Vice President of Brazil Geraldo Alckmin on Thursday praised Ayurveda as a “5,000-year-old treasure of health and wisdom” during his visit to the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. The visit was part of his official trip to India, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in health, traditional medicine, and trade.
Speaking at the institute, Alckmin said, “Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old treasure of health and wisdom. I congratulate AIIA for its wonderful work in promoting health, treating diseases, and advancing education and research through a holistic approach. The world needs Ayurveda’s timeless wisdom for preventive and sustainable healthcare.”
Acknowledging the growing global interest in natural and integrative healthcare, he added, “Life expectancy is rising, and so is the demand for natural and preventive healthcare systems such as Ayurveda. If this were not a short visit, I would have surely taken treatment for my back pain here at AIIA.”
Alckmin also expressed gratitude to the Government of India and the AIIA leadership for the warm welcome extended to his delegation.
The Vice President was accompanied by his spouse, Maria Lucia Alckmin, and a 14-member high-level delegation, including Ambassador of Brazil to India Kenneth Nobrega and Director of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) Romison Rodrigues.
The delegation was received by Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Rajesh Kotecha and Director of AIIA Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, along with senior faculty and officials. Kotecha emphasized the scope for deeper India–Brazil cooperation in traditional medicine, integrative health research, and wellness industries.
During the visit, the Brazilian delegation toured AIIA’s hospital block, academic and research wings, and the Centre for Integrative Health Sciences. They interacted with faculty, researchers, and students, and were given a presentation showcasing AIIA’s global outreach, research initiatives, and collaborative projects.
India and Brazil already share active partnerships in the field of traditional medicine. AIIA has signed three Memoranda of Understanding with Brazilian institutions:
* All India Institute of Ayurveda and Sri Vajera Foundation & Associated Institutions
* AIIA, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIN)
* AIIA, Future Vision Institute, and Federal University of São Paulo
These MoUs aim to promote academic exchange, joint research, and capacity building to enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of traditional medicine.
India and Brazil – both rich in biodiversity and traditional healing knowledge – share a common vision of building sustainable healthcare systems rooted in ancient wisdom and supported by modern science. Ayurveda, Yoga, and other Indian traditional systems have been steadily gaining popularity in Brazil, reflecting their growing global acceptance.