MalayMail/Bernama-Aug 21
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia aims to diversify its economic diplomacy efforts by participating in the intergovernmental organization BRICS and enhance its collaboration with member countries through shared initiatives and strategic partnerships. Malaysia has applied to join BRICS, a grouping of large emerging economies that was established in 2009 as a cooperation platform for emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining the group in 2010. In January 2024, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined the organization as new members. “India’s distinct and influential role within BRICS is of particular importance, as we recognize that our strong bilateral ties will add significant value to the dynamics of the grouping,” he said in his lecture titled: “Towards a Rising Global South: Leveraging Malaysia-India Ties” at Sapru House, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) here, yesterday. Anwar arrived in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Monday for a three-day official visit to strengthen the 67-year-old India-Malaysia ties and establish a multi-sectoral cooperation agenda for the future. This is the prime minister’s first visit to India after assuming office in November 2022. Cumulatively, the gross domestic product (GDP) of BRICS member countries amounted to US$26.6 trillion (RM116.4 trillion), which is 26.2 per cent of the world’s GDP, almost the same as the economic strength of the G7 countries. Total trade between Malaysia and India stands at US$16.5 billion, bolstered by an impressive compounded annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent in the last two decades. Read more at:
