President Jokowi: Indonesia Still Reviews Prospects for BRICS Membership
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev)
Indonesia is currently in the process of reviewing and considering the country’s possibility of joining the BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
“We intend to conduct a thorough study and calculation. We do not want to make any hasty decision,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said in his statement after attending the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, Thursday (08/24).
According to the President, Indonesia’s relations with BRICS member countries are flourishing, particularly in the economic sector.
“Our relations with the five BRICS member countries are also incredible, especially on economic cooperation,” he said, adding that submitting an expression of interest is a crucial step towards becoming a new BRICS member.
“To become a new member of the BRICS group, a country must submit a letter of expression. Until now, we have not submitted that,” the President remarked.
BRICS is a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa formed by the 2010 addition of South Africa to the predecessor BRIC. The BRICS have a combined area of 39,746,220 km2 (15,346,100 sq mi) and an estimated total population of about 3.21 billion, or about 26.7% of the world’s land surface and 41.5% of the global population. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (RIF/EP)
