The first meeting of the BRICS Sherpas was held in Brasilia

Brazil during its BRICS presidency will promote the development of additional transparent, accessible, and secure payment platforms. This was announced by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, speaking at the first meeting of BRICS Sherpas in the Brazilian capital. The text of the speech was published by the press service of the Head of State.

He emphasised that the association is based on the desire to contribute to the improvement of the international monetary and financial system. The Brazilian leader recalled that the BRICS summit in Fortaleza in 2014 decided to establish the New Development Bank, which has so far invested more than US$33 billion in sustainable development projects in the global South.

"With the rapid changes in industry, Brazil's presidency of the association will focus on the development of the BRICS Partnership for a New Industrial Revolution and the updating of the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2030"

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva President of Brazil

The Brazilian leader also pointed to the need for greater cooperation in the health sector. He revealed that Brazil intends to establish a BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Significant Diseases and Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2025.

Lula da Silva also recalled that climate change is among the priority issues of Brazil's presidency in the association. According to him, BRICS has enough political weight to achieve meaningful results at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Belem, Brazil.

In addition to Lula da Silva, the country's BRICS Sherpa Mauricio Lirio and the Republic's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira also spoke at the meeting.

"BRICS represents almost half of the world's population and 39 per cent of global GDP, and is responsible for half of the world's energy production. The enlarged BRICS is a symbol of the global South, which is no longer just participating in global processes, but is now playing a key role in shaping the international order"

Mauro Vieira Foreign Minister of Brazil

For his part, Ethiopia's Sherpa Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, noted that one of the key priorities of the country for 2025 is to join the New BRICS Development Bank. In addition, he emphasised the need to reform the global governance system, as reported Fana Media Corporation (FMC), a partner of TV BRICS.

India's Sous-Sherpa in the association Periasamy Kumaran in his speech spoke about the republic's initiative to set up a BRICS Startup Forum. He said the initiative will help strengthen cooperation among countries of the global south in this important area.

The Sherpa meeting brought together representatives of the group's member countries and partner states. They included Sergey Ryabkov (Russia), Tian Bai (China), Xolisa Mabhongo (South Africa), Tri Tharyat (Indonesia), Ragy el Etreby (Egypt), Majid Samadzadeh Saber (Iran), and others.

Photo: Ricardo Stuckert / Press Office of the President of Brazil