The first meeting of the BRICS Business Council takes place in Johannesburg between 19-20 August.  Here business leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) along with prominent business leaders from 19 other African countries will converge at the Sandton Convention Centre.

This Council was established during the BRICS Summit in Durban in March 2013, to develop and grow business, trade, manufacturing and investment ties amongst the BRICS countries as well as with Africa.

Patrice Motsepe, the South African Chairman of the BRICS Business Council, says, “The meeting will focus on ensuring that the objectives of the BRICS Business Council as outlined in the eThekwini Declaration are fulfilled.”

“The meeting will also identify specific measures and initiatives to increase trade, business, manufacturing and investment ties amongst the BRICS countries and other African countries. We will also propose measures to eliminate barriers or hurdles to growing trade and investment ties.”

“It is also important that African business leaders and entrepreneurs establish partnerships and joint ventures amongst themselves and also network and exchange ideas to ensure that they significantly benefit from the various business, trade, manufacturing and investment opportunities between the BRICS countries and Africa. To this end, sessions involving the African and BRICS business leaders will focus on promoting and increasing trade and investment ties between the BRICS countries and Africa.”

When the BRICS Business Council was launched President Jacob Zuma described its establishment as a key measure to further increase intra-Brics trade and investment.  Adding that this Council would serve as a platform to strengthen and promote economic, trade, business and investment ties amongst the business communities of the five BRICS countries.