This panel examined the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on trade, particularly on global supply chains and explored how BRICS countries can cooperate to reduce disruptions and streamline regulations for trade in goods and services. The panel suggested there was a need for more exchange of statistical data and greater emphasis on leveraging the strategy for the 2025 BRICS Economic Partnership. This strategy, which was adopted by the BRICS summit in November 2020, defines a development p...

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of reviewing the global healthcare agenda, including pandemic preparedness, international cooperation, vaccine development processes, global healthcare regulations, pharmaceutical supply chains, citizen awareness and local capacities. The panel reviewed the lessons from Covid-19 and explored measures that the BRICS can take to improve healthcare delivery. Panellists noted that the pandemic has placed added pressure on the demand for medicati...

The threats from terrorism and violent extremism continue to pose diverse and complex international peace and stability challenges. This session on counter-terrorism explored how the BRICS nations can cooperate to counter terrorism and promote international peace and security. One of the challenges that were noted during this panel is the lack of mutual trust among the BRICS countries, which have different priorities and strategies, resulting in geographical dissonance and perceptions towa...

The need to balance limited natural resources with consumption-led growth is the biggest challenge facing the 2030 Development Agenda. The panel on creating and promoting more sustainable lifestyles explored how the BRICS grouping can reimagine consumption patterns and align them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The economy, the environment and energy were three critical issues that the panel discussed as the “forgotten” SDGs are of critical importance for the BRICS to investigate...

This panel examined the latest developments in green energy and explored how BRICS can cooperate on green energy investments, research and development, financing, regulations and technology. The panel recommended that the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform be expanded to include Renewable Energy Associations, local governments and academic institutions. It also suggested that International Relations ministries should engage their Consulate Offices to identify strategic partners via Re...

This panel discussion was a response to the significant challenges confronting women as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, from women’s weakened participation in the labour force to the escalation in unpaid work as carers. The panel examined the post-pandemic policy, business and socio-economic landscape for women and explored how BRICS can support women-led economic growth. The panellists proposed the establishment of a policy for labour-related care for women and a social security grant for wo...

The 13th BRICS Academic Forum, held virtually, commenced with a panel examining the transformations in geopolitics and geoeconomics and exploring what BRICS can do to shape the emerging world order. SABTT Chairperson Prof Siphamandla Zondi reflected on the challenges faced by nations within the BRICS and pointed out that there was a pressing need to reinforce and rebuild representative multilateralism. “We need to reinforce and deepen economic integration and finance sustainable development pro...