STORY: Indian businessman benefits from BRICS cooperation
DATELINE: Aug. 26, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:47
LOCATION: XIAMEN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Niren Anand working at his store
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NIREN ANAND, Indian businessman
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NIREN ANAND, Indian businessman
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): NIREN ANAND, Indian businessman

STORYLINE:

Indian businessman Niren Anand established his own company in southeast China's Xiamen in 2011, focusing on designing, manufacturing and exporting shoes.

During the BRICS summit in Xiamen in 2017, Anand joined a business forum. He said he has benefited a lot from BRICS cooperation.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NIREN ANAND, Indian businessman
"After the 2017 BRICS, everybody was almost aware of Xiamen. So it's easier for us to connect with the people and say we are staying in the city which held a big summit in 2017. And that also created a lot of experiences and a lot of opportunities for us."

Over the years, Anand's company went from two workers to more than 200 in China. Its shoes brought in over 8 million U.S. dollars in sales revenue last year.

Speaking of "BRICS Plus" cooperation, Anand believes this is a huge opportunity.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NIREN ANAND, Indian businessman
"We need to have more innovation, even in our business. So here, 'BRICS Plus' can bring some more countries in, some more entrepreneurs, and some more business communities to get more connected."

Official data show that in the first seven months of 2023, trade volume between Xiamen and the four other BRICS countries reached about 48.35 billion yuan (about 6.63 billion U.S. dollars), up 33.1 percent year on year.

Anand said his company is also focusing on China's huge local market and using internet platforms to promote sales.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): NIREN ANAND, Indian businessman
"I have personally full confidence in China's economy. I can see a lot of innovations are coming. Instead of just putting in the same old way, we have to work in a new way, the way China is working. So we use this opportunity to make our business better and more prosperous."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xiamen, China.
(XHTV)