Sao Paulo, Brazil - Recent

As its influence expands, BRICS is giving a greater voice to countries in the Global South, said Brazilian analysts.

The New Development Bank (NDB) was set up by the BRICS and opened in 2015. It aims to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS, and other emerging market economies and developing countries.

Earlier this year, disaster struck southern Brazil as historic flooding destroyed entire cities. After the tragedy, reconstruction was essential, and the NDB, the BRICS Bank, joined the efforts, pledging more than one billion dollars.

Dilma Rousseff, Brazil's former president, who now serves as president of the NDB said in a video message that, the BRICS Bank has a commitment and will work on the reconstruction and recovery of the state's infrastructure. The bank wants to help people rebuild their lives, she said.

Roberto Dumas, an economics professor in Sao Paulo, said the bank plays an important role in the development of multilateralism from a Global South perspective.

Since the inception of the BRICS mechanism, openness and inclusiveness have remained its members' abiding commitment. During its summit in August last year in Johannesburg, BRICS nations announced their decision to expand beyond the five founding members - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
 
Other than the countries that became new full members on Jan 1, 2024, over 30 countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey and Azerbaijan have either formally applied for or expressed interest in membership.

Developing nations have made it clear they want to amplify their voices on the global stage, and BRICS leaders seem to believe their group may help rebalance international relations.

Shotlist:
Sao Paulo, Brazil - Recent:
FILE: Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil - May 2024
1. Aerial shots of flooded buildings;
2. Flooded house;
FILE: Shanghai, China - Sept 28, 2021
3. Aerial shot of building of New Development Bank (NDB) headquarters;
4. Various of NDB logo, flags;
Sao Paulo, Brazil - Recent
5. SOUNDBITE (Enlish) Roberto Dumas, economics professor:
"All the institutions that come along with BRICS, such as the New Development Bank, is a kind of organizations from the Global South that want to take a place on the new chessboard.";
Kazan, Russia - Recent
6. Various of banners of 16th BRICS Summit, buildings, pedestrians;
FILE: Santos, Brazil - March 2024
7. Various of port scenes;
Sao Paulo, Brazil - Recent
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jose Freire, researcher, BRICS Study Group University of Sao Paulo:
"We have many leaders of countries that are leaders in their regions and the Global South or the developing world. They need leadership. They need countries to go ahead and speak in their names in multilateral forums.";
Kazan, Russia - Recent
9. Various of banner of 16th BRICS Summit, pedestrians.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]