I bid the BRICS Business Forum hosts and participants a cordial welcome.
This event has established itself as a popular communication platform for entrepreneurs and representatives of the BRICS government agencies.
This forum is an effective mechanism for promoting trade, economic and investment ties between our countries. Closer practical interaction between business circles has made it possible to significantly strengthen our countries’ trade and economic cooperation. The member states’ mutual exports grew by 45 percent from 2015 to 2019.
BRICS is facing new ambitious goals, and the business community can lead the effort to achieve them. Primarily, the issue is about digital transformation, the efficiency of public-private partnership mechanisms, labour skills in an innovation-based economy and the social protection of citizens. Strengthening interaction between business and the state is of particular importance.
In the year of the Russia’s BRICS chairmanship, we pay special attention to expanding economic cooperation between our countries. In particular, this is what the updated Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership is designed to achieve. It will be submitted for approval by the leaders at the 12th BRICS Summit.
The search for new drivers of economic growth is becoming particularly important amidst crisis-laden national economies, the global system in general being aggravated by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. In this context, the theme of today's Forum – BRICS Business Partnership: Common Vision for Sustainable Inclusive Development - sounds particularly relevant.
The way we understand it, inclusiveness means, primarily, collective efforts to overcome common challenges and take into account the interests of all members of the international community. Russia invariably advocates equal interaction between the states without a hidden agenda or the use of unfair competition and with the utmost respect for international law. Adherence to these principles can ensure sustainable development of our planet.
I wish you good health, every success and productive work for the benefit of strengthening ties between our countries. I am convinced that your joint work to build and deepen business contacts will help improve the quality of life and prosperity for all people in the BRICS countries.
Sergey LAVROV