Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ernesto Soberón Guzmán told TASS on Oct. 19 that the “BRICS plays an important role in the international economic order, providing a possibilities for foreign trade,” and that it could also “become an alternative to international financial institutes, such as the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, as some of largest economies of the world are among its members.” Cuba has formally applied for membership in the BRICS.
On the sidelines of the Oct. 18 BRICS Business Forum in Moscow, Naveen Kapur, sherpa-chairman of the Indian chapter of the BRICS Business Council, told RT that “more opportunities are definitely emerging after the BRICS expansion. With Egypt and Ethiopia in the group, we now have better access to African markets. The potential for business partnerships has increased.” He added: “We see manufacturing as the engine of growth because that’s where employment occurs. India has a large pool of resources and a demographic dividend with a substantial young population. By skilling them, we aim to enhance their employability and learn from the experiences of other BRICS countries.” He also stressed India’s IT capabilities: “We have significantly improved lives using digital technologies and would like to share our experience with other countries.”
