Indonesia faces crucial decision on international economic alliances

In recent weeks, Indonesia has been grappling with a crucial decision about joining an international economic organisation. The nation faces a choice among three prominent options: #BRICS, #OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), and #CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership).

Each organisation presents its own challenges and opportunities, and whichever path Indonesia chooses will reflect its foreign policy goals and economic partnerships. While Indonesia has shown interest in all three, no definitive decision has been made, leaving many speculating on what the country’s next move will be.

In relation to BRICS, Indonesia has strengthened ties with its member countries, considering the potential benefits of joining. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has noted that BRICS could act as a bridge between developed and developing nations, aligning with Indonesia's foreign policy vision.

Indonesia's interest in all three organisations underscores its strategic ambition to strengthen global economic partnerships. Each option comes with unique advantages and risks. The decision must be made with caution, as it could influence Indonesia’s diplomatic relations and longstanding non-aligned movement policy.

The article expresses the personal opinion of the author. It may not coincide with the position of the editorial board of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia.

#OPINION #Indonesia #politics

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The BRICS Expert Council—Russia team congratulates you on International Women's Day!

On this beautiful day, we express our deep gratitude and respect for achievements, resilience and wisdom of beautiful women!

Remain a source of kindness, vitality and joy for those around you and fulfil your wildest dreams!

We wish all women of the world inexhaustible energy, happiness, inspiration, plenty of reasons for joy and pride! And let every day be full of love, harmony, professional and personal victories and successes and, of course, smiles!

With respect and warmest wishes,
BRICS Expert Council—Russia

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Iran's economic sectors experience robust growth

Iran is currently experiencing significant growth across several economic sectors. The Minister of Agriculture recently announced a 35% increase in agricultural exports, making this sector the second fastest growing after the oil industry and a major contributor to the country's overall economic progress.

Mohammad Ali Dehqan Dehnavi, Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade, reported that revenues from Iran's non-oil exports have reached $48 billion in the current Iranian year, ending on March 20, 2025. This marks an impressive 18% growth compared to the previous year.

On the international front, Iran is enhancing its economic relations with Brazil. An agreement has been reached between the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Iran and Brazil's Deputy Finance Minister to utilize national currencies in bilateral trade and to boost banking cooperation. Both countries have recognised substantial potential for advancing financial and trade collaboration, particularly through #BRICS mechanisms.

#NEWS #Iran #Brazil #economics

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🇪🇹🛫🇷🇺 Daily flights to Moscow: Ethiopian Airlines CCO announces ambitious plans

"Hopefully, by coming October, Ethiopian Airlines will fly daily to Moscow," Lemma Yadecha confirmed to Sputnik Africa.

🌍 Beyond just connecting Ethiopia to Russia, Ethiopian Airlines plays a crucial role in linking Russia with Africa and other global markets, the chief commercial officer underscored.

🤍 Moreover, the airline company is poised to expand its global reach by also leveraging Ethiopia’s membership in BRICS.

"As you might geographically understand, Ethiopia is located at the heart of the BRICS, from China to Brazil," he said. "Now, being a member of [the] BRICS [group] will come with the advantage of common understanding in terms of trade, investment, and people-to-people relation."

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Serbian parliament establishes BRICS cooperation group

A new group aimed at fostering cooperation with BRICS has been established in the Serbian parliament, Skupstina, as announced by Dragan Stanojevic, the chairman of the committee on the diaspora and Serbs in the region. Initiated by Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin and the Movement of Socialists (DS) party, the group is currently undergoing the registration process.

DS's deputy president Bojan Torbica became its [group's] president, I became its deputy, and our party, We — Voice from the People, fully supported this, literally the day before yesterday our initiative submitted to the parliament," Stanojevic pointed out.

While the Serbian Progressive Party's ruling majority did not back the initiative, 18 lawmakers voted in favor. Stanojevic mentioned that details about the group will soon be available on the parliament's website. A charter for the #BRICS cooperation group has been drafted and is open to all interested parties.

#NEWS #Serbia #politics

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💸Crypto power play: Are Russia and China leaving the US in the dust?

