Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is schedule to arrive in Brazil on Wednesday on a two-day visit to attend the 11th BRICS summit, will focus on strengthening ties among the world`s five major economies in key areas such as digital economy, science, and technology, and also build me chanisms for counter-terrorism cooperation.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by an official delegation,left for Brazil on Tuesday afternoon to attend the BRICS summit, with thisyear`s theme of "Economic Growth for an Innovative Future," for the sixthtime since taking office.

A large business delegation from India is also expected tobe present during the visit especially to attend the BRICS Business Forum wherethe business community of all five countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, andSouth Africa) are represented, the Ministry of External Affairs said in astatement.

After his arrival in Brasilia, the Prime Minister isscheduled to have bilaterals through the day. He will then attend the closingceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in the evening along with other BRICSleaders, the statement read.

"The BRICS Summit will provide me with the opportunityto hold useful bilateral interactions with leaders of other BRICScountries," the Prime Minister had said in a statement released prior tohis departure for the South American nation. "I will meet PresidentBolsonaro of Brazil to discuss ways to enhance our strategic partnership.Brazil and India share close and ever-expanding bilateral relations, includingin the spheres of defence, security, trade, agriculture, energy, and space.Close cooperation between the two countries in multilateral forums has been asignificant aspect of our strategic relationship," he added.

The next day, on November 14, Modi, along with other worldleaders, will attend a closed-door BRICS session wherein discussions will focuson challenges and opportunities for the exercise of national sovereignty in thecontemporary world.This will be followed by the BRICS Plenary Session where theleaders will discuss the intra-BRICS cooperation for the economic developmentof BRICS societies.

"I look forward to exchanging views with other BRICSleaders with the aim to further strengthen intra-BRICS cooperation. Ourbusiness and industry play an important role in Intra-BRICS ties. I will beaddressing BRICS Business Forum and interacting with BRICS Business Council andNew Development Bank," the Prime Minister added.Thereafter, all BRICSleaders will meet BRICS Business Council during which the Chairman of theBrazilian BRICS Business Council will submit his report.

There will also be another report submitted by the presidentof the new Development Bank. A BRICS Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tradeand investment promotion agencies is also expected to be signed.In theconclusion of the summit, leaders are expected to issue a joint declaration.BRICSbrings together five major emerging economies comprising 42 per cent of theworld`s population, having 23 per cent of the global GDP and around 17 per centof the share and world trade.

This year the joint working group on counter-terrorism hasdecided to constitute five sub-working groups on counterterrorism in thefollowing areas. Terrorist financing, use of the Internet for terroristpurposes, countering radicalisation, issue of foreign terrorist fighters andcapacity-building, the MEA said.In the area of counter-terrorism, India hastaken the lead over the years to galvanise BRICS.

It has worked closely within BRICS to not only take a strongstand against terrorism but also to bring about focused consultations onspecific aspects related to terrorism.It is expected that India will chair thesubgroup on use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, it added.

Through a network of high level and working group meetings,the BRICS agenda has expanded considerably to include issues of mutual concern.In the run-up to the summit, several ministerial meetings in different sectorshave already taken place.

This is Prime Minister`s second visit to Brazil and hisfirst visit after the new administration led by the president Bolsonaro assumedoffice on January 1, 2019, the ministry said, adding that the Prime Ministerhad met Brazilian president in Osaka earlier this year on the margins of theG20 Summit.