The eighth annual BRICS summit was held from October 15 to 16 this year in Goa, India. BRICS, the acronym, refers to the formal grouping of five nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa; their annual conference is attended by the executive heads of the respective states. As a collective, BRICS brings together the five major emerging economies of the world, comprising 43 percent of the world’s population, contributing to 30 percent of the world GDP, and holding a 17 percent share in world trade.
While the BRICS have ordinarily focused on economic issues of mutual interest, their agenda has widened of late to encompass various topical global issues. This is why the 2016 summit was an unusually sensitive gathering for the international grouping, as matters related to border security and international terrorism divided members according to their respective national foreign policy interests. Nevertheless, the summit ended on a positive note with a call for stronger business, trade, and energy relationships.
Source: http://www.india-briefing.com
Key words: Key Outcomes, the 2016 BRICS Summit
