IFA holds BRICS-Plus Academic Forum in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) has convened the BRICS Academic Forum in Addis Ababa, bringing together Ethiopian Think Tanks, academics, and research institutions alongside a delegation from the BRICS Expert Council – Russia. The forum aims to foster collaboration among BRICS member nations and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation.

Executive Director of IFA, Jafar Bedru, and the Head of the BRICS Expert Council – Russia, along with Vice Rector of HSE University, are among the distinguished participants at the event held in Addis Ababa.

During the forum, Jafar Bedru emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to leveraging its BRICS membership to bolster its development agenda through inclusive partnerships. He highlighted Ethiopia’s endorsement of multilateralism and its active engagement in global governance reform initiatives to ensure representation and responsiveness to the needs of developing nations. Bedru stressed the complementary role of BRICS plus countries in diversifying foreign relations, underscoring the importance of collaboration over competition in international politics.

Ethiopia’s membership is a sign of the country’s growing influence on the African geopolitical space, particularly as BRICS seeks attract growing economies with big population centers of the global south. Ethiopia is a potential beneficiary of the New Development Bank, established by BRICS. The bank has a total volume of $30 billion in loans approved to different countries so far.

Ethiopia, a seasoned participant in multilateral institutions, holds the distinction of being a founding member of the African Union, headquartered in Addis Ababa. Additionally, it stands as the first African state to secure representation at the United Nations. Despite recent challenges stemming from conflict and internal political unrest, the country’s growth trajectory remains promising. 

According to the IMF Ethiopia’s GDP to surged by 6.2% in 2023, positioning it among the world’s fastest-growing economies. As Ethiopia looks to the future, joining BRICS presents a unique avenue to bolster its influence across the African continent. Moreover, the nation is gearing up to pursue membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), signaling its commitment to deeper integration into the global economy.