Ethiopia’s growing economy, strategic position in Africa opens doors for deepened BRICS collaboration

Addis Ababa, September 22, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s growing economic and strategic position in Africa can present new opportunities for collaboration with Brazil and other member countries within the BRICS bloc, Brazil’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Jandyr Ferreira dos Santos told ENA.

Ethiopia along with the other new member countries officially joined the emerging markets of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in January 1, 2024.

The Brazilian Ambassador said Brazil celebrates Ethiopia’s recent accession to the BRICS and its commitment to contributing actively as a new member of this important international forum.

“This achievement is a shared victory for the government and people of Ethiopia, showcasing the country’s growing influence and presenting substantial opportunities of collaboration between the members of the group,” Santos said.

As a coalition of major emerging economies, the BRICS can serve as a platform for fostering economic growth, promoting multilateralism, and enhancing cooperation among developing countries.

“Ethiopia’s growing economic and strategic position in Africa can present new opportunities for collaboration with Brazil and other member countries within the BRICS,” the ambassador underscored.

According to him, both Ethiopia and Brazil are strong proponents of South-South cooperation, which emphasizes solidarity, mutual benefit, and shared development among developing countries.

“Together our countries could advocate fostering partnerships that support capacity building, technology transfer, and sustainable development initiatives,” he stressed.

Ethiopia and Brazil share common views on the need for reforming global governance institutions to better represent the interests of developing countries, he noted.

“Our countries can use the BRICS platform to collaborate on addressing global challenges such as climate change, food security, and public health.”

As Ethiopia continues to position itself as a key player in Africa and beyond, its collaboration with Brazil through BRICS can be a vital element of a strengthened South-South partnership, the ambassador concluded.

BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It was formed in 2010 by the addition of South Africa to its predecessor called BRIC.

Now members of this international bloc increased to 10 following the accession of Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 1/2024.

The membership will have a lot of impact in terms of international trade and the main agenda is to transform the multi-lateral system into some kind of an equitable system where countries will deal with each other on a sovereign basis, according to ENA.

Ethiopia has been steadily gaining prominence on the African continent, emerging as a significant economic and strategic player. Its rapid growth trajectory, coupled with its strategic location, has positioned it as a key influencer in Africa and beyond.