

Hopefully, India will take a good example from Brazil especially regarding the use of biofuel cars and thus be able to reduce the heavy air pollution especially in India's large cities.

This collaboration in the field of Bioenergy can be the first big step towards a better and stronger Indo-Brazil relationship as the countries have a lot in common. Both countries are known as regional powers, due to their geographical significance and relative advantages. . In recent year, both countries have undergone an enormous surge in development, which has brought prosperity and uplifted the living standards of ordinary citizens significantly. So far, this business relationship between India and Brazil is more of a buyer-seller, covering products such as organic chemicals, chemical-based products and pharmaceuticals. The MoU on Bioenergy has the potential to take this to a whole new level.