South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that the country has received substantial funding of $5.27 billion from the newly established BRICS Development Bank.
The funds are intended to bolster the construction of roads, enhance water and energy supplies, and promote overall infrastructure development.
In his address to the nation ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled to be held in Johannesburg from 22-24 August, Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment relations with fellow BRICS nations.
He emphasized collaborative efforts in areas such as technology, security, and innovation.
Leaders from Russia, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa are expected to attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin is anticipated to participate via video conferencing, underlining the digital dimension of the event.
Leslie Masdorp, the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of the bank, stated: “The bank aims to establish a more significant foothold in the domestic capital markets of member states to finance its robust portfolio of local currency loans.”
She further noted that the acquired funds would be directed toward financing stable infrastructure and development projects within South Africa. This initiative is expected to serve as a precursor to the bank’s future ventures and endeavors.
The successful reception of the substantial funding from the BRICS Development Bank demonstrates South Africa’s commitment to advancing its national infrastructure and development agenda.
As the nation continues to collaborate with BRICS partners and leverage such financial injections, the anticipated outcomes hold the potential to shape the trajectory of future projects spearheaded by the bank.
The upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg serves as a testament to the collective efforts of member nations in fostering cooperation and development across various sectors.