Dr. Victoria Panova, the head of the BRICS Expert Council of Russia and a key organiser of the upcoming BRICS-Civil event scheduled to take place in Moscow from July 3-4, has announced that nationally oriented NGOs will take center stage during the conference.
Addressing the media, Dr. Panova emphasised that BRICS aims to foster fair and equitable development, focusing on sovereign economic and financial growth, information security, digital advancement, public health, human well-being, heritage preservation, ecology, and energy transition. She highlighted the importance of creating a digital payment mechanism to facilitate trade among BRICS member states, free from the threat of unilateral sanctions.
Dr. Panova also discussed the challenges Russia has encountered due to sanctions, asserting that the country has emerged stronger despite Western pressures, particularly following the Ukraine crisis.
Regarding BRICS’ expansion of its membership, which now includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Argentina since the Johannesburg summit in August 2023, Dr. Panova noted that this move refutes critics’ skepticism about the organisation.
Looking ahead to the BRICS summit in Moscow later in the year, Dr. Panova outlined plans for two key documents: one containing recommendations for leaders and the other representing an address from the BRICS people to future summits. She stressed the importance of resisting monopolistic and hegemonic tendencies, advocating for the depoliticisation of technology and energy to ensure they benefit society without harming vulnerable groups.
In essence, BRICS-Civil 2024 aims to prioritise the welfare of all citizens, ensuring that technological and energy initiatives serve the common good and do not exacerbate social inequalities.
