As many as 19 countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS group of nations as they are prepare to hold an annual meeting in South Africa.
The BRICS, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, will meet in Cape Town on June 2 and 3 to discuss the expansion of the bloc, Indian business news website Mint reported.
“What will be discussed is the expansion of BRICS and the modalities of how this will happen. Thirteen countries have formally asked to join and another six have asked informally. We are getting applications to join every day," Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s ambassador to the group said, as reported by Bloomberg.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Argentina, the UAE, Algeria, Egypt, Bahrain, Indonesia, and others have expressed their desire to join BRICS.
The foreign ministers from the five member states have all confirmed that they will attend the discussions in June, where they will discuss the expansion of the BRICS and the modalities of how this will happen. The nations will also discuss Sudan apart from the regular affairs and membership, Sooklal added.
The BRICS, representing around one-fifth of the world’s economy, has emerged as a powerful new alternative to the West.
At present, the five members of BRICS contribute 16 percent to world trade and around 24 percent to global gross domestic product (GDP).