India
Source: www.pib.gov.in

The 16th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) concluded today in Chennai after two days of deliberations, paving the way for the 14th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting on August 21, 2026. The 14th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting will be chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh.

The meeting was organised as part of India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The SOM, coordinated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) as a nodal department and hosted by IIT Madras, brought together senior officials and representatives of BRICS member countries. The proceedings were chaired by Dr. Praveenkumar Somasundaram, Head, International Cooperation, DST, with Dr. Arindam Bhattacharyya, BRICS-STI Nodal, DST, presenting updates on BRICS STI activities.

The two-day (August 19-20, 2026) deliberations covered the progress of BRICS STI Working Groups, priority areas and proposals of member countries, review of STI priorities, the BRICS STI Framework Programme and upcoming initiatives including the BRICS Young Scientist Forum and Young Innovator’s Prize.

India
Source: www.indiagazette.com

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 22 (ANI): India has called for deeper cooperation among BRICS countries in frontier technologies, innovation financing and talent mobility to build a future-ready science and technology ecosystem focused on accessible, affordable and sustainable innovation.

Addressing the 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting in Chennai, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said stronger international collaboration was needed as emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced materials, biotechnology, photonics, geospatial technologies and high-performance computing reshape economies and societies.

'Science, technology and innovation must serve humanity by enhancing resilience, driving inclusive growth, promoting sustainable development and fostering equitable partnerships among nations,' Singh said.

He said BRICS, with its large population, scientific talent and expanding research capabilities, was well placed to build a cooperative and responsible innovation ecosystem.

During India's BRICS Presidency in 2026, the country has chosen 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' as the theme, reflecting its focus on using science and technology to address global challenges while supporting inclusive growth.

Singh said BRICS STI cooperation had evolved into a platform covering research collaboration, innovation partnerships, young scientist exchanges, research infrastructure and thematic working groups.

During India's presidency, a comprehensive review of BRICS STI priorities is being undertaken to align cooperation with emerging scientific and technological areas and the developmental needs of member countries, he said.

Singh further invited BRICS partners to identify practical areas for greater cooperation in frontier research, innovation financing, talent mobility, research infrastructure sharing, startup partnerships and capacity building.

He said such cooperation could help create a future-ready BRICS STI framework that responds to global challenges and supports the aspirations of the Global South.

Singh also highlighted India's initiatives including the National Quantum Mission, National Supercomputing Mission, BioE3 Policy, National Geospatial Policy and Digital Public Infrastructure ecosystem, saying these reflected an approach in which innovation improves people's lives, strengthens
resilience and supports sustainable economic transformation.

The Minister said emerging technologies are creating significant opportunities but also require innovation to remain 'accessible, affordable, trusted and sustainable'.

He expressed confidence that the deliberations in Chennai would strengthen BRICS cooperation and contribute to a more innovative, resilient and sustainable future. (ANI)

India
Source: www.pib.gov.in

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse lead Indian delegation at BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting

Youth Ministers from BRICS nations adopt Joint Statement on strengthening youth cooperation and participation in development

Meeting builds on outcomes of BRICS Youth Summit and BRICS Youth Council Meeting held in Gandhinagar

Delegates participate in 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation drive, visit historic Totlakonda Buddhist Monastery

The BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting, organised by the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, successfully concluded in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

The meeting was presided over by Hon’ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, alongside Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, and Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Sh. Sunil Paliwal.

The discussions at the Ministers’ Meeting built upon the outcomes of the BRICS Youth Summit and BRICS Youth Council Meeting. The recommendations and perspectives emerging from these engagements provided an important foundation for the Ministerial discussions.

Addressing the delegates, Hon’ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, we have made a vision document for 2047, when India completes 100 years of Independence. The Prime Minister has given a clarion call to develop 100,000 young leaders with no political background, to lead the country towards the realisation of this vision.

“We have, therefore, launched several initiatives in this spirit. We have established MY Bharat as a one-stop platform for volunteering, learning, leadership and civic engagement. Today, over 25 million youth have registered and are actively participating on this platform,” said Dr. Mandaviya.

The engagements brought together youth representatives, young leaders, policymakers and senior officials from BRICS member and partner countries, providing platforms for dialogue, exchange of experiences and collaborative action on issues of importance to young people.

The Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports further highlighted the necessity to partner with the youth to shape a better future. He said, “During India's BRICS Chairship our approach has been clear that young people must be recognised not merely as beneficiaries, but as active partners in shaping our shared future. Let us move from youth participation to youth partnership; from consultation to co-creation; from programmes for youth to platforms built with youth. Together, let us continue building a BRICS where young people are not merely preparing for the future- they are actively shaping it.”

As part of the sidelines of the BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting, delegates from BRICS member countries participated in a special plantation drive titled 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', wherein each delegate planted a sapling in honour of their respective mothers. The gesture was widely appreciated by the visiting delegations as a symbolic and heartfelt expression of gratitude.

The delegates also visited the historic Totlakonda Buddhist Monastery, one of the significant heritage sites located near Visakhapatnam. The visit offered the delegates a valuable insight into India's rich civilisational heritage and its long-standing traditions of peace, harmony and cultural exchange. The excursion was well received by the visiting dignitaries and provided an enriching cultural dimension to the overall programme, further strengthening the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding among the youth of BRICS nations.

The BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting marked the culmination of the youth engagements, following the BRICS Youth Summit and BRICS Youth Council Meeting held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on August 19-20, 2026. The Meeting brought together Ministers and senior officials responsible for youth affairs from BRICS member countries to review progress in youth cooperation, exchange policy perspectives, and discuss priorities for advancing the role of young people in sustainable and inclusive development.

