India names new envoy to Brazil

New Delhi, Feb 13 : Ashok Das, a 1987 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, was on Tuesday named India's new Ambassador to Brazil.

Das, presently Additional Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, is expected to take up his assignment shortly, according to a ministry statement.

Das earlier served as India's Ambassador to Iceland. He has also served in the Indian diplomatic missions in Portugal, Cambodia, US, Canada and Bangladesh.

Both India and Brazil are members of the BRICS economic grouping that also includes China, Russia and South Africa. Both are also, along with Germany and Japan, in the G4, which is seeking permanent membership for its participants in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.

India and Brazil, along with South Africa, are part of the IBSA Dialogue Forum that is aimed at promoting South-South cooperation and greater understanding between African, Asian and South American countries.