President to begin her first foreign visit from April 12

New Delhi, Apr 11 : President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will embark on her maiden visit to Brazil, Mexico and Chile from April 12 to 25.

Her journey would start from Sao Paulo in Brazil where she is expected to reach on April 13 and will stay there till April16.

Patil, the first woman president of India, is expected to meet Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Mexican President Felipe De Jesus Calderon Hinojosa and President Michelle Bachelet of Chile during her 12-day visit to strengthen India's growing trade ties with these countries.

Brazilian President Lula has expressed happiness that India's first woman president has chosen his country for her first visit abroad.

She will meet a business delegation of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (FIESP) and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI). She will also address the Indian community there.

Her schedule also includes visit to Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.

After Brazil she will visit Mexico City and Guadalajara province for four days.

She will arrive in Santiago on April 20 and would address students and academicians at the University of Chile.

Before coming back to India she will visit Cape Town, South Africa.

Patil will return to New Delhi on April 25.

ANI