Sao Paulo, April 14: President Pratibha Patil has told the growing Indian diaspora in Brazil to ensure that their motherland as well as their adopted country had a pride of place in their "lives and hearts" as they contributed to the development of bilateral ties.

"Most of you have not only been able to assimilate yourselves in the Brazilian way of life but are also maintaining close cultural and economic connection with India," Patil, who is currently on a 13-day visit to Brazil, Mexico and Chile said in her first public interaction.

"It is important that you provide a place in your lives and hearts to both the country of your origin as well as the country of adoption," Patil said at a reception hosted in her honour here in the Brazilian capital.

She complimented the Indian community for their contribution in development of Brazil and said: "You are not only our Ambassadors in a distant country but are also contributing to the building of bridges of understanding between the two countries."

"I wish you success in your endeavours and seek your continued contribution to the development of India-Brazil relations," the 73-year-old first woman President of India said.

The President noted that the Indian diaspora, estimated at about 25 million is emerging as a major economic, social and cultural force.

In recognition of this, the Government celebrates the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas annually to honour and acknowledge the contributions made by the overseas Indian community, she said on her first leg of her three-nation tour of Latin America.

"We have established an Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre, which can be your window to invest in and benefit from India. Work has begun on establishing a "Diaspora Knowledge Network" - an electronic platform to facilitate transformation of ideas into community action in India.

An "India Development Foundation" is also on the anvil which would allow you to contribute to social development causes in India, Patil said.

"I am very happy to be in Brazil as I undertake my first overseas visit as the President... . It is only fitting that the visit to Brazil should begin from the large metropolis of Sao Paulo which enjoys the honour of being the economic and commercial capital of Brazil. Also, I am pleased that my first engagement overseas is an interaction with the Indian community," she said as Patil was virtually mobbed by her compatriots.

Patil also touched on the growing India-Brazil relations, describing the two nations as "large democracies and major countries in their respective regions."

"The emergence of our two countries as leading players in the global arena has been propelled by their large and qualified manpower resources, big land mass, vibrant trillion dollar economies and the spirit of entrepreneurship that permeates our societies," she said.

"It is only fitting that the visit to Brazil should begin from the large metropolis of Sao Paulo which enjoys the honour of being the economic and commercial capital of Brazil," Patil said, adding the metropolis was unique as it has the world's only university of Yoga.

"I am also told that nearly 80 per cent of Brazilian cattle stock derives its origin from India's Nellore variety, which is known in Brazil as Zebu. The year 2006 marked the 100th anniversary of the import of first cow from India into North-East Brazil," she said.

People bee-line to get clicked

It was a photo opportunity for dozens of Indians in this commercial capital of Brazil as President Pratibha Patil began her first leg of three nation tour to Latin America.

After her brief inaugural speech at the reception hosted in her honour, the organisers of the function, possibly surprised at an early end of the function, asked all those who had gathered to queue up for clicking themselves with the first woman president of India and within no time the entire hall at a five-star hotel saw people bee-lining for the opportunity, taking the security by surprise.

After nearly 30 minutes, the organisers, unable to cope up with the rush decided to call it an end and quickly the President was escorted out of the room.

Patil is on a 13-day visit to Brazil, Mexico and Chile.

In her brief address to the Indian community based in Sao Paulo, the President said both India and Brazil are large democracies and major countries in their respective regions. "The emergence of our two countries as leading players in the global arena has been propelled by their large and qualified manpower resources, big land mass, vibrant trillion dollar economies and the spirit of entrepreneurship that permeates our societies," she said.