BRICS foreign ministers prepare Johannesburg agenda

Leaders from BRICS and other developing countries discussed cooperation to implement the UN 2030 Agenda. Participation in the dialogue did not constitute BRICS membership.

At their third meeting, ministers addressed disaster prevention and management capacity and continued exchange on risk reduction.

Egypt deposited its accession instrument and became an effective member of the New Development Bank; its later BRICS invitation was a separate decision.

The bank’s governors unanimously elected the former Brazilian president, effective immediately, to lead its development-finance work.

The eighth annual meeting discussed the bank’s development role and was its first governors meeting at the new headquarters.

The bank issued ZAR 1.5 billion across three- and five-year tranches in South Africa, a step toward raising more development finance in members’ currencies.

At the summit in South Africa, leaders placed African development, inclusive multilateralism and sustainable growth at the centre of BRICS cooperation.

Leaders sought stronger developing-country representation in the UN and international financial institutions, including a larger voice in IMF governance.

The declaration connected African trade integration with infrastructure, local value addition and moving beyond dependence on commodity exports.

The BRICS MSMEs Cooperation Framework emphasized access to finance, skills and cross-border networks, with particular attention to women- and youth-owned firms.