Anil Sooklal: More than 50 countries may join BRICS in the future

According to Professor Anil Sooklal, BRICS Sherpa in South Africa and Ambassador-at-Large for Asia and BRICS, the expansion of BRICS with countries wanting to join the grouping could lead to the inclusion of more than 50 countries.

According to Sooklal, many countries including Egypt, UAE, Indonesia and Argentina are coalescing around BRICS and want to become members, as reported by Pretoria News, a partner of TV BRICS.

BRICS is proving to be attractive because of its economic strength, financial acumen and power.

"Even in terms of reserve funds, the four major BRICS countries are among the top 10 countries in the world rankings. BRICS should be seen as a catalyst that can change the world for the better"

Anil Sooklal BRICS Sherpa in South Africa

According to Sooklal BRICS represents the world of the future and the global South is rising and becoming more influential. The world's major economies belong to developing countries.

He noted that India has gone from being the 11th to the 5th largest world economy in less than 10 years. "China is now the second largest world economy. With the expansion of BRICS, it could include more than 50 countries," noted BRICS Sherpa in South Africa.

BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and hosts South Africa - will meet next month at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng for the 15th summit. Sooklal said the issue of a BRICS currency was not on the summit's agenda.

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