A key outcome of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting was the adoption of the Joint Statement, reflecting the shared commitment of BRICS countries to strengthening youth cooperation and promoting meaningful youth participation in development processes. The Joint Statement highlights the importance of Education, Training and Skills; Youth Entrepreneurship; Science, Technology and Innovation; Social and Cultural Participation, Social Work and Volunteering; Development, Combating Poverty, Hunger and Inequalities; Health, Youth and Sports; Youth, Environment and Sustainability; Interfaith Youth Dialogue; Youth Exchange; and Youth Inclusion.

One of the key focus areas of discussion at the Ministers’ Meeting was the importance of creating enabling environments for young people to develop their capabilities, participate meaningfully in decision-making, and contribute to addressing contemporary youth-related issues. They also underscored the importance of strengthening youth-led initiatives, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities for cross-border collaboration amongst youth through exchange of experiences and contribution of ideas on issues of common interest.

The successful conclusion of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting, along with the adoption of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Joint Statement, marks an important milestone in advancing youth cooperation among BRICS countries.

The BRICS youth engagements have strengthened partnerships, fostered greater mutual understanding, and created avenues for continued cooperation among young people and institutions across BRICS.

Under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, the youth engagements have sought to strengthen youth cooperation with emphasis on exchange of best practices, national priorities and collaborative action, in alignment with the overarching theme of India’s BRICS Chairship for 2026, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

The BRICS Youth Summit, BRICS Youth Council Meeting and BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting were held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 as part of the BRICS Youth Calendar of Activities, with the successful convening of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on August 22, 2026.

As India’s BRICS Chairship progresses towards its conclusion, the outcomes of these engagements provide a strong foundation for continued collaboration and reaffirm the shared commitment of BRICS countries to harness the potential of youth in building a more resilient, innovative, inclusive and sustainable future.

On the sidelines of the BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of youth affairs and sports, with an emphasis on skill development, youth entrepreneurship, and digital platforms for youth engagement.

All parties explored avenues for deeper collaboration through exchange programmes, capacity-building initiatives, and institutional frameworks to further consolidate ties between India and the respective countries in the youth and sports domains.

India
Source: newsonair.gov.in

BRICS Legal Forum: CJI Surya Kant says timely justice strengthens global trust and economic growth
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said that a justice system that delivers timely decisions builds global trust, strengthens ease of doing business and makes a country more reliable for investment and economic growth. Addressing the 11th BRICS Legal Forum in New Delhi, Justice Surya Kant said that strong institutions, especially the justice delivery system, are the foundation of economic growth, providing trust, predictability and stability through a steadfast commitment to the rule of law.

The CJI reiterated that the rule of law is an edifice upon which civilisations construct their aspirations. He noted that India had moved from being among the bottom quarter of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings to the top 100. He emphasised that the speed and reliability with which courts deliver justice have a direct bearing on a country’s credibility before the global investment community.

The CJI highlighted the importance of judicial efficiency, timely contract enforcement and the rule of law in promoting economic growth and international investment. He also proposed the creation of a BRICS judicial fellowship and a shared jurisprudence repository to deepen cooperation among the judiciaries of member countries.

India
Source: www.pib.gov.in


Union Minsiter of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya calls for a BRICS Sporting Partnership that moves beyond declarations to create real platform for sports collaboration

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is transforming its sporting ecosystem, by creating opportunities from the playground to the podium,” Dr. Mandaviya

Visakhapatnam, August 23: The BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting 2026 concluded in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with the adoption by consensus of the BRICS Sports Joint Declaration, reaffirming the commitment of Member States to strengthen cooperation in sport through dialogue, mutual respect and inclusiveness.

Held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, the Meeting brought together Ministers and senior sports representatives from BRICS Member States to discuss cooperation priorities and sports development.

In his opening statement, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya called for building a BRICS Sporting Partnership that translates the shared vision of Member States into tangible sporting collaborations.

“We should build a BRICS Sporting Partnership that moves beyond declarations and creates real platforms for sports collaborations, whether it is athlete and coach exchanges, joint competitions or sports science knowledge sharing,” Dr. Mandaviya said.

Emphasising the role of sport in nation-building, Dr. Mandaviya said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is transforming its sporting ecosystem and creating opportunities from the playground to the podium.

The Union Minister highlighted India’s efforts to strengthen sports goods manufacturing, noting that the soon-to-be-launched scheme for promotion of Sports Goods Manufacturing Clusters will facilitate investment and promote domestic manufacturing for global markets.

“We invite global manufacturers, technology companies and investors to Make in India, Play in India and Grow with India,” he said.

Dr. Mandaviya also underlined India’s commitment to making sport more inclusive through para-sport promotion initiatives and new pathways for greater participation of women in sport.

Three Key Initiatives under India’s BRICS Chairship

During India’s Chairship, three priority initiatives have been advanced to deepen cooperation in sports:

BRICS Working Group on Sports Technology:

The Working Group will strengthen BRICS cooperation in sports science, athlete performance, governance, AI, digital transformation and innovation, with India contributing experts across key sporting domains.

BRICS Sports Manufacturing Conclave:

India’s proposal for a BRICS Sports Manufacturing Conclave received broad support, with Udaipur, Rajasthan, proposed as the host city for its inaugural edition in November 2026. The Conclave will focus on exchange of best practices, technology and innovation, quality standards, intra-BRICS trade and resilient supply chains, while bringing together manufacturers, exporters, investors, technology providers, SMEs, start-ups and research institutions.

BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026:

The Games, proposed to be hosted in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 12-13 October 2026, will provide a platform for BRICS countries to showcase and preserve their diverse traditional and indigenous sporting heritage. Conceived as a non-competitive and culturally focused initiative, the Games will promote cultural exchange, people-to-people ties and mutual understanding.

The Games will also facilitate voluntary athlete and practitioner engagement across participating countries, wherever appropriate and feasible. Common cultural sensitivity protocols and mutual respect frameworks will guide participation, recognising the cultural significance, customs and traditional knowledge systems associated with each sport.

BRICS Friendship Cycling Event

Ahead of the formal proceedings, participating Ministers and dignitaries joined the BRICS Friendship Cycling Event, organised as part of the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Visakhapatnam. Led by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Smt. Raksha Khadse, the event saw participation from Ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE, Iran and South Africa.

The event reflected the shared BRICS commitment to promoting fitness, healthy lifestyles and people-to-people connections through sport.

Delegations reaffirmed the role of sport in advancing youth development, inclusion, cultural exchange and international cooperation, while welcoming the progress achieved during India’s BRICS Chairship.

Dr. Mandaviya appreciated all participating countries for their continued commitment to strengthening cooperation in sports within the BRICS framework and expressed confidence that the partnership would translate into meaningful and sustained sporting collaboration among Member States.

The outcomes of the Meeting contribute to India’s BRICS Chairship theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

India
Source: indianexpress.com

Ahead of a possible visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to India for the summit of the BRICS leaders next month, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is travelling to Beijing Monday for Special Representative-level talks on the boundary issue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

The 25th round of SR-level talks will be held Tuesday. Both Doval and Wang are the designated SRs for the boundary talks mechanism which was established in 2003 to comprehensively address the longstanding boundary dispute between the two countries.

In the last week of June, Wang visited India for a meeting of the BRICS NSAs and met Doval on the sidelines. Wang, who is also China’s Foreign Minister, underlined it is “imperative” for India and China to respect each other’s “core interests” and take concrete actions to implement the “important consensus” reached by both sides.

The two countries have been moving to repair ties that plummeted after the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Since late 2024, both sides have taken steps to ease tensions.

After he met Wang in New Delhi last year, Doval said the India-China border had been “quiet” and there had been an “upward trend” in bilateral ties.

Earlier this month, responding to a question on reports of some tension along the LAC, the Ministry of External Affairs said the state of the border with China will reflect on the state of the “larger bilateral ties” and that maintenance of peace and tranquillity along the LAC is of “utmost importance”.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the MEA, also rejected China’s criticism of New Delhi identifying 27 places and features in Arunachal Pradesh by their standard names, maintaining that the state is an “inalienable and integral” part of India and nothing can change this “indisputable reality”.

This was reiterated at a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). “At this meeting, the two sides engaged in frank discussions and reviewed the situation along the LAC,” Jaiswal said.

On Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking on the situation with China, said: “I think we went through a particularly bad patch between the summer of 2020 and the autumn of 2024, and that was primarily an outcome of the situation in the border areas.”

“At the end of the day, peace and tranquility in the border areas is a prerequisite for good relations, and the state of the border, to a very large measure, naturally would determine the state of the relations. Having said that, I think naturally, if assuming things are stable and the needle is more cooperative, obviously, I mean we are both very big economies. In many ways, we are markets to each other. We are part of the supply chain. They industrialised much faster and much bigger and much earlier, largely because of many of the policies we advocate,” he said.

“The world is competitive. We must build up our strengths. We have to do business with the entire world. That includes China too, but it is important we deal with them confidently. We stand our ground, as we have stood on the border. We develop our strengths, which unfortunately from the 1960s for half a century, we did not do. We have to make up for the shortcomings and the mistakes of the past, and that is really what we are hoping to do. So I think a stronger, more self-reliant India, a more industrialised India, a more manufacturing India will be able to actually compete with China as it will with other major countries of the world,” he said.

Jaishankar said the government had “taken up” with China the problem of business visas being faced by Indian applicants.

India
Source: www.pib.gov.in

“Tourism connects people; it creates opportunities for communities and enables cultural exchange”: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting under India’s Chairship concluded in Jaipur today with the adoption of the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Communiqué 2026 (Jaipur Declaration), providing a framework for strengthening tourism cooperation among BRICS Member States.

The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. It marked the culmination of the BRICS Tourism Track under India’s Chairship in 2026, being taken forward under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The meeting saw participation from nine BRICS Member States. Ministerial participation included Mr. Gustavo Costa Feliciando, Minister of Tourism, Brazil; Mr. Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Iran; Ms. Patricia De Lille, Minister of Tourism, South Africa; and H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, United Arab Emirates, along with Heads of Delegation from China, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Russia. The Indian delegation included Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, and Shri Harikishore S., Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, among other officials.

The Jaipur Declaration reflects the work undertaken through the BRICS Tourism Working Group during India’s Chairship around four thematic priorities — Artificial Intelligence and Tourism; Sustainability and Responsible Tourism; Tourism Skilling and Capacity Building; and Tourism Exchanges and Seamless Travel Facilitation.

The Ministers’ Communique adopted by consensus by BRICS Tourism Ministers recognises the transformative potential of responsible, safe and human-centred Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies in tourism and supports cooperation in tourism planning, destination management, visitor services, multilingual communication and travel facilitation.

