Media accreditation for the XV BRICS Summit, Johannesburg, South Africa

South Africa will host the XV BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg, from 22 to 24 August 2023.


The Summit will take place under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism”.


Only bona fide media practitioners may apply for media accreditation. Collection of accreditation cards will be subject to the presentation of a valid ID/Passport and a press card or letter of assignment from the editor.

Journalists using passports as identification should note that passports should be valid for at least 30 days beyond the expected date of arrival in South Africa. At least two pages must be unused when the passport is presented for endorsement.


All fields in the media accreditation form must be filled. Incomplete forms will not be accepted. The accreditation form is available here: https://mrs.gcis.gov.za/.


The deadline for media accreditation is 11 August 2023. The deadline will not be extended, and late applications will not be accepted.


Media accreditation cards will be collected from the Radisson Blu Gautrain hotel in Sandton on a date to be confirmed. Once issued, the accreditation cards will not be transferable.


For more information, please visit the official 15th BRICS Summit website, https://www.brics2023.gov.za.


Enquiries on the media accreditation process:


Nelson Kgwete: +27 76 431 3078, KgweteN@dirco.gov.za

Kgopotso Rapakuana: +27 73 058 3876, RapakuanaK@dirco.gov.za


ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION


OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084

SA to unite the African voice for the development of common Agri-Parks

The BRICS Business Council (BBC) has unpacked the key priorities of its Agribusiness Working Group (AWG), as well as the opportunities that lie through the activation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), both for Intra-Africa and BRICS-Africa trade prospects.

 

As Agriculture remains essential in boosting economic growth, inclusion, and job creation within BRICS countries, the AWG further accelerates this sector’s growth, benefiting each member country’s insights and services. Speaking in a panel discussion at the 8TH FARA Agribusiness and Science Week (AASW) which concluded on Thursday 8 June in Durban, the Chair of the South African Chapter of the BBC, Busi Mabuza urged African markets to speak in a united voice in establishing partnerships with BRIC nations towards the development of common Africa Agri-Parks.

 

“With the enablement of the AfCFTA, and FARA, Africa is able to unlock opportunities through an integrated approach, where we are able to include not only intra-Africa trade but also foster BRIC – Africa commercial relationships,” said Mabuza. The event, which saw academia, policymakers and agribusiness leaders, seeks to sensitize industry players on the agro-industrial parks as an effective tool in the long-term economic structural transformation of the continent within the context of the AfCFTA.

 

 South Africa together with its global counterparts of the BBC, have chartered a programme that, with the imminent BRICS Summit in August, will allow the continent to find ways to unlock best practices on agricultural sustainable development as well as ways to improve fertilizer availability which are critical to the industry. These are two of the five priorities highlighted by Mabuza.

 

The other three priorities include:

 

  • Knowledge sharing on Agri-technology’, where the expertise of China and Brazil will be particularly useful. India also announced a R2billion investment towards its Agro-Parks in 2022, which provides the opportunity for Africa to learn mechanisms to attract similar financial injections, particularly concessional finance.

  • Trade and Investment is a pivotal area as there remains a significant need for intra-BRICS trade, notwithstanding all the agricultural successes within BRICS markets. The AWG creates opportunities for business facilitation, sharing of information about export opportunities in each country and businessto-government communication to avert trade-related challenges.

  • Agricultural finance focuses on the drive towards smart-climate-agriculture and the adoption of new farming methods (like the European Union’s Green Deal) will require innovative ways of financing. Knowledge sharing from experts within the BRICS formation will be key. South Africa as a global Chair, will share its experience through the programmes of the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa as well as the National Department of Agriculture.

 

Adding to this, Mabuza cited that “access to information, opportunities, capacity, skills development and markets, are some of the critical elements that should accompany finance which we intend to incorporate into our approach, as advised by business partners in the industry.

 

“BRICS now constitutes nearly a third of global GDP and boasts four of the top ten largest Agri-produce exporters in the world, which also develop superior Agri-technology and two of them being the fastest growing economies in the world, presents monumental opportunities for Africa’s commercial growth to be leveraged.”

 

For all BRICS programme enquiries and media interview requests, contact:

 

Zikona Captain at: zikona@sabricsbusinesscouncil.co.za or Whatsapp @ +27717506866

 

ISSUED BY BRICS BUSINESS COUNCIL, ZIKONA CAPTAIN

Live streaming of the meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations

The Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, taking place today and tomorrow (1–2 June 2023). will be streamed live on the BRICSza Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

The opening session starts at 15h00 today, followed by a press conference at approximately 18h20. Both sessions will be streamed live on the above-mentioned platforms.

 

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

 

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084