Experts and media professionals attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi have lauded the pivotal role of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within the group. Their remarks underscore UAE’s active participation in enhancing economic, commercial, and investment partnerships, as well as its function as a robust bridge connecting the Global South with Western economies.
A Strategic Gateway for the Global South
German journalist and member of the ‘Writers’ Wiki’ association, Ben Benedict Jansen, described the UAE’s accession to BRICS as a qualitative leap forward. He characterised the UAE as a strategic gateway for the Global South across political, financial, and business arenas. Jansen noted that the UAE’s established standing among Western nations makes its presence in the group crucial for enhancing communication and understanding between diverse parties, highlighting its unique capacity to spearhead efforts towards integration, adaptation, and cooperation.
Strengthening Ties with India
Indian journalist Chandrakala Chaudhary from Republic Media emphasised the strategic significance of UAE’s participation in the summit, particularly given the strong partnership between India and the UAE. She described the UAE’s presence in BRICS in New Delhi as a golden opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation, predicting a renewed momentum in strategic and commercial collaboration. Chaudhary pointed out that the UAE has established itself as a reliable partner for India and that this international platform will provide a substantial boost to trade and investment relations, fostering closer ties between peoples.
Pioneering Investment and Innovation
Ahmad Jamal, an expert in artificial intelligence and knowledge transfer also attending the summit, asserted that the UAE adds substantial value to the summit’s discussions. He cited the nation’s pioneering investment experience and its unlimited openness to various economic and technological fields as key advantages. According to Jamal, the UAE has proactively established an advanced investment ecosystem that spans various sectors, with an exceptional focus on technology and artificial intelligence, making it an inspiring global model. He contended that the UAE plays a crucial role in building knowledge-based bridges among BRICS nations, especially regarding artificial intelligence, which is a primary focus of the summit.
Global Economic Influence of BRICS
The growing respect for BRICS in the international economic landscape is underscored by its member countries accounting for half of the world’s population and nearly 40% of global GDP. With over 25% of international trade, the collective GDP of BRICS nations has notably surged, expanding 4.5 times in recent years, significantly outpacing the global GDP growth rate of 2.5 times. This momentum exemplifies the rising economic weight of the group.
A Hub for Innovation
Today, BRICS stands as a global innovation hub, buoyed by rapid advancements in technology, digital economies, and supply chains, exemplified by the recent business forum in India, which marked one of the largest gatherings in BRICS history. The notable presence of the UAE at the summit, accompanied by its international resonance, illustrates the UAE’s growing status as a vital artery linking global markets with the economies of BRICS nations, embodying a solid strategic approach based on partnership, openness, and mutually beneficial outcomes.