It further places emphasis on sustainable and community-centred tourism, protection of natural and cultural heritage, tourism investment and infrastructure, development and promotion of diverse tourism products, continuous skilling and upskilling, industry-academia partnerships, exchange of tourism data and statistics, sharing of best practices and stronger people-to-people connectivity among BRICS Member States.

Addressing the meeting, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that tourism has an important role in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047 and has the unique ability to take growth beyond major economic centres to towns, villages and remote regions. He said tourism creates opportunities for hotels and homestays, taxi operators, guides, artisans, weavers, farmers, entrepreneurs and millions of families whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly connected with the sector.

The Minister highlighted India’s efforts to build a tourism ecosystem that is economically prosperous, environmentally responsible, technologically enabled and culturally authentic. He further remarked, “Tourism ultimately connects people. It creates opportunities for communities, enables cultural exchange and allows citizens of our countries to understand one another beyond the formal relationships between governments.”

On the sidelines of the Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, India held bilateral meetings with Brazil, Iran, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The engagements provided an opportunity for interaction with the respective Ministerial delegations and for taking forward tourism cooperation.

A press conference was also held on the BRICS Tourism Track under India’s Chairship, highlighting the outcomes of the Tourism Ministers’ Meeting and the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration.

Alongside part of Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Jaipur, curated experiences spotlighting traditional arts, crafts and community-based tourism initiatives were showcased to Ministers and delegates.

On 22 August 2026, the Ministers and delegates will undertake a visit to some of Jaipur’s iconic heritage attractions, including Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amber Fort, providing them an opportunity to experience the city’s rich architectural, cultural and tourism heritage.

India
Source: newsonair.gov.in

India and Brazil have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation in telecommunications and information and communications technologies (ICTs) on the sidelines of the BRICS ICT Track Meeting, the Department of Telecommunications said today.

In a social media post, the Department of Telecommunications said that the agreement will advance digital innovation, strengthen digital infrastructure and foster cooperation in emerging technologies. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting in Pune by Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and H.E. Mr Frederico de Siqueira Filho, Minister of Communications, Brazil.

Union Minister Scindia said in a post that the MoU would deepen bilateral collaboration on universal connectivity, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, emerging technologies, capacity building and exchange of best practices. He called the agreement a strong step forward in bolstering India-Brazil collaboration for a secure and inclusive digital future.

The MoU provides a framework for structured cooperation in telecommunications, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies. The agreement follows discussions between the two ministers earlier this year on strengthening India-Brazil cooperation in telecom and digital infrastructure. The partnership is aimed at promoting an inclusive, secure and resilient digital ecosystem in both countries.

It will facilitate exchange of knowledge, expertise and best practices, as well as encourage collaboration in research, innovation and development of new-age communication technologies. India and Brazil have also emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation in international telecommunications and technology forums.

The agreement assumes significance in the context of India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026, with digital transformation, trusted technology and inclusive connectivity emerging as important areas of cooperation among BRICS countries. India has been advocating greater collaboration among member countries in digital public infrastructure and international telecom standards.

The India-Brazil agreement is also part of the broader strategic partnership between the two countries, which covers areas such as trade and investment, agriculture, energy, science and technology, digital cooperation and cybersecurity.

Iran
Source: www.tasnimnews.ir

Shina Ansari, head of Iran’s Department of Environment, made the proposal at a meeting of environment ministers from BRICS member states in India, highlighting the bloc’s significant potential in natural resources, biodiversity, coastlines, oceans and valuable ecosystems.

Ansari described South-South cooperation as a “historic opportunity” to address environmental crises and put forward several proposals, including placing environmental security alongside energy and food security.

She also proposed establishing a BRICS network to monitor and assess environmental damage caused by armed conflicts and climate change, creating a rapid-response mechanism for marine pollution and hazardous-material spills, and exchanging technology and expertise to restore damaged ecosystems.
Ansari further called for stronger cooperation between BRICS member states and specialized international organizations to address the consequences of environmental crises and pursue accountability for those responsible for environmental destruction based on the principle that “the polluter is responsible for compensation.”

She also proposed launching talks to develop a common BRICS framework for protecting the environment during armed conflicts.

Iran
Source: wanaen.com

WANA (Aug 19) – Iran’s environmental representative, responding to allegations made by the Emirati minister, stressed that any facilitation of hostile actions against Tehran will carry definitive repercussions.

The BRICS environmental summit turned into a verbal clash between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Arman Khorsand, head of the International Center of Iran’s Department of Environment, issued an official statement in response to the Emirati minister’s claims, firmly rejecting the accusations regarding attacks on the country’s economic and civilian infrastructure.

Khorsand emphasized that Iran has “only targeted the source of threats against its own people” and made clear that the country has refrained from any attacks on civilian infrastructure or ordinary citizens of its neighbors. At the same time, he pointed to the presence of U.S. military bases on Emirati soil and warned: “Any country that, by hosting aggressors, paves the way for an attack on Iran will undoubtedly face the consequences of its actions.”

Reference to Military Attacks and Civilian Casualties

Iran’s representative at the summit, recalling military aggressions against his country, stated that on the very first day of the attacks, “our Leader was martyred along with his 14‑month‑old grandson, and 168 children were massacred in Minab.” Emphasizing that Iran has been a victim of aggressive actions contrary to international law, he added: “Whoever sows the seeds of enmity will eventually reap its bitter fruit.”

Call for BRICS Members to Uphold Good Neighborliness

Khorsand went on to call on all BRICS members, including the UAE, to respect the principles of good neighborliness, peaceful coexistence, and non‑interference, and to ensure that their territories are not used to host, facilitate, or support hostile actions against neighbors, particularly Iran.

