BRICS WBA leaders: women drive economic transformation

BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (WBA) leaders from South Africa and Indonesia highlighted the role of women in building a multipolar world and reshaping global economic cooperation within BRICS.

As BRICS expands, women leaders advocate for sovereignty and a new model of international cooperation. This was stated by Lebogang Zulu, Chairperson of BRICS WBA South Africa Chapter, in an exclusive interview at the TV BRICS studio in the Roscongress International Cooperation Area at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum ( SPIEF) 2025.

Zulu hailed BRICS as a platform that speaks common values, shared vision and win-win cooperation. The chairperson underscored the need for a multi-polar world that supports economic mobility and financial alternatives. “We are not a social project of BRICS. We are a true economic cooperation structure,” she stated.

Furthermore, Lebogang Zulu called for greater female participation across all three pillars of BRICS collaboration: political, economic, and financial and people-to-people ties.

In her turn, Irawati Hermawan, a member of the Indonesian Сhapter of the BRICS WBA, pointed to the growing role of women in economic leadership across both BRICS and ASEAN.

“Women are now part of top management, shaping policy and influencing economic growth. […] In Indonesia and the broader ASEAN region, women entrepreneurs, especially in small and medium enterprises, are key contributors to the economy,” said Iravati Hermavan.

With Indonesia officially joining BRICS in January 2025, Hermavan sees immense opportunities ahead. “This is a massive market, over 4 billion people. It opens up huge potential for trade and cooperation,” she stated. As the third largest economy in the group, Indonesia is poised not only to benefit from this expansion but also to offer unique strengths to the BRICS partnership.

Photo: TV BRICS / Roman Kitashov / Roscongress Foundation photo bank