Brazilian president to visit Russia in May

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will visit Russia in May. This announcement was made by Celso Amorim, the special adviser on international affairs to the Brazilian President.

The visit by Lula da Silva is anticipated to bolster the strategic partnership between Russia and Brazil, providing an opportunity to address significant issues on the international agenda.

Since taking the helm of the #BRICS chairship on January 1st, Brazil has aimed to concentrate on topics such as climate change, sustainable development, and the regulation of artificial intelligence. The highlight of this period, the BRICS summit, is expected for July 2025 in Rio de Janeiro.

#NEWS #Brazil #RussiaBrazil

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Perspective format of BRICS countries' interaction in the fields of trade and investments

The report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" suggests that it seems premature, and perhaps even impossible, to put the issue of creating a free trade zone within #BRICS on the agenda. The same holds true for free trade agreements (FTAs) between the customs unions, where Russia, Brazil, and South Africa are members.

The most viable approach appears to be the format of bilateral agreements on trade and investments. This approach is more acceptable as it allows to factor in the varying interests and priorities of the BRICS countries. It is a flexible, yet highly effective tool for mutual trade liberalisation, especially given the "interlacing" of these agreements (often referred to as the "spaghetti bowl").

For more insights on trade within BRICS, explore the exclusive report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" prepared by the BRICS Expert Council—Russia’s experts and published on the official website.

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertReport #investment #finance #economics

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China unveils new centre to strengthen BRICS cooperation

The China centre for cooperation on special economic zones in BRICS countries was officially inaugurated on Friday in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province in China.

This Centre is the first platform mechanism personally announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the XVI BRICS summit in Kazan last October.

The Centre will help strengthen cooperation between the special economic zones of the #BRICS member countries, align standards and introduce institutional innovations. In the long term, it can become an important platform for expanding economic cooperation between China and other BRICS countries.

#NEWS #China #Summit #trade

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Silveira emphasises BRICS energy transition and cooperation

The Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, underscored the need for balancing energy security with sustainable development during the 2nd BRICS Energy Meeting, hosted under Brazil's chairship in Brasília on March 20.

Silveira highlighted Brazil's commitment to a fair and inclusive energy transition, aiming to tackle energy poverty by broadening access to energy services. The chairship also seeks to advance a leadership climate agenda, focusing on climate finance declarations.

"The bloc’s expansion highlights our relevance and calls on us to strengthen the Global South. It requires improving energy cooperation governance to make it more inclusive and sustainable. We need to coordinate our actions and ensure that the integration of new members strengthens our capabilities and expands our opportunities," Silveira stated.

He stressed the importance of sharing best practices and developing joint projects to solidify BRICS' role in global governance. Financing the energy transition and advancing discussions on strategic topics are seen as central challenges.

"Resources will be needed to enable investments in infrastructure, renewable energies, and mineral research to supply the essential chains for the transition. Without adequate financing, the transformation of our energy systems will be slower and more unequal. Together, we can find the best solutions to the challenge of ensuring greater stability and energy security," he said.

Silveira concluded by highlighting BRICS' potential to lead in sustainable fuels development, emphasising the need to accelerate decarbonisation in sectors like transportation and industry, as millions in #BRICS countries still lack adequate energy access.

#NEWS #Brazil #security #sustainability

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Indonesia to join NDB

Indonesia will join New Development Bank. President Prabowo Subianto announced this following a meeting with NDB President Dilma Rousseff at the Presidential Palace.

"The Indonesian government has decided to join the New Development Bank and follow the procedures and requirements that have been given to us," stated Prabowo. He hoped that Indonesia's membership in the NDB could encourage the acceleration of national development transformation.

Rousseff welcomed Indonesia's decision, describing the country as an important partner in the region and beyond. She noted that Indonesia's development priorities align with the NDB's focus areas, particularly in infrastructure, connectivity, and energy transition.

The NDB is a multilateral development bank established in 2014 by the #BRICS countries. The bank is headquartered in Shanghai with regional centres in Africa. The bank has an initial capital of $100 billion, funded by the founding countries.

#NEWS #Indonesia #NDB

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BRICS countries add clean energy to their energy mix

In 2020, BRICS published a Roadmap for the BRICS Energy Cooperation up to 2025, which included joint analysis of the energy sector, exchange of best practices, and promoting joint projects.

