BRICS Architecture

BRICS is not supported by a permanent secretariat or office. The Chair of BRICS rotates annually among the member states in the order of the acronym. The Chair sets the priorities and calendar of events for the year, as well as hosting the Summit and all related meetings. The Chair develops its annual priorities in close consultation with other BRICS members, based on the Chair’s agenda as well as previously agreed decisions in the interests of continuity of BRICS cooperation.

 

The annual Chair has announced a theme for its Chairship since the Third BRICS Summit:

  • the Third BRICS Summit was held in Sanya, China, in April 2011 under the theme: “Broad Vision, Shared Prosperity”
  • the Fourth BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi, India, in March 2012 under the theme: “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity”
  • the Fifth BRICS Summit was held in Durban, South Africa, in March 2013 under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation”
  • the Sixth BRICS Summit was held in Fortaleza, Brazil, in July 2014 under the theme: “Inclusive Growth: Sustainable Solutions”
  • the Seventh BRICS Summit was held in Ufa, Russia, in July 2015 under the theme: “BRICS Partnership – A Powerful Factor of Global Development”
  • the Eighth BRICS Summit was held in Goa, India, in October 2016 under the theme: “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions”
  • the Ninth BRICS Summit was held in September 2017 under the theme: “BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future”
  • the 10th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in July 2018 under the theme: “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”
  • the 11th BRICS Summit was held in Brasilia, Brazil, in November 2019 under the theme: “BRICS: Economic Growth for an Innovative Future”
  • the 12th BRICS Summit was held virtually in November 2020 under the theme: “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth”
  • the 13th BRICS Summit was held virtually in September 2021 under the theme: “BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus”
  • the 14th BRICS Summit was held virtually in June 2022 under the theme: “Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development”
  • the 15th BRICS Summit will be held under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism”.

BRICS coordination is managed by BRICS Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas. All BRICS decisions are taken in consultation with other BRICS members and are based upon consensus.

The New Development Bank, headquartered in Shanghai, China, is the premier institution of BRICS. The Bank aims to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging markets and developing economics. The Johannesburg-based Africa Regional Centre of the Bank plays a catalytic role in providing financial and project preparation support for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in South Africa and Africa. BRICS Leaders also established the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement, a mechanism for providing support through additional liquidity and other means to BRICS countries during times of economic crisis.

The architecture of BRICS cooperation extends across business, academia, media, parliaments, political parties, civil society and sport. BRICS has formalised cooperation with the establishment of the BRICS Business Council, the BRICS Think Tanks Council, and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance.

The BRICS Business Forum meets on the eve of the summits, bringing together Leaders and CEOs, and is aimed at expanding and diversifying trade and mutual investments, including through the identification of new business opportunities. The BRICS Business Council brings together large business associations from each of the BRICS countries with a view to making recommendations on issues of trade and investment related to the business environment. The BRICS Women’s Business Alliance bridges the challenges of micro, small and medium enterprises with need for the greater economic inclusion of women in the economy. The BRICS Academic Forum, which takes place prior to the summits, brings together academics from across BRICS. The BRICS Think Tanks Council is responsible for sharing and disseminating information; research, policy analysis and prospective studies; and capacity-building. The Council makes recommendations to the BRICS Leaders.

 

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