New Delhi, Feb 10 (UNI) India launched its BRICS chairmanship with the inaugural Sherpa/Sous-Sherpa Meeting in New Delhi, signaling a new chapter in the bloc’s global engagement.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that India aims to steer BRICS toward a “people-centric” agenda, with an overarching theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.”
MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) and India’s BRICS Sherpa, Sudhakar Dalela, outlined the priorities of India’s chairship, emphasizing a “people-centric” and “humanity-first” approach inspired by Prime Minister Modi’s vision.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to India, M. Kasko, attended the meeting as a representative of Belarus, a BRICS partner country. In his remarks, Ambassador Kasko thanked the organizers for inviting Belarus, noting that partner countries had not previously participated in such meetings.
The ambassador also conveyed a message from the President of Belarus expressing optimism that India’s chairmanship would usher in a year of new achievements for BRICS, further strengthening the bloc’s global influence. He highlighted Belarus’s readiness to share its technological expertise and accomplishments in food and water security to support the development of BRICS countries.
Belarus also expressed interest in joining the New Development Bank (NDB), a move aimed at unlocking the economic potential of all BRICS member and partner countries.
The forum now unites countries with diverse political systems, economic priorities, and strategic perspectives. Its logo features a lotus at the center, intertwined with a “Namaste” gesture, while the petals showcase the vibrant colors representing all BRICS members. India has previously held the BRICS chairmanship three times—in 2012, 2016, and 2021—but this marks the first term since the bloc expanded to include five new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE.
BRICS currently unites eleven major emerging and developing economies: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc provides a platform for consultation and cooperation on issues of global and regional importance, as well as on international political and economic governance.
