Brazil sees a promising future in Ethiopia’s membership in the BRICS group

Dos Santos noted that the African country was approved for membership alongside Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, effective January 1, 2024, at the 15th summit of the economic community held last August in Johannesburg, and highlighted the interconnected ties. initiatives it has.

He cited the New Development Bank, the BRICS Business Council, and the BRICS Businesswomen Alliance, among others, who promote exchanges in areas such as media, culture, education, sports, arts, youth, civil society, academia, science and technology. Statements to the Ethiopian News Agency.

“Ethiopia will now take stock of what BRICS has achieved in each of these areas and begin to contribute its own initiatives and perspectives. We look forward to working with Ethiopia in this regard.”

He considered that such an accession would strengthen the group’s call for comprehensive multilateralism, respect for international law and reform of multilateral political and financial institutions, all of which are appreciated by the developing world and have long been defended by both Brazil and Ethiopia as individual countries.

The Brazilian diplomat stressed that the interest expressed by many countries in joining the BRICS group shows that there is a positive motivation to defend these issues within the international community in general.

As a member of the Economic Community in the near future, Addis Ababa’s views and experiences on many issues will be exchanged with other member states, which will strengthen everyone and open new horizons for cooperation.

“I am very optimistic about the future of South-South cooperation within the BRICS group and about bilateral relations between Brazil and Ethiopia as a whole,” he stressed.

On the other hand, when addressing bilateral relations between the two countries, dos Santos highlighted the friendly relations extending back more than 70 years and the smooth dialogue on major global and regional issues, with very important common positions.

Regarding the latter issue, he noted in particular the need for developing countries to play a more important role on the global stage.

He revealed that there is growth in trade and investment ties in the places that connect EgyptAir’s daily flight from São Paulo to Addis Ababa, as well as the development of cooperation programs such as agriculture, through which the Brazilian experience can enhance Ethiopian production.

“We are evaluating other potential partnerships, such as in sports diplomacy, an area where, for example, we in Brazil can learn from the notable Ethiopian successes in athletics,” he concluded.

Memory/NMR