BRICS 2018 skills challenge launches

Published 24 July 2018, by Kgaogelo Letsebe

The b council of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economic bloc has launched the BRICS 2018 Skills Challenge.

Open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 35, the challenge will focus on ‘skills of the future’.

It will see young innovators from member states compete in the areas of cyber security, data , , industrial robotics, 3D printing, drone technology, and other future skills in the engineering, digital manufacturing and transport sectors.

The competition, which will be held between 28 September and 8 October in Johannesburg, will use a similar format to that of World Skills, where competitors are given specific tasks and deadlines in which to complete them. Competitors will then be judged by panels of experts from the five countries.

The challenge was first launched in 2017 by the BRICS business council skills development working group in China.

 

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More than 1 000 delegates expected to attend 10th #BRICS Summit

Published 24 July 2018, by Mel Frykberg

Johannesburg – More than 1 000 delegates including heads of state and business leaders will gather at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Wednesday for 10th BRICS Summit which concludes on Friday.

The meeting will look at opportunities for partnerships between African and Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) companies, as well as ways to develop concrete measures to address the deficiencies within productive sectors.

South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, Deputy Minister Bulelani Magwanishe and the Chairperson of the Brics Business Council, Dr Iqbal Survé, will deliver speeches at the opening session of the forum starting from 9 am.

Their address will be followed by four thematic sessions that cover various topics.

The ministers of trade, commerce, industry, economic development and external relations of the five Brics countries will all be panellists in the session where the role of BRICS in trade and investment facilitation amidst a changing global political economy will be discussed.

According to Davies the delegates, who comprise of captains of industry, heads of state-owned entities and government leaders will deliberate on strategic economic matters affecting the future of BRICS.

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Dr Survé sets stage for BRICS in Joburg

Published 24 July 2018, by Given Majola 

DURBAN – The BRICS Business Council’s annual report will be submitted to the BRICS heads of state on Thursday during the 10th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg from tomorrow.

BRICS Business Council chairperson Dr Iqbal Survé announced this at the council’s plenary session, following the signing of the report reviewing the programme of work during the preceding period and the recommendations made by the chairpersons of the council’s chapters, at the sixth BRICS Business Council annual meeting held in Durban on Sunday and yesterday.

The meeting was attended by more than 400 representatives from the business communities of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as representatives from strategic partners such as the New Development Bank (NDB).

Chinese chapter chairperson Captain Xu Lirong said the focus areas for the council would include the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding with the NDB and substantive co-operation in the working groups, especially on regional aviation and the digital economy, and the alleviation of administrative barriers to trade and investment.

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BRICS building business ties

Published 24 July 2018, by Kuben Chetty

HE BRICS Business Council conference, which concluded in Durban yesterday, was a major boost for businesses in the province and the country, KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala said.

“The issues discussed are interesting because you can see the joint efforts of the countries that make up BRICS. There are issues and proposals we need to follow up on as some now want to establish businesses.”

Zikalala said the proposal of a youth summit being aligned to the broader BRICS summit was a fascinating development for the continent.

It is estimated that by 2050, Africa will be home to 1.25billion people under the age of 25. The continent’s youth population will be 10 times that of Europe. “The youth summit and the issues proposed for follow-ups are crucial. It is important that young people are considered for employment but also are considered for business ownership.”

Zikalala said the BRICS New Development Bank was already making an impact with investment in some projects.

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6th BRICS Business Council meeting celebrates achievements

Published 23 July 2018, by a staff reporter

DURBAN – The 6th BRICS Business Council Annual Meeting was held in Durban, South Africa on 22 and 23 July 2018.

The meeting was attended by over 400 representatives from the business communities of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as representatives from strategic partners such as the New Development Bank.  As the principal meeting of the business community within BRICS, the holding of an Annual Meeting, is one of the key annual deliverables of the BRICS Business Council.

During its deliberations, the BRICS Business Council recognised the achievements and progress the Council had made over the past year and analysed the opportunities and challenges facing the emerging economies. The five BRICS countries reinforced their ongoing commitment and agreed on the importance of ensuring greater economic, trade and investment ties amongst the BRICS countries.

 The Annual Meeting was presided over by Dr Iqbal Survé, Chairman of the BRICS Business Council and founder and Chairman of the Sekunjalo Group. Mr. Paulo Cesar De Souza e Silva, Chairman of the Brazilian Chapter and Chairman of EMBRAER, Mr. Sergey Katyrin, Chairman of the Russian Chapter and Chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Mr. Onkar Kanwar, Chairman of the Indian Chapter and Managing Director of Apollo Tyres Ltd., Captain Xu Lirong, Chairman of the Chinese Chapter and Chairman of China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Ltd, were present at the meeting.

