The main objectives of the BRICS bloc are to improve trade and economic co-operation among the member countries, encourage equitable growth and sustainable development, and encourage political collaboration and understanding between member countries (Balaji, 2023).
Developing countries and emerging markets believe that Western countries are abusing their power when it comes to trade and political relations, citing even the way they are handling the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the associated negative effects on emerging economies.
LEVERAGING ADVANTAGES
Geographically, the BRICS countries have a strategic trade advantage on world markets. South Africa and Brazil, being in the Southern Hemisphere, have counter-seasonality advantages over Western countries when it comes to the trading of agricultural products. For South Africa, this became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the export of citrus to Europe grew exponentially.
Because of its advanced infrastructural development and world-class financial system, South Africa serves as a gateway into Africa. Many multilateral companies therefore prefer to establish themselves in South Africa before they enter the rest of the continent.
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