He also criticized the raising of political and security allegations at an environmental meeting, stating that such actions run counter to the spirit of mutual respect and dialogue that underpins BRICS partnership. Khorsand stressed that the summit’s focus should be on strengthening cooperation and addressing shared environmental challenges, not on raising bilateral issues.

India
Source: traveltradejournal.com

The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting 2026 under India’s Chairship concluded in Jaipur with the adoption of the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Communiqué 2026, or Jaipur Declaration, outlining a framework to strengthen tourism cooperation among BRICS Member States.

Chaired by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the meeting marked the culmination of the BRICS Tourism Track under India’s 2026 Chairship, being taken forward under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’.

The meeting saw participation from nine BRICS Member States. Ministerial representatives included Gustavo Costa Feliciando, Minister of Tourism, Brazil; Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Iran; Patricia De Lille, Minister of Tourism, South Africa; and Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, UAE. Heads of delegation from China, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Russia also participated.

The Indian delegation included Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, and Harikishore S., Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, among other officials.

Jaipur Declaration Identifies Four Tourism Priorities

The Jaipur Declaration reflects discussions undertaken by the BRICS Tourism Working Group during India’s Chairship and focuses on four thematic priorities: Artificial Intelligence and Tourism; Sustainability and Responsible Tourism; Tourism Skilling and Capacity Building; and Tourism Exchanges and Seamless Travel Facilitation.

Adopted by consensus, the communiqué recognises the potential of responsible, safe and human-centred artificial intelligence and digital technologies in tourism. It calls for greater cooperation in areas including tourism planning, destination management, visitor services, multilingual communication and travel facilitation.

The declaration also emphasises sustainable and community-centred tourism, protection of natural and cultural heritage, tourism investment and infrastructure, and the development and promotion of diverse tourism products.

Other areas identified for greater cooperation include continuous skilling and upskilling, industry-academia partnerships, exchange of tourism data and statistics, sharing of best practices and stronger people-to-people connections among BRICS Member States.

Tourism Can Take Growth Beyond Major Economic Centres: Shekhawat

Addressing the meeting, Shekhawat highlighted tourism’s role in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, noting its ability to distribute economic opportunities beyond major cities to smaller towns, villages and remote regions.

He said tourism supports a wide ecosystem comprising hotels, homestays, taxi operators, guides, artisans, weavers, farmers, entrepreneurs and millions of families whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly linked to the sector.

The Minister also highlighted India’s efforts to develop a tourism ecosystem that is economically prosperous, environmentally responsible, technologically enabled and culturally authentic.

“Tourism ultimately connects people. It creates opportunities for communities, enables cultural exchange and allows citizens of our countries to understand one another beyond the formal relationships between governments,” Shekhawat said.

India Holds Bilateral Tourism Meetings

On the sidelines of the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, India held bilateral discussions with Brazil,
Iran, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, providing an opportunity to advance tourism cooperation with the respective countries.

A press conference was also held to highlight the outcomes of the BRICS Tourism Track under India’s Chairship and the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration.

The Jaipur programme also showcased traditional arts, crafts and community-based tourism initiatives to participating ministers and delegates.

On August 22, 2026, the delegations are scheduled to visit some of Jaipur’s prominent heritage attractions, including Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amber Fort, offering an introduction to the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.

USA
Source: www.reuters.com

Summary

• UAE suspends financial ties with Iran until further notice
• Major Gulf oil producer blames missile threat on Tehran
• Missile launch comes amid standoff over deal to end U.S.-Iran conflict

DUBAI, Aug 19 - The United Arab Emirates' decision to suspend all financial and economic transactions with Iran ​until further notice, citing a military escalation by Tehran with a missile threat, has refocused the spotlight on fraught ties between the major ‌Gulf Arab oil producer and Iran.

The UAE, a close U.S. ally and regional power, was the Gulf state most heavily hit by Tehran during the early stages of the Middle East war. However, the last reported attack on UAE soil was the May 4 strike on Fujairah port, a key oil export ​hub.

The move by the UAE to sever commercial ties came after its defence ministry said that it had detected two ballistic missiles launched ​from Iran, an incident that marked the first time in months that residents received telephone alerts ⁠warning of possible threats.

In a statement, the ministry said the missiles targeted "maritime traffic" based on its assessments. Both missiles fell into ​the sea, it said.

The UAE also sent a phone alert on Tuesday to residents stating that the situation was safe and people should ​resume normal activities after the earlier warning.
Iran's foreign ministry rejected the statement by the UAE that its missiles targeted maritime traffic, describing it as "baseless."

UAE SAYS IT IS COMMITTED TO DIALOGUE

Dubai, the UAE's main commercial hub, is one of Tehran's most critical economic lifelines.
UAE official Afra Al Hameli, Director ​of the Strategic Communications Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the UAE was committed to dialogue and cooperation to ​advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Al Hameli said that in light of regional escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security, all ‌trade, ⁠commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran have been halted.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, said in a post on X that rumours about the "provision of financial facilities to Iran" are "false and part of desperate media campaigns".

The UAE was drawn into the wider war in the region which began in February with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Tehran's attacks on UAE soil stopped in May, while ​they persisted in neighbouring Kuwait and ​Bahrain. Attacks at sea on ⁠its vessels did not stop.

In August, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world's largest energy producers, said it was being significantly impacted by what it described as unprovoked attacks on its ​people and assets, as it sought to continue meeting customer requirements in an "exceptionally challenging environment."
ADNOC ​said in a statement ⁠that several of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict.

