China and South Africa could help ensure that the BRICS group of countries delivers more for agriculture in Africa, and especially South Africa.
Photo: “18th BRICS Summit family picture” by Prime Minister’s Office (India) via Wikimedia Commons / GODL-India
This is the view of agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo, who is South Africa’s Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land.
The 11 BRICS countries are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, plus new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
“BRICS has potential, but action beyond major speeches is essential for the group’s economic advancement,” Sihlobo said in his blog, looking at the recent BRICS summit in India.
“The Summits can’t only end up as spectacular events for the day without tangible benefits for the various business communities. If this continues, doubts about BRICS’s effectiveness will grow.”
Sihlobo noted that China would be the BRICS chair 2027, and would be followed by South Africa in 2028. They could help to ensure that BRICS delivered material benefits from one summit to the next.
He said that while other countries were increasing tariffs and closing markets, China had embraced open markets. For African countries, it had lowered import tariffs on various goods to zero, but now needed to address phytosanitary barriers.
Sihlobo argued that China’s approach to Africa should be “marshalled within BRICS”.
“If China pursues trade matters deliberately, then when South Africa assumes the Chair in 2028, the country will build on already fertile ground. The business communities of all member countries would also benefit from this approach,” he said.
