BRICS to deliver for SA, Cape Argus, by Minister Naledi Pandor, 20 November 2020
BRICS partners have demonstrated their commitment to Africa’s own priorities
MORE than 10 years ago the leaders of Brazil, the Russian Federation, India and China decided to meet and discuss co-operation. South Africa joined a year later and BRICS, as we know it, was established.
Last year, the five members of BRICS made up 42% of the world’s population, 30% of the territory, and 23% of the global economy. This illustrates that the current world order does not reflect our economic, political and social reality.
What unites BRICS is a common commitment to multi-lateralism and the principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, inclusiveness, and strengthened collaboration.
BRICS is focused on strengthening and reforming international governance institutions so that they are more inclusive, representative and democratic – with meaningful and greater participation of developing countries.
In this partnership, South Africa seeks to ensure that African issues and interests are featured prominently on the BRICS agenda.
Our BRICS partners have demonstrated commitment to Africa’s own priorities, as enunciated in the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad).
Beyond the question of reform, South Africa approaches BRICS as a partnership where leading countries of the world have an opportunity to share their strengths and learn from each other’s best practices. We draw strength from the diversity of experiences, economies, cultures and practices that exist within BRICS, identifying areas of convergence where we can co-operate and move forward together.
Recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa led South Africa’s delegation to the virtual 12th BRICS Summit and reflected on the broad scope of co-operation in BRICS. Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 130 BRICS meetings were held this year across all three pillars of our co-operation: political and security, economic and financial, and social/ people-to-people.
With the inclusion of South Africa in BRICS, our trade relations with most BRIC countries has improved. South Africa’s trade with our BRICS partners has increased from R268 billion in 2011 to R529bn last year.
Multiple opportunities exist for our value-added trade with BRICS countries. Supporting diversification of domestic industry will unlock new opportunities for trade.
Investors from the BRIC countries will realise considerable benefits by investing in Africa as trade across Africa is opened up through the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Tourism is also an important driver of South Africa’s economy and our BRICS partners are a growing source market. For example, while tourist arrivals from BRICS increased 6.9% from 2017 to 2018, the tourist spend from China alone increased 69% from R1.4bn to R2.4bn.
BRICS is more than an inter-governmental talk shop. One of the most practical examples of co-operation is the New Development Bank. Within just five years, the Bank has approved 65 infrastructure and sustainable development projects, amounting to around $21bn. Nine projects, valued at about $3.4bn, have been approved for South Africa to date.
For South Africa, another benefit has been the opening of the African Regional Centre of the New Development Bank in Johannesburg in 2017. This is the Bank’s interface with Africa and is focused on project identification and preparation in order to bring more bankable projects to the Bank. Addressing the infrastructure deficit in our country and the Continent is a critical part of unlocking the potential of the AfCFTA.
We all recognise that investing in science, technology and innovation will not only prepare us for future health emergencies, but it will also enable us to confront other global challenges. Our ministers of science and Innovation quickly mobilised the BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Framework Programme in response to Covid-19. In particular, this pandemic has reinforced the importance of research and development in the development of vaccines and to ensure affordable access to quality and effective healthcare and diagnostic tools.
South Africa is encouraged by the BRICS partners’ commitment to establishing the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre, an initiative of South Africa during its chairship in 2018.
This will be a concrete outcome of our cooperation that will place BRICS at the centre of scientific research and innovation to respond to public health crises that face developing countries, beyond Covid-19.
The reality is that this article only scratches the surface of the co-operation with our BRICS partners.
The hope is that the depth of cooperation strengthens the ability of the South African government, as well as our scientific, academic, business, women and youth communities to address the challenges facing South Africa and Africa.
Success in BRICS will be seen in a more equitable and representative international environment; in the increased people-to-people relations across our countries, through art, film and cultural exchanges; in the increased access to capital for infrastructure and sustainable development; in increased research and innovation; in increased tourism, investment and trade; in increased opportunities for our business people, researchers and students; in the empowerment of women, girls and the youth; and in the increased living standards of our people.
https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/cape-argus/20201125/281681142429914
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