BRICS launches ambitious development drive – Putin
BRICS countries have launched large‑scale joint projects in nuclear power, aviation, AI and other sectors, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
The economic group is “setting the bar in the development of so-called human-centric industries,” Putin noted, speaking on Friday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The group is mobilizing “major projects to improve the living environment” and “implementing large-scale initiatives in nuclear energy and aviation, in the field of new materials and the IT industry, in robotics and artificial intelligence,” the Russian president said.
BRICS was initially established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. In 2024, the bloc extended full membership to Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and, later, Indonesia. Over 30 more nations have applied to join the group.
The collective trade turnover of BRICS nations has “already exceeded a trillion dollars and continues to grow,” Putin told a SPIEF plenary session.
The Russian leader underlined the platform’s core principles – consensus, parity, mutual interest, and openness – saying it will strengthen as more countries join.
“Russia invites partners to contribute to shaping a new global growth model, to jointly ensure the prosperity of our countries and the stable development of the entire world for many, many years to come,” he said.
Today’s global challenges require a global response, Putin stressed.
“Solving problems alone, especially at someone else's expense, is simply impossible – it is an illusion. Only joint actions within an organization such as BRICS and some other formats can ensure the movement of the entire civilization forward,” the president told the gathering.
This year, SPIEF has drawn participants from 137 countries and territories, including global leaders, major corporations, international organizations, and policy experts.