Member countries have already shown progress in adding clean energy to their energy mix.
China has demonstrated the most consistent long-term progress, increasing its renewable and nuclear energy shares by nearly 6% from 2009 to 2021. However, the fastest growth within #BRICS was seen in the UAE, where the use of renewable energy increased by about 4% between 2017 and 2021. Brazil leads with 15% renewable energy, with even higher figures when biofuels are considered. India and South Africa have nearly doubled their clean energy shares, and Ethiopia has almost tripled its share during the analysed period.

For more insights on resource abundance, food security, and sustainable development within BRICS, explore the exclusive report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" prepared by the BRICS Expert Council—Russia’s experts and published on the official website.

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertReport #energysector #climate #sustainability

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Lavrov: Russia to keep in mind "trust, but verify" principle during dialogue with US

Russia will keep in mind the "trust, but verify" principle when engaging in dialogue with the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shared in an interview.

"Trust but verify — a great principle by Reagan. Donald Trump recalled it. We will keep it in mind," Lavrov stated.

According to Lavrov, Washington's use of the dollar as a tool to penalise certain countries has triggered an irreversible shift towards national currencies and alternative payment systems.

"Alternative payment systems, such as #BRICS, are now being discussed. This process is unstoppable," the minister added.

#NEWS #US #finance #diplomacy

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Nigeria to purchase agriculture equipment from Russia

Certain Nigerian states take an interest in purchasing agriculture equipment from Russia, with Niger State having submitted a request worth over $110 mln, Russia’s Trade Representative in Nigeria Maxim Petrov stated.

"Thanks to the strategy for agriculture development a number of Nigeria’s states take a serious interest in purchasing domestic agriculture machinery and equipment. In particular, Niger State has made a request worth over $110 mln," he said.

Russia’s Trade Representative mentioned earlier that Moscow planned to assist Nigeria, which had entered #BRICS as a partner country on 18 January, in developing agriculture, oil and gas sector and its mineral resources. BRICS provided the country with a unique possibility to develop trade, investment and social-economic cooperation with participants of the bloc.

#NEWS #Nigeria #agriculture #trade

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Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation has unveiled preliminary results for its latest public call to establish National Institutes of Science and Technology.

A total of 121 projects have been approved, with an estimated funding allocation of approximately US$253 million at the current exchange rate.

The programme is designed to foster networks of research centres, uniting top scientific institutions and laboratories to tackle Brazil's most pressing national and global challenges. The results of the projects will be useful for the #BRICS countries, which are actively developing sustainability, renewable energy, and climate change.

With the addition of these new projects, the total number of operational National Institutes of Science and Technology in the country will rise to 221. This is reported by the official website of Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

The new institutes will address 20 strategic priority areas, including artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, biodiversity sustainability, renewable energy transitions, and climate change.

#NEWS #Brazil #sustainability

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Russian prime minister held over 100 international negotiations in 2024

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin reported that in 2024 he had held over a hundred international negotiations, as part of developing economic cooperation with friendly countries.

"In response to external challenges, we have strengthened cooperation in the Union State, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. As well as through the #SCO and #BRICS. Last year alone, I personally held over a hundred international negotiations with our leading partners. Many of them were during working trips to friendly countries," Mishustin said when presenting his report to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

He highlighted that Russia has significantly reoriented trade to the markets of the Global South — to new centers of growth of the global economy.

#NEWS #diplomacy #trade

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About 1/5 of global cereal exports are supplied by BRICS countries

BRICS countries account for about one-fifth of global cereal exports, a key component of food security according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). As major suppliers of cereals, BRICS nations collectively produce over 1.1 billion tonnes annually, with the largest producers in the group showing steady positive growth, as can be seen on the graph.

The Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership places a strong emphasis on food security, including increasing agricultural output. The BRICS Agricultural Cooperation Action Plan also highlights the need to strengthen the food supply capacity of the group. Additionally, Russia’s proposal to create a BRICS Grain Exchange, introduced during its Chairship, aims to provide a stable and accessible platform for trading essential grains like wheat, corn, soybeans, and rice. This initiative will help boost food security, stabilise prices, and reduce dependency on Western-dominated markets.

For more insights on food self-sufficiency levels of #BRICS countries and their contribution to global food security, explore the exclusive report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" prepared by the BRICS Expert Council—Russia’s experts and published on the official website.

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertReport #economics #trade #sustainability

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