Bernama
SHAH ALAM: Malaysia is open to joining the intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) because it can bring various economic benefits to the country, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
He said the BRICS organisation is also seen to be developing smoothly, with countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt having already joined.
"Our neighbouring country, Thailand, which is a member of Asean, has also expressed interest and has started the process to join BRICS.
"We are waiting to start further discussions on BRICS as mentioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim," he said after the launch of the Chery Malaysia assembly plant here today.
Anwar said on Monday that Malaysia would start formal procedures to join the BRICS economic bloc soon.
BRICS was established in 2009 as a cooperation platform for emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India and China, while South Africa joined the group in 2010.
BRICS now accounts for a quarter of the global economy, including a fifth of global trade with a population of around 40 per cent of the world's population. — BERNAMA