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BRICS Media: Creating new pathways to share content

Published 23 July 2018, by Adri Senekal De Wet   

CAPE TOWN – The 2018 BRICS Media Forum, a high-level dialogue among BRICS media organisations, was held in Cape Town last week.

The forum was attended by leaders of 38 mainstream media organisations from BRICS countries as well as some African countries, including Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda and Ghana, inclusive of news agencies, newspapers, radio, television broadcasters and digital media.

Dr Iqbal Survé, chairperson of the SA chapter of the BRICS Business Council and executive chairperson of Independent Media, presented the BRICS Media Forum Action Plan.

“Under the theme ‘BRICS Media Co-operation – Fostering an Inclusive, Just World Order’, we reached consensus after in-depth exchanges were held on:

* Strengthening the BRICS narrative and the responsible role of the media.

* Imagining a shared global future forged by constructive and development journalism and seeking ways to enhance co-operation.

* BRICS Media and Africa.

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BRICS ready to move South Africa forward

Published 22 July 2018, by Dhivana Rajgopaul 

DURBAN – The BRICS Business Council hosted a Welcome Gala Dinner at the Durban ICC on Sunday evening.

Present at the event were the BRICS Business Council representatives from the different countries as well as the Chairman of BRICS Business Council Dr Iqbal Survé.
Representing KwaZulu-Natal government was the Acting Premier of the province and the MEC for Economic Development Sihle Zikalala as well as the Deputy Mayor of Durban Fawzia Peer and the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works.
MEC for Finance for Belinda Scott who was also at the event welcomed the BRICS Business Council representatives. She said It is a great honour to host the BRICS Business Council and we welcome you to our province and country”.
Scott added that the gathering of BRICS is getting bigger that makes us hopeful of more opportunities.
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#BRICS2018: Business and government must unite

Published 22 July 2018, Lee Rondganger   

Durban – South Africa will be on a winning wicket if business leaders and government unite behind political stability and sound governance, Dr  Iqbal Survé, chairperson of the BRICS Business Council said on Sunday.

Addressing hundreds of delegates attending a session on Investment Opportunities in South Africa at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Dr Survé implored business leaders to rally behind President Ramaphosa’s aim of attracting $100bn in investment for South Africa.

Noting that president Ramaphosa was already able to secure $20bn in investment from the Middle East, he called it a silver lining on the new dawn for South Africa.

“As business leaders, we must affirm and support his inspirational leadership.  South Africa’s entire history from political struggle and democratic consolidation has been about working as a collective,” Dr Survé said.

“That unity of purpose, political stability, sound governance fundamentals and reciprocal support from government to business will make South Africa an even more incredible success story. Add to that mix the enormous political, economic and financial muscle that we are able to mobilise through BRICS and it has to be a winning wicket,” he said.

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Young people are the key to BRICS states success – Manamela

Published 21 July 2018, by a staff reporter

DURBAN – The KwaZulu-Natal leg of the BRICS Business Council kicked off at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban on Saturday evening.

Present at the event was the MEC of Human Settlements Ravi Pillay, the Chairman of the BRICS Business Council Dr Iqbal Survé and the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela. 
 
The BRICS Business Council Skills Challenge was launched at the first event of the BRICS Business Council in Durban. 
 
Chairman of the BRICS Business Council Dr. Iqbal Survé spoke on the importance of training young people in South Africa. He said that young people are gold and they need to be trained in various skills in order to work in the different sectors.
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BRICS business event a showcase for KZN

Published 19 July 2018, by Bheki Mbanjwa   

Durban – The upcoming BRICS Business Council meeting to be held in Durban on Sunday and Monday will not only be used to showcase the province to potential investors, but will also be a platform through which local businesses can interact with their counterparts from other BRICS countries.

The MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, said the council meeting offered vast opportunities for local businesses to interact with BRICS business council members through various platforms created by the provincial government.

“We have created platforms for our local businesses to interact with business council members. The networking gala dinner to be co-hosted by the premier is one such platform. Also, we encourage our businesses to engage in one-on-one meetings with relevant BRICS companies during their stay in Durban,” said Zikalala.

The 25-member BRICS Business Council, chaired by Sekunjalo chairman Dr Iqbal Survé, meets in Durban ahead of the BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg later this month.

Zikalala said the country’s participation in BRICS had increased its profile globally, and has also boosted the tourism sector, with more visitors from BRICS countries visiting our shores.

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