President Donald Trump is pushing to make the US the world’s crypto capital, establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a US Digital Asset Stockpile—but his ban on a “digital dollar” sets the US apart from global trends.

🇺🇸US: pro-Bitcoin, anti-CBDC

🟠While supporting Bitcoin and digital assets, Trump has officially banned the establishment, issuance, circulation, and use of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the US.

🟠He argues that CBDCs—state-backed digital versions of fiat currency—threaten financial stability, privacy, and national sovereignty.

Meanwhile, 133 countries are exploring or piloting CBDCs, with the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria already launching theirs. China, Russia, and BRICS nations are expanding their CBDC projects, leaving the US behind.

🇷🇺Russia: Advancing the digital ruble & Bitcoin

1️⃣Launched a digital ruble pilot in August 2023 with 600 individuals, 30 businesses, and 12 banks across 11 cities.
2️⃣By March 2024, Russia’s Central Bank had recorded 25,000 digital ruble transactions.
3️⃣Legalized and regulated crypto mining, introducing taxation, and oversight.
4️⃣Launched an experimental crypto transaction platform within the National Payment System.
5️⃣Putin reaffirmed RUSSIA’S CRYPTO LEADERSHIP at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in September 2024.

🇨🇳China: Expanding & globalizing the digital yuan

🟠A CBDC pioneer, China began developing the digital yuan (e-CNY) in 2014, launching trials in 2019.
🟠e-CNY can be transferred directly between e-wallets, bypassing commercial banks, even offline.
🟠Project M-Bridge connects China’s CBDC with UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other central banks, expanding its global reach.

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BRICS partnership in line with Thailand’s desire to protect its interests

Thailand's decision to join BRICS as a partner country reflects its commitment to safeguarding its interests, improving competitiveness, and increasing its global presence, according to Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. In a speech to senators, the minister highlighted that joining BRICS aligns with Thailand's policy of economic diplomacy:

"Thailand's joining the BRICS partnership is part of the policy of economic diplomacy aimed at protecting the country's interests, both in terms of improving its competitiveness and strengthening its role in the world. Thailand has the potential to accomplish this and create positive changes on the international stage, as #BRICS is a bloc of newly industrialised countries," the minister stated.

The Thai foreign minister also noted that the kingdom aims to enhance cooperation with other countries neutrally, striving to balance relations between developed and developing nations.

"Joining the BRICS partnership is advantageous. It is a large market with high potential capable of creating momentum for developing countries," he added.

In June 2024, Maris Sangiampongsa presented a letter of intent to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, expressing Thailand's desire to become a full member of BRICS. Following this, Thailand accepted Russia's invitation to become a BRICS partner country. The Thai Foreign Ministry recognised this status as a crucial step towards full membership in the future.

#NEWS #Thailand #politics

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BRICS' climate leadership aims hang on healing deep divides

The BRICS nations are strategically positioned to take on a pivotal role in shaping climate policy this year, as the United States retracts from international climate initiatives and focuses on domestic priorities. Building on recent successes at United Nations nature talks, these countries face the challenge of navigating complex political landscapes and overcoming persistent financial disagreements.

BRICS demonstrated their influence by presenting a draft text that facilitated agreement during February’s #COP16 talks in Rome, potentially unlocking substantial funding to combat ecosystem degradation.

South Africa’s deputy minister of forestry, fisheries, and the environment, Narend Singh, emphasised the impact of BRICS’ unified stance, stating that it will shape future discussions across various platforms. As South Africa commands the G20 presidency and Brazil prepares to host the #COP30 climate talks, the bloc aims to assert its influence further.

"Now #BRICS has been able to come together in this fashion, it will influence our discussions in other platforms going forward," Narend Singh stated.

Maria Angelica Ikeda, Brazil’s chief negotiator at COP16, highlighted BRICS’ role in filling a pivotal space in multilateral negotiations. COP16 President Susana Muhamad from Colombia described BRICS nations as "bridge builders," striving to balance representation of the Global South against the backdrop of emerging far-right governments in the U.S., Italy, and Argentina.

