During the bloc’s business forum, the vice president highlighted Lula’s commitment to governance and development, as well as the defense of multilateralism and free trade
The Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Brazil, he recently stated that BRICS has become an important protagonist in world geopolitics. “The President It has defended greater south-south protagonism, multilateralism and free trade. I highlight here Lula’s commitment to governance and for the development and inclusion with sustainability, ”said Alckmin, who participates in the in Pier Mauá, in the Rio region of Rio, organized by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI).
Brics founding countries, created two decades ago, are Brazil, Russia, India and China, with the adhesion of South Africa a few years later. Less time ago, BRICS was expanded, with Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates and Iran. Saudi Arabia has participated in the meeting, but has not yet officialized its definitive entry into the group. As a host of the event in 2025, Brazil invited Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Nigeria, Casakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Usbekistan to participate in broader debate sessions.
Ricardo Alban, president of CNI, stressed that the participation of BRICS representatives at the event is an appreciation of dialogue with the private sector and reinforces the importance of the forum for intrablocal trade and investments. “CNI has sought the complementarity of actions. One of the objectives is to identify synergies with the markets that are already part of BRICS and new countries of the bloc,” he said.
Trade between BRICS Member Countries still faces a series of obstacles despite the economic strength of the block countries-together they account for about 40% of global GDP and almost a quarter of world goods trade. According to a report prepared by the BRICS Business Council (CEBRICS), the official representation body of the private sector of the member countries, there are 24 non-tariff barriers-regulatory, sanitary, phytosanitary, technical, customs and administrative-that compromise intrablock trade shifts
India appears with the largest number of barriers (10), followed by China (9), Russia (5) and Brazil (3). “Intrabloco trade includes significant growth. Brazil’s leadership in relevant global forums allows the construction of bridges between different geopolitical blocks and CNI is working for coordinated and purposeful articulation to increase the impact of private initiative recommendations.
The CNI event precedes the BRICS summit and addresses sustainable economic development through food trade and security strategies, energy transition, decarbonization, skill development and digital economy, as well as financing and financial inclusion at BRICS.
*With information from Estadão Content
