Chakwera invited to Brics Summit
President Lazarus Chakwera has been invited to the Brics Summit set for 22-24 August this year in South Africa.
Brics, a grouping of world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is this year expected to cover trade and investment facilitation, sustainable development, innovation, and global governance reform.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has made the invitation, but it is coy on whether the Malawi leader will attend or not.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson John Kabaghe said they will communicate in due course.
He said: “I can confirm that there is that invitation but I cannot say much as at now. We will make proper communication at an appropriate time.
“Normally, during a Brics Plus meeting, the Brics group invites others to realise the benefits and cooperation with other countries.”
Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu said the country stands to benefit a lot from the summit.
“The summit presents an opportunity for the President to strengthen our relations and collaboration with global leaders who have stood with us traditionally and in times of unprecedented unforeseen calamities.
“This also presents an opportunity for the President to engage at a top level of leaders, strengthen trade ties with a wide range of powerful, emerging market economies for potential foreign direct investment in key areas such as agriculture, tourism and mining where the Chakwera administration has placed special interest in our Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan,” he said.
Kunkuyu said these investments and projects lead to significant job creation and that is our aspiration as a country.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending an economic summit in Johannesburg next month.
“By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov,” the office of Ramaphosa said.
The Brics have emerged as a powerful alliance of emerging-market economies over the course of the 21st century.