The missile launch that the UAE blamed on Iran came as a 60-day window for U.S.-Iranian peace talks expired without a breakthrough, raising fears of ⁠a new ​escalation in the conflict that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of ​Hormuz since February and rattled global markets.

Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attacks on ADNOC vessels. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have previously threatened action against vessels transiting the ​strait if they are linked to Tehran's adversaries or fail to comply with Iranian directives.

UAE
Source: www.breitbart.com

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday suspended all trade with Iran, after suffering the latest wanton missile attack from Iranian forces.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry scrambled to deny reports of the missile attack that pushed the UAE too far, implying that it could have been a “false flag” operation conducted by enemies of the Islamic Republic.

The UAE was attacked repeatedly by Iranian drones and missiles this year and Iran has bombed dozens of ships belonging to Abu Dhabi’s state-owned ADNOC energy company, but the reported launch of two ballistic missiles by Iran on Tuesday was the first act of aggression from Tehran in about three months.

The Emirati Defense Ministry said its air defense systems “detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country.”

“The first fell outside the country’s territorial waters, while the second fell within its territorial waters,” the statement said.

The UAE Foreign Ministry announced a halt to all trade and financial transactions with Iran on Wednesday, “in light of regional escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security.”

The UAE’s move could prove to be highly consequential, because despite Iran’s provocations this year, the two countries have a robust trade relationship valued at some $28 billion – and the Emirates have long been crucial to helping Iran’s economy survive under U.S. sanctions. The two nations are both members of BRICS, the China-led, anti-U.S. economic and security coalition named after core members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Although the UAE officially supports the sanctions and periodically punishes violators, an unofficial sanctions-defying trade pipeline runs through Dubai. The U.S. government has asked the UAE government to crack down harder on sanctions violators over the years.

Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) senior fellow Miad Maleki said on Wednesday that the UAE and China are “Iran’s two economic bloodlines,” and if the Emiratis mean business with their trade embargo, “it’ll close the one the U.S. Navy couldn’t touch.”

Maleki noted that the UAE “has been Iran’s Number One import supplier for five consecutive years,” and its currency markets support 80 percent of Iran’s foreign exchanges for imports, including 40 percent of its purchases of essential goods, from soybeans to industrial machinery.

“Most of what Iran calls ‘imports from the UAE’ was never Emirati. Dubai has been basically Iran’s window to the world economy,” he said. The vast majority of Iran’s imports from Dubai are actually third-party goods, like gasoline from India, car parts from China, and soybeans from Brazil.

In response to a question about whether China could pick up the slack or not, Maleki said there is simply “no substitute for Dubai” in Iran’s economic strategy, thanks to its close physical proximity, prodigious logistical capacity, and “large exploitable diaspora.” Also, China’s shipping costs have already skyrocketed due to the Iran crisis, so it would have great difficulty covering the extra costs of delivering the goods Iran used to get from Dubai.

The Iranian regime has given hints that it knows that it might have gone too far. Early on Wednesday, the Iranian military seemingly boasted of the missile attack on the UAE and issued belligerent warnings that “any assistance of facilitation provided to the aggressor U.S. military” could trigger comparable strikes on Persian Gulf countries.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, on the other hand, frantically claimed the missile attack on the UAE was a hoax.

“Baqaei expressed regret over unfounded accusations against the Islamic Republic, saying such claims run counter to the principle of good-neighborliness and undermine ongoing efforts to strengthen trust among regional countries and prevent further insecurity,” reported Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Wednesday.

“He called on all regional parties to refrain from baseless allegations against Iran, citing the complex regional circumstances created by continued US and Israeli malign activities against regional peace and security,” IRNA said of Baqaei’s remarks.

“The spokesperson also referred to the history of multiple alleged false-flag operations in the region,” the report added.

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash on Wednesday strove to refute the accounts of Abu Dhabi helping Iran evade sanctions and prop up its economy.

“Some platforms targeting the UAE are circulating false information about the country, at a time when the state continues to focus its efforts on addressing regional developments and preparing for the post phase period,” Gargash said.

“As for the rumors being spread, such as those related to the cancellation of labor residencies or the provision of financial facilities to Iran and others, they are untrue information and part of desperate media campaigns,” he insisted.

Emirati media reported that President Donald Trump spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan by telephone on Tuesday and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke with UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan.

The State Department said Rubio “underscored the importance of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz” in his conversation with Sheikh Tahnoon, and discussed “U.S.-UAE coordination to hold Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable for ongoing attacks.”

India
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NEW DELHI: BRICS nations, including India, China, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and others, on Tuesday opposed the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and any other such trade barriers, calling them “unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist measures”.CBAM, which entered its operational regime on January 1, is a tool to put a price, through imposing a border tax, on carbon-intensive goods, like iron and steel, aluminium and cement, that are entering the 27 EU nations.India opposed the proposal from the time it was conceived, arguing that the unilateral move placed an additional burden on businesses in developing economies due to embedded emissions in their products.“We oppose unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist measures that are not in line with international law, such as CBAM, and express concern that such measures undermine efforts by countries, specifically the developing countries, aimed at addressing the adverse impacts of climate change, increasing adaptive capacity and resilience,” said BRICS nations’ joint ministerial statement (JMS) adopted unanimously at the conclusion of the group’s 12th environment ministers’ meeting here.

