Lok Sabha Question No. 2671 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: BRICS Summit
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Kuldeep Rai Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2671 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2019

## BRICS SUMMIT

## 2671. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India has participated in the 11th BRICS Summit and if so, the details thereof and the details of the theme of the event;
- (b) the details of issues discussed therein along with the outcome thereof;
- (c) whether this Summit has given developing countries sufficient scope in the international fora with regard to finance and trade and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the benefits likely to accrue to developing countries in general and to India in particular in the field of finance and trade as a result of these Summits; and
- (e) the mechanism put in place to safeguard the common interests of all the countries involved in BRICS particularly India?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN ]

(a) Brazil hosted the 11 th  BRICS Summit in Brasilia on 13-14 November, 2019 under the theme 'BRICS: economic growth for an innovative future'. In the 11 th  BRICS Summit, Indian delegation was led by Prime Minister.

- (b) At   the   Summit,   the   Leaders   discussed   global   financial   and   security situation, countering terrorism, climate change, sustainable development, reform of the multilateral system, reform of WTO and institutions of international governance, ways to promote Intra-BRICS cooperation including in science & technology, trade, health,   information   and   communication   technology,   people-to-people   exchanges. BRICS Business Council and the New Development Bank also presented their reports to the Leaders at the Summit. Leaders issued a Joint Declaration at the Summit.

The   broad   outcomes   of   Brazil's   BRICS   Chairship   in   2019   have   been   the establishment   of   innovation   BRICS   Network   (iBRICS)   and   BRICS   Women   Business Alliance (WBA), the adoption of the New Architecture on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), finalisation of T erms of Reference of the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation   Platform.   In   addition,   a   seminar   on   BRICS   Strategies   for   Countering Terrorism, a Workshop on Human Milk Banks, and BRICS Meeting on Asset Recovery was also organised. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among BRICS Trade and Investment Promotion Agencies (TIPAs) was also signed in 2019.

(c) The issues taken up at BRICS Summit are of importance to not only the BRICS countries but also to developing countries in general. The BRICS countries have been the engine of global growth during last few years. At the same time, BRICS has emerged as a major factor for a peaceful, prosperous and multi polar world. Leaders stressed on further promoting Intra BRICS trade, reducing cost of trade between BRICS countries, trade facilitation and cooperation in customs and banking processes.

From inception, finance and trade is a major area of Intra-BRICS Cooperation. The New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) are the major outcomes in this area. NDB has funded/decided to fund 44 projects worth more than USD 12 billion, within BRICS countries including 8 projects worth USD 3246 million in India. (d) BRICS has become a platform for discussing and deliberating on the issues of common concern for all developing countries. BRICS countries have regularly called for reform of the multilateral system including United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, in order to make them more representative and inclusive. All   members   of   BRICS   grouping   benefit   from   its   collective   strength   by   way   of consultation and cooperation on economic issues of mutual interests, as well as topical global   issues,   such   as,   international   terrorism,   climate   change,   food   and   energy security, reforms of global governance institutions, etc. (e) BRICS Chairship rotates among its members annually. Each year, issues of common interest to developing countries are discussed under BRICS such as global financial   situation,   countering   terrorism,   anti-corruption   reform   of   the   multilateral system, including United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund. Each Chair introduces its own priorities also during its Chairship. Throughout the year meetings of relevant experts, senior officials, working groups etc. take place to develop a common understanding among BRICS countries. Such meetings are then followed, in some cases, by Ministers' meeting. BRICS NSAs and Foreign Ministers also meet at  regular   intervals   to   discuss   issues   of   mutual   interest.   The   preparations culminate in BRICS Leaders' Summit wherein Leaders issue a Joint Declaration. India has ensured that the issue of countering terrorism remains in the BRICS discussions. In past BRICS Leaders have listed the terrorist entities like LeT, JeM, TTP etc. as perpetrators of violence.   In 2019, five subgroups have been set up under Counter   T errorism   Working   Group   and   will   cover   different   aspects   of   countering terrorism.

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