APA-Cape Town (South Africa) The BRICS group of emerging economies is working on the criteria to be used to admit new members amid reports that more than a dozen countries have expressed interest in joining the bloc currently made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a BRICS ministerial meeting in Cape Town on Thursday, South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor said the bloc was not yet ready to accept new members until the admission is finalised.
“Once we have a document that offers clear guidance, we will then take that to the summit in August,” Pandor said.
She said the ministers were hopeful that the criteria would be ready by the time BRICS leaders meet for their annual summit in South Africa.
“We’d like that work to be concluded by the time the summit sits.”
At least a dozen countries have expressed interest to join the BRICS bloc. These include Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Aspiring members – falling under the banner of Friends of BRICS – met in Johannesburg on Friday.
NM/jn/APA