Media Alert
31 January 2023
South Africa hosts First BRICS meeting in Bela Bela
As Chair of BRICS for the year 2023, South Africa will host the first meeting of its tenure – the BRICS Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas – in Bela Bela, Limpopo Province, from 01-02 February 2023.
Professor Anil Sooklal, Ambassador-at-Large for Asia and BRICS and South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa will host his counterparts from the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China.
BRICS is a grouping of five major emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – which together represent about 41% of the world’s population, 26% of the planet’s landmass across four of the continents, 25% of global GDP and 20% of world trade.
South Africa is Chairing BRICS under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism”. The theme emphasises the continued value of BRICS as a partnership of leading emerging markets and developing countries providing leadership and momentum towards global growth, sustainable development and inclusion of the global South in the world system.
The theme informs South Africa’s priorities for 2023, namely developing a partnership towards an equitable Just Transition; transforming education and skills development for the future; unlocking opportunities through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement; strengthening post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and the attainment of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and strengthening multilateralism, including working towards real reform of global governance institutions and strengthening the meaningful participation of women in peace processes.
Senior government officials from South Africa and the South African Chapters of the BRICS Business Council, BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and the BRICS Think Tanks Council will use the First BRICS Sherpa and Sous-Sherpa meeting to introduce South Africa’s priorities and expectations as Chair of BRICS for 2023 to our BRICS partners.
Media are invited as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 01 February 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: Mabula Lodge, Bela Bela, Limpopo
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084