Egypt Highlights Commitment to BRICS Cooperation at 17th Academic Forum in Brasília

Egypt has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening research cooperation and partnerships within the BRICS group, participating actively in the 17th BRICS Academic Forum (FABRICS) held in Brasília, Brazil, on the sidelines of preparations for the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Summit.

Representing Egypt at the event, the Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) joined two days of discussions spanning six key themes: health cooperation among BRICS nations, AI governance, trade, investment and finance, climate change, multilateral peace and security, and institutional development. The forum concluded with an official session summarizing outcomes and future recommendations.

In his opening address, Dr. Osama El-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Head of IDSC, underscored Egypt’s determination to deepen research collaboration and support South-South partnerships. He emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange and academic dialogue in priority areas for BRICS countries. El-Gohary also outlined Egypt’s efforts and initiatives across the forum’s key discussion areas, highlighting how the country aims to leverage BRICS cooperation to further its national development goals.

A key highlight was Egypt’s establishment of a dedicated “BRICS Unit” under the Cabinet, designed to coordinate strategies across government ministries, relevant agencies, and the private sector, accelerating Egypt’s integration into BRICS frameworks.

Egypt presented strategic directions aimed at enhancing its role in trade, investment, and finance, aligning with the targets of Egypt’s Vision 2030. Discussions also tackled the opportunities and challenges of using local currencies in intra-BRICS trade, as well as innovative digital and financial tools to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Participants spotlighted prospects for cooperation in sustainable supply chains and sustainable trade, stressing the importance of aligning trade policies with climate commitments without compromising developmental priorities in the Global South.

On the sidelines of the forum, IDSC engaged in a special session with the BRICS Think Tank Network for Finance (BTTNF), focusing on two joint research studies planned for this year. The first study will examine “Credit Ratings and Development Finance among BRICS Countries: International Context and Egypt’s Case Study,” while the second will explore “Innovative Climate Finance Instruments.”

During the closing session, El-Gohary emphasized the need to translate the forum’s outcomes into practical policies that benefit Global South nations.

The forum concluded with the launch of a preliminary report on cooperation mechanisms within BRICS, identifying over 180 cooperation frameworks among member states. The report reflects the commitment of BRICS nations—including Egypt—to promoting transparency and facilitating data exchange among national institutions. Notably, Egypt is participating in multiple cooperation initiatives across ten critical sectors, including agriculture, energy, education, economy, science, culture, labor, security, and social development, signaling the country’s growing integration into BRICS institutional structures.

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly has instructed the technical secretariat of the BRICS Unit to translate the report into Arabic and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies to ensure Egypt maximizes the benefits of BRICS cooperation mechanisms.

It is worth mentioning that IDSC recently joined the BRICS Think Tank Council (BTTC) and became an official member of the BRICS Think Tank Network for Finance (BTTNF) in 2024. This year marks Egypt’s first participation in the annual academic forum, which traditionally precedes the BRICS Leaders’ Summit and aims to deliver strategic recommendations for policymakers across the bloc.