Biz-Community (Cape Town)

South Africa: African Union to Attend SA's Brics Summit

27 January 2013

South Africa, in line with promoting regional integration, has for the first time, invited the African regional economies as well as the African Union to the fifth BRICS Summit.

The summit of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa group of countries will take place in Durban, in March.

Briefing reports in Pretoria on Thursday, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said preparations for the summit were in full swing.

The summit will include a first dialogue between BRICS Leaders and African Heads of State and Government from the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the NEPAD Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (PICIs).

There will also be a dialogue with the Chairperson of the AU Commission Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to discuss the issue of infrastructure funding in which the AU has tasked President Jacob Zuma to play a leading role.

Ebrahim said this will strengthen the structures that facilitate the intra-BRICS collaboration between captains of industry and academics.

The deputy minister also announced that South Africa has commenced with its three year term on the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Guided by the recently adopted National Development Plan: vision 2030 and other government policies, the department is coordinating consultations to define the country's position.

"During our tenure, we will participate in the meetings of the ECOSOC subsidiary bodies, consultations with international development partners and ministerial meetings where pertinent issues related to the advancement of the socio-economic development agenda will be discussed."

SAnews.gov.za

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  • sashley
    Jan 28 2013, 10:47
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    South Africa has also confirmed that India will assist it with certain aspects of its tax system. This is a good opportunity for other African states to discuss tax development. http://www.internationaltaxreview.com/Article/3145119/ITR-Premium-News-and- Analysis/BRICSs-tax-authorities-promise-to-share-information.html

  • sfergu6423
    Jan 28 2013, 13:39
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    The membership of SA in BRICS has led to this country having a fifty percent unemployment rate in SA. China has wiped out most of SA industries and the people have no jobs except in the mining sector. SA is running a massive trade deficit with China and she can't compete with the other BRICS countries. Now, SA is trying to sell BRICS to the other African countries.

  • foryohjonathan0000
    Jan 30 2013, 11:56
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    REALIZING THE NEGATIVITIES ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA THAT IS/ARE NOT TRUE. THERE IS A PROVERB WHICH SAYS: A MILLION MAN MARCH IS HARDLY DEFEATED. SO, WHEN THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES COME DOWN TO SOUTH AFRICA AND PARTICIPATE IN THE ORGANIZATION, THESE AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK BENEFICIALRY QUESTIONS - QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE VITAL TO ALL, AFRICANS, AFRICA AND THE BRICS COUNTRIES. SO, YOU SEE; WE ARE NOT A FOOLS. AU, PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL AFRICAN COUNTRIES DO PARTICIPATE IN THE BRICS MEETING THAT IS GOING TO HELD IN SOUTH AFRICA. AGAIN; UNITED, WE ARE STRONGER; DIVIDED, WE WILL BE DESTROY AND KEEP BEING HUMILIATED BY THESE HYPROCRITES WHO ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE AFRICA A LAUGHABLE CONTINENT.