Africa as a continent will top the agenda when the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) group of states meet at their summit in South Africa in August this year, President Ramaphosa has said.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Thursday, Ramaphosa said South Africa, which is chairing the occasion, would host the 15th BRICS Summit from 22-24 August.
“As part of our strategic intent to further advance the African development agenda within the BRICS group, we are inviting several other African leaders to the summit,” the president told the House.
He added: “One of the priorities during our chairship is to build a partnership between BRICS and Africa to unlock mutually beneficial opportunities for increased trade, investment and infrastructure development.”
Ramaphosa cited the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as one vehicle that needed to be developed for the good of the continent.
“We are focusing in particular on opportunities that will generate economic growth on the continent, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
He told the lawmakers that there were great opportunities for BRICS countries to participate in infrastructure development through the AfCFTA by locating production and services activities in the continent and partnering with local companies and entrepreneurs in these ventures.
NM/jn/APA