Centre to invite Brazil Prez as Republic Day guest

New Delhi: The Union government is planning to invite Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro as chief guest to the Republic Day celebrations, expanding its outreach to South America.

If the trip is finalised, Bolsonaro would be the third Brazilian President to be invited for Republic Day celebrations, after Fernando Henrique Cardoso in 1996 and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2004.

Government's plan to invite the Brazilian President comes as India is in the process of expanding its ties with South America through high-level visits and meetings.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Bolsonaro were present at the Future Investment Initiative business forum in Riyadh last week as Brazil is increasingly viewing Asia as a trade and investment partner.

Brazil under Bolsonaro has not only announced visa-free entry for Indians but also strengthened the counterterrorism agenda of BRICS and helped revive the India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) grouping, much to India's satisfaction.

Further, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Brazil for the BRICS Summit on November 13-14. This will be his second visit to Brazil, after he attended the BRICS Summit there in 2014.