2,5 min read –
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization established in 2009, initially comprising five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
As of January 1, 2024, BRICS has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia has received an invitation to join, though its membership has not yet been formalized.
Today, BRICS accounts for 37% of the world’s GDP and 45% of the global population.
On October 24, 2024, BRICS held its 16th annual summit in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.
The summit brought together representatives from 20 countries to discuss a wide range of topics, including geopolitics, economics, security, military matters, finance, food, energy, and international trade.
Notable attendees included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
The presence of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the event’s significance and the growing interest from the U.N.
The discussions at the Kazan summit highlighted two major trends:
1 – A Multipolar World
The global landscape is shifting towards multipolarity, reducing the dominance of any single nation, particularly the United States, and moving away from a bipolar framework.
2 – The Rise of the Global South
Many countries in the Global South are seeking alternatives to the U.S. dollar for international trade, a process often referred to as “de-dollarization.”
This de-dollarization is unfolding through two primary avenues:
1- Bilateral Trade in Local Currencies
BRICS nations are increasingly trading using their own currencies instead of the U.S. dollar. For instance, 95% of trade between China and Russia is currently conducted in yuan and rubles.
2- Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Technology
The emergence of decentralized financial systems powered by blockchain can challenge the hegemony of traditional currencies and institutions.
De-dollarization also serves as a strategy to mitigate the risk of unilateral sanctions from the U.S.
Ahead of the Kazan summit, a new cross-border payment system called BRICS Pay was introduced during the BRICS Business Forum in Moscow on October 17.
BRICS Pay, a digital currency based on blockchain technology, could represent a new crypto solution linked to a basket of currencies from BRICS nations.
Additionally, BRICS members agreed to explore the establishment of BRICS Clear, an independent cross-border settlement and depository infrastructure comparable to the SWIFT system, which facilitates international payments.
The BRICS payment system offers several advantages:
– Interoperability with existing payment systems
– Decentralized structure for enhanced security
– Facilitation of local currency transactions
– Resistance to political pressures
– Promotion of financial inclusion
– Faster processing times
Currently, BRICS Pay is in its trial phase.
If successful, it has the potential to redefine global finance by providing an alternative framework that emphasizes economic sovereignty.
With nearly 160 countries anticipated to adopt this system, we could see a significant shift towards de-dollarization and deeper economic collaboration among non-Western nations.
BRICS Pay is not merely a technological innovation.
It represents a strategic geopolitical maneuver aimed at reshaping the global economic order.
It could usher in a new era of international finance characterized by:
– Greater independence from traditional Western-dominated systems
– Increased control for emerging economies over their financial frameworks
Indonesia has expressed interest in joining BRICS to ensure it does not miss out on these developments.
At Cintasia, we are committed to bringing your technology and industrial equipment to Indonesia and the ASEAN region.
PS: We wrote an article on BRICS in May 2024. If you missed it, you can find it here:
https://cintasia.com/indonesias-stance-on-brics-vs-g7/
Sources: Reuters, cointribune(dot)com, news(dot)bitcoin(dot)com, Blockhead Daily Digest, Gulf News, voanews(dot).com, Perplexity, Chatgpt.