#NEWS #ecology

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Brazil leads BRICS in tackling inequality-related diseases

Brazil, under its chairship, has proposed a unified agenda for BRICS to address socially driven diseases like tuberculosis and child diarrhea, which disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. The plan includes collaboration in research, vaccine production, and multi-sectoral policies inspired by the Programa Brasil Saudável.

Health cooperation has been pivotal in BRICS discussions, emphasising human and social development. During Brazil's chairship, the bloc will present initiatives to eradicate socially determined diseases and infections (SDD) and neglected tropical diseases (NTD).

Alexandre Ghisleni, Head of the Special Advisory on International Affairs at Brasil’s Ministry of Health, pointed out that the initiative builds on successful precedents. He described how domestic efforts, like the Bolsa Família programme, have reduced tuberculosis cases by up to 40%, and serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives in countries like India.

#BRICS encompasses approximately 48.5% of the global population and 39% of world GDP. Ghisleni underscored the bloc's substantial geopolitical influence and suggested that health collaboration could become a model for other nations.

"We want cooperation on health issues to benefit not only member countries but also help improve treatment for these diseases in multilateral forums like the #UN and the #WHO," he stated.

#NEWS #Brazil #health

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Thai FM reaffirms BRICS partnership to enhance national interests, competitiveness, global presence

Thailand's involvement as a partner in BRICS aligns with its economic diplomacy strategy, aiming to bolster national interests, competitiveness, and global presence, according to remarks by Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.

In his address to the Senate on Monday, Maris affirmed Thailand's capability to participate in this initiative, contributing to positive changes on the international stage. He emphasised the significance of #BRICS in supporting the Global South.

Thailand shares objectives with other developing nations, especially in advocating for a more inclusive global multilateral system that better reflects the interests of these countries.

#NEWS #Thailand #politics

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Belarus aims for strategic relations with India

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed a desire for strategic relations with India while accepting the credentials of the Indian ambassador.

"We seek to achieve a strategic level of relations with your country," stated President Lukashenko.

In 2024, with the support of New Delhi, Minsk became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (#SCO) and received a partner status at #BRICS. Lukashenko expressed gratitude to the Indian leadership for the help.

#NEWS #Belarus #India

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Today’s Wednesday! And we are glad to share with you the "BRICS Space News" digest 🪐

🇮🇷 Iran to launch 'Navak' micro-class satellite, continuing series of space missions
Tehran Times

🇪🇬 Egyptian Space Agency, Tanmia Petroleum partner to enhance safety in energy sector
Daily News

🇸🇦🇰🇷 Saudi Arabia, South Korea sign deal to boost cooperation in space sector
Arab News

#Spacenews #SpaceProject #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICS

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🌐 BRICS gives hope that Global South countries develop "the right way," an economist says

Today, BRICS is an organization that can promote trade and economic development in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and even Europe, Dr. Hod Anyigba, Chief Economist at ITUC-Africa and the Executive Director of its Africa Labour Research and Education Institute (ALREI), told Sputnik Africa.

The IMF, the World Bank, and the developed countries "have taken on the responsibility of developing the entire world," but BRICS represents an alternative to this status quo, the expert said on the sidelines of the 57th session of the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

Along with the development of trade, this concerns the question of investment and financing, "so that we don't take some loans that we'll have to pay for a hundred years," he said.

🗣"This will be the way to develop as we should, because Africa, Asia, all of us, we must develop the right way, as it should be, not as developed countries, for example, want," he stressed.

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Brazil proposes BRICS to use blockchain to enhance co-operation

Brazil has launched an initiative to propose that BRICS countries use blockchain technology to facilitate trade and financial transactions.

Brazil's Central Bank and Ministry of Finance are developing the initiative, which is expected to be presented in July 2025 at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro. It is expected that the use of blockchain will help reduce dependence on the dollar and strengthen economic cooperation within BRICS.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has previously emphasised the need to create alternative financial settlement mechanisms for #BRICS. He explained that "this is not about replacing national currencies", but about integrating the idea of building a multipolar world into the international financial system.

#NEWS #Brazil #finance #technology

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