Delivering his keynote address at the meeting, held under India’s BRICS chairship 2026, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted the growing global environmental challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks, and called for stronger cooperation among 11 member countries of the group on forest fire prevention, preparedness, early warning, response and post-fire recovery.The meeting unveiled four knowledge compendiums prepared by the BRICS Environment Working Group, reflecting leading practices, knowledge systems and innovations among the member countries.The countries also adopted four outcome documents, including terms of reference for a network of BRICS institutions to advance knowledge sharing, research and innovation in sustainable lifestyles, and integrated landscape management for combating desertification.

Besides Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, other members of the group are Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia. These countries, put together, account for 40% of global GDP. Ministers or heads of delegations of all member countries, except Saudi Arabia, attended the ministerial meeting.

Japan
Source: en.appi.news

BRICS finance officials discussed linking payment systems and digital currencies, while Iran said it would join the NDB, a step the bank has not confirmed.

Key points

• India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra co-chaired the BRICS finance meeting in Jaipur on August 12 and 13, 2026.
• Malhotra said BRICS central banks were discussing links between fast payment systems and central bank digital currencies, but the work remained at the discussion stage.
• Iranian central bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said Iran expected to join the New Development Bank soon, although the bank does not list Iran as a member or prospective member.
• The New Development Bank lists Zimbabwe as a prospective member that must still deposit an instrument of accession.
• The bank reported US$100 billion in initial authorized capital, US$50 billion initially subscribed and US$10 billion initially paid in.

BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors met in Jaipur, India, on August 12 and 13, 2026, as the bloc considered links among national payment systems. Iran said it would soon join the New Development Bank (NDB), but the lender’s public membership list does not include it.

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra co-chaired the Jaipur session. Malhotra had said that BRICS members were discussing links between fast payment systems and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), while describing the work as still being at the discussion stage. The public proposal concerns interoperability among separate national systems, not a newly launched common currency.

Payment discussions predate the Jaipur meeting

The August talks extend work that BRICS leaders assigned to finance officials last year. The 2025 Rio de Janeiro Declaration instructed finance ministers and central bank governors to continue the BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative and examine greater interoperability among members’ payment systems. The declaration called for faster, cheaper and safer transfers, but it did not commit members to one platform or set a launch date.

Malhotra’s August remarks put fast-payment links and CBDCs among the options under review. Public materials do not identify which central banks have committed to a network, what architecture they would use, how currencies would be converted or when a pilot might start. APPI News could not find a joint Jaipur statement resolving those questions at the time of writing.

Interoperability requires common operating rules

Connecting payment systems involves more than a technical interface. The Bank for International Settlements identifies legal structure, ownership, operational design, governance and regulatory oversight as core decisions for cross-border fast-payment links. Each participating authority would have to agree on who runs the connection and which body handles failures or disputes.

CBDC links add another set of choices. An International Monetary Fund framework divides cross-border CBDC design into access, communication, currency conversion, compliance and settlement. The published BRICS proposal does not yet specify those arrangements, so a discussion about lower costs cannot be read as evidence that a working network is close to launch.

Iran’s claim has no public NDB confirmation

Iranian central bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said Iran was set to join the NDB in the near future, according to an August 12 report that cited Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. Hemmati also linked the move to wider monetary, banking and digital-economy cooperation with India.
The bank has not announced Iran’s admission. The NDB’s public list names 10 full members and five prospective members, but Iran appears in neither group. An absent listing does not show whether private talks are taking place; it means Hemmati’s statement is not yet matched by a published decision from the bank.

Zimbabwe has cleared one step, not the full process

The same NDB list places Zimbabwe alongside Uruguay, Colombia, Ethiopia and Angola as prospective members. The bank says countries in that category have been admitted by its Board of Governors, but they become full members only after depositing an instrument of accession. It does not give a deposit date for Zimbabwe.

Full membership would open a route to seek NDB financing, but it would not approve a loan by itself. The bank describes its project cycle as running from conception through Board approval, implementation and closure. Zimbabwe would still need eligible projects to pass that process after its membership takes effect.

The US$100 billion figure is authorized capital

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa established the NDB in 2015 to finance infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging markets and developing countries. Its headquarters is in Shanghai, and the bank began expanding beyond the five founders in 2021.

The frequently cited US$100 billion figure is the bank’s initial authorized capital, not cash available for immediate lending. The NDB’s June 2026 investor presentation reports US$50 billion in initial subscribed capital and US$10 billion in initial paid-in capital; subscribed capital stood at US$53.3 billion at the end of 2025.

The same presentation reported US$35.6 billion in total assets and US$21.6 billion in loans and advances at the end of 2025. It also said the Board had approved about US$43.0 billion across 139 projects by that date. Those balance-sheet and project figures provide a clearer measure of the bank’s operating scale than authorized capital alone.

The next verifiable milestones

A payment plan would become more concrete if BRICS publishes a participant list, technical model, governance rules and pilot schedule. Until then, the proposal remains a policy discussion rather than an operating cross-border network.

For Iran, the next formal step would be an NDB admission notice or its addition to the prospective-member list. For Zimbabwe, full membership begins only when the bank records its accession instrument; access to financing would then depend on separate project approvals.

