Fernandes will be accompanied by a team of top army, air force and defence officials on his six-day visit to Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo, a ministry spokesman said Thursday.

"The visit will chalk out various areas where defence cooperation can be stepped up. The sale of five to six jets to the Indian Air Force is likely to figure in discussions with Brazilian officials," said the spokesman.

"The actual contracts will be signed later, after due diligence."

Romualdo Monteiro de Barros, executive vice president of Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica (Embraer) of Brazil, told AFP earlier this year his firm planned to sign a deal with the Indian government to supply six 18-seater Legacy transport jets at a cost of 22 million dollars each to the Indian Air Force.

Embraer recently inked an agreement with Indian private domestic carrier Jet Airways for 10 corporate jets worth a total 260 million dollars, to be delivered in mid-2004.

Embraer also hopes to sell India on surveillance systems like its airborne early warning and control aircraft and remote sensing air-to-ground surveillance planes.

South Africa, Brazil and India have recently formed a trilateral bloc to boost trade and pool their political muscle in talks with rich nations.

The new trilateral grouping will focus on stronger commercial ties in technology, defence and transportation.

"We are also exploring joint ventures in the defence industry to give a fillip to our growing economic relationship," said the spokesman.

Bilateral trade between India and Brazil doubled from 367.71 million dollars in fiscal 2000-2001 to 825 million dollars in the fiscal year

"The current bilateral trade figures are small compared to the enormous potential that exists in the economic sphere," the spokesman noted.

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