Dr Iqbal Survé on the success of the Brics Business Council

On Sunday, October 28, City Press reported on the reconstitution of the South African chapter of the BRICS Business Council. Protocol is that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) would have announced this, but the story gave the impression that no formal announcement had been made. As clearly stated in the quote from the DTI spokesperson, communication with the DTI and other stakeholders preceded the 10th BRICS Summit, in which Dr Iqbal Survé, chairman of the Sekunjalo Group, had advised of his intention to step down as the chairman of the council post the summit, and the need to review the BRICS Business Council was agreed upon. On behalf of the outgoing BRICS Business Council, most of whom have served on the council or led its working groups since its inception in 2013, Dr Survé stated:

“It has been an honour and privilege to serve our country through the BRICS Business Council and for me to have had the opportunity to lead it during the last year. During this time we have worked collaboratively to build the BRICS Business Council and have developed close ties with our colleagues in the BRICS countries as a result.” Dr Survé in addition said: “We have been party to many successes in the BRICS Business Council, such as the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Co-operation with the New Development Bank signed in 2017; the ongoing and important discussions in relation to the BRICS Credit Rating Agency; the New International Payment System; the Roadmap on Co-operation in Eliminating Trade Barriers; and the proposed BRICS Business Women’s Alliance, referred to in the Johannesburg Declaration. These are but a few of the important initiatives that have arisen directly within the framework of the BRICS Business Council.” Many of these initiatives will be taken forward by the newly reconstituted council in partnership with the council chapters, through the nine working groups that constitute the engine of the BRICS Business Council. |