Risks and limitations

• Iran’s membership claim has not been confirmed by the New Development Bank, and Iran does not appear on the bank’s public list of members or prospective members.
• The proposed payment links have no published launch date, technical design or confirmed list of participating central banks.
• Zimbabwe is an admitted prospective member, but the bank has not published a date for its deposit of the accession instrument or the start of full membership.
• The New Development Bank’s US$100 billion authorized capital is not an immediately available lending pool; subscribed capital, paid-in capital and approved financing are different measures.
• APPI News could not find a public joint statement from the Jaipur meeting or an official New Development Bank timetable for Iran at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

1. India, China, South Africa, Russia and Brazil discuss a major financial shift that could reshape global payments（Business Insider Africa）
2. Iran to become member of BRICS Bank, increasing economic cooperation, trade - report（The Jerusalem Post）
3. Members（New Development Bank）
4. History（New Development Bank）
5. New Development Bank investor presentation, June 2026（New Development Bank）
6. Rio de Janeiro Declaration（The Presidency of South Africa）
7. Linking fast payment systems across borders: governance and oversight（Bank for International Settlements）
8. Cross-Border Payments with Retail Central Bank Digital Currencies: Design and Policy Considerations（International Monetary Fund）
9. Ongoing Evaluations（New Development Bank）

South Africa
Source: iol.co.za

Iran wants BRICS to stop talking and start building. That was the blunt message from Abdolnasser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, when he stood up at the first-ever meeting of BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors, hosted by India in Jaipur earlier this August.

Hemmati's pitch was simple. He advocated for the creation of a dedicated BRICS financial corridor and links the payment systems of member countries together. He argued that real infrastructure like banks and traders can actually be used to move money across borders, safely, cheaply and without leaning on financial networks controlled from outside the bloc.

He laid out the logic plainly. If BRICS countries hook their national payment systems together and lean more heavily on their own currencies for trade, transactions get faster, costs come down, and the whole system becomes harder to disrupt. For a country like Iran, which has spent years locked out of the SWIFT network and boxed in by US sanctions, more so now more than ever with the war, this becomes a survival strategy.

Hemmati didn't stop at the pitch. He told the room that Iran has already started doing the homework, through examining the legal and technical groundwork needed to connect payment systems across the bloc, and offered to help draft an actual roadmap rather than wait for someone else to write it.

Iran signed on to BRICS PAY, the bloc's electronic banking platform, back in 2023, as parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf openly described it as a way to get around SWIFT restrictions. Since formally joining BRICS in 2024 alongside Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE, Iran's central bank has kept a seat in the group's working groups on cross-border payments, national currencies, fintech and even AI and cybersecurity.

The Jaipur meeting also gave Hemmati a stage to push a second long-standing goal: getting Iran into the BRICS-run New Development Bank, founded in 2015 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to fund infrastructure and development projects. Hemmati told reporters that Iran's entry into the bank is close, calling it the "most important result" of BRICS cooperation so far, though the bank itself hasn't confirmed a timeline. He also said Tehran is chasing bilateral and trilateral currency arrangements with other member states, on top of the multilateral corridor idea.

There's a harder backdrop to all this. Hemmati made his remarks while referencing the recent US-Israeli military action against Iran, and he framed financial stability as something that can't really exist without peace and respect for international law.

India's central bank governor, Sanjay Malhotra, said around the same meetings that BRICS countries are exploring links between their domestic fast-payment systems, and even discussing whether central bank digital currencies could eventually plug into the same network. Officials stress this is still early-stage stuff, more exploration than execution.

That's really the honest state of play right now. Iran has put a concrete proposal on the table and says it's willing to do the technical legwork. Other BRICS members are nodding along and running their own parallel discussions. But nobody has signed off on an actual system yet, and building shared payment infrastructure across countries with very different banking rules, currencies and politics is a slow, messy process.

Still, the direction is clear enough. Iran has made "de-dollarize BRICS trade" one of its main foreign economic policy goals, and after the Jaipur meeting, it now has something the bloc can point to as a starting proposal, rather than just another talking point about moving away from the dollar.

Iran
Source: www.tasnimnews.ir

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is seeking to turn tourism into a major pillar of economic cooperation among BRICS members, with Tehran proposing the creation of a BRICS Tourism Infrastructure Development Fund to attract investment and support joint projects.

Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri made the remarks on Thursday evening on the sidelines of his visit to India, ahead of the third BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

He said the meeting would focus on ways to expand relations among peoples through tourism, describing tourism as an effective means of deepening cultural, social and human ties between countries.

Salehi Amiri noted that BRICS and its member and partner countries account for around 46 percent of the world’s population and include major powers such as China, Russia, Brazil, India and Iran. He said the bloc therefore has significant potential to establish new forms of cooperation in tourism.

The Iranian minister said a 15-point draft declaration had been prepared in cooperation with the BRICS expert team and would be reviewed and adopted at the main tourism ministers’ meeting on Friday.

He identified two key areas in the declaration and future BRICS tourism cooperation: expanding tourism ties and strengthening relations among peoples, and developing the tourism economy of member states.
Salehi-Amiri said Iran views tourism as a means of bringing nations closer together, promoting mutual understanding of cultures and strengthening relations between countries. He added that BRICS members need to collectively work to attract new tourism capacities from India, China, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia and other member and partner countries and make tourism “one of the major pillars of economic cooperation” within the bloc.

He also highlighted Iran’s proposal to establish joint financial mechanisms for tourism, saying one of the key proposals in the draft declaration is the creation of a BRICS Tourism Infrastructure Development Fund.

According to the minister, sustainable funding and new investment are essential for developing tourism infrastructure, and such a fund could facilitate joint investments and the implementation of infrastructure projects across BRICS member states.

Salehi Amiri said Iran is simultaneously pursuing three objectives: strengthening tourism among countries that collectively account for nearly half of the world’s population, activating and expanding the tourism economy through new investment and economic cooperation channels, and presenting Iran’s positions on tourism issues to officials and tourism ministers from BRICS member countries.