Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak picked up the phone on Monday and dialed the number of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. After the traditional small talk about health condition and weather, Storchak extended an invitation to Greece to become the sixth member of the New Development Bank of BRICS countries.
Tsipras reportedly thanked, said that he was pleasantly surprised by the invitation and that Greece was interested in the offer, while he promised to thoroughly examine it. “He will have a chance to discuss the invitation with the other BRICS leaders during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in June 2015,” media report.
The bank is expected to be one of the largest financial institutions to fund various infrastructure projects in the BRICS countries and emerging economies.
On July 15, 2014, in Fortaleza, Brazil, the BRICS member countries signed an agreement to establish the $100 billion New Development Bank, formerly referred to as the BRICS bank, and a reserve currency pool set at $100 billion. Russia will contribute $18 billion to the pool, along with India and Brazil. China is expected to contribute the largest share of $41 billion, with South Africa chipping in the remaining $5 billion.
The bank is expected to be one of the largest financial institutions to fund various infrastructure projects in the BRICS countries and emerging economies.
The BRICS group of prominent emerging economies was established in 2010, when South Africa joined Brazil, Russia, India and China in what was previously known as the BRIC nations. The BRICS countries represent 3 billion people making about 40 percent of the world’s population and a combined economy of about $16 trillion.
Russia currently holds the chair of the BRICS group and Segei Storchak is a representative of the BRICS Bank.
The BRICS members are all developing or newly industrialized countries, but they are distinguished by their large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs. The five founding member are also G-20 members.
PS A euro member in the BRICS? Is this possible? And how shall we call BRICS then? Something like BRICSG?
Yes, please leave EU and joins BRICS.
Please please please please!
join in with the russians at your peril!!
Maybe you could give a little explanation as to why this would be any more “at your peril” than hanging around with the EU proves to be on a daily basis?
BRICS is a far superior alternative than the World Bank.