Monday, September 11 2006 14:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Brasilia (Brazil): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives here tomorrow on a two-day visit to Brazil that is expected to give a boost to bilateral relations besides giving a concerete shape to the tri-nation engagement including South Africa in the IBSA dialogue forum.

In the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 38 years after the late Indira Gandhi in 1968, Singh is expected to discuss a wide range of issues including adding content to the political and economic interactions and cooperation in defence, agriculture and energy security.

After one-to-one talks with President Lula Da Silva, agreements are expected to be signed with Brazil, a pioneer in developing alternative fuel ethanol, for joint collaboration in the area, an air services pact and with Petrobas for exploration of oil in mutual countries.

India-Brazil trade, which was at a modest level of USD 200 million until late 1990s, has grown to USD 3.2 billion now. Some studies indicate that bilateral trade between India and Brazil can easily breach the pscyhological barrier of US 10 billion over the next 3-5 years. India's leading exports items include diesel, coal and chemicals while Brazil's export basket to India are sugar, and soyabean oil followed by chemicals and iron ore.