Mauritius, Johannesburg: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius, Alan Ganoo, addressed the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue yesterday, August 23, 2023, in Johannesburg.
As per the sources, the Country Head of Diplomacy represents Mauritius at this conference, replacing the Country’s Prime Minister, Pravind Jagnauth.
This conference is being held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. It aims to promote the political and economic rapproche between the bloc and Africa as well as emerging and developing countries.
The conference theme is: BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has greeted the President of South Africa, M. Cyril Ramaphosa, for the initiative to engage the African continent in this dialogue on a new world order carried out by multilateralism that wants to be more inclusive.
“BRICS’ presence alongside Africa is a game-changer.” This will undeniably contribute to a developing environment conducive to Africa, based on a fair and equitable governance system,” Minister Alan Ganoo emphasised.
The consultation between Africa and the BRICS bloc on issues of vital importance to developing countries, the Minister says, has dealt with sustainable development, development financing, climate change, peace and security and the need for a multilateral, rule-based system and the vulnerability of small developing island states, of which Mauritius is part of.
In terms of economic growth, African countries can rely on rapprochement with the BRICS bloc to aspire for new opportunities in terms of access to larger markets and investment, technology transfer and cooperation.
“The BRICS can also deploy finance for development, once the monopoly of advanced countries,” the Minister said.
According to him, BRICS opens the way to a multipolar world and the possibility of reforming the rules of international governance structures to meet our populations’ aspirations better.
“Our food security, energy security, and even the security of our peoples are often the first victims of global turmoil.” “We will have to step up our collaboration with the BRICS so that we can influence major political and economic decisions that affect our well-being and our shared future,” said the Foreign Affairs Minister.