President arrives in New Delhi for 18th BRICS Summit
President Cyril Ramaphosa will join a closed session of BRICS leaders on Saturday to discuss reform of the United Nations, the international financial architecture and the multilateral trading system.
South Africa’s head of state arrived in the Indian capital on September 11, to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit.
The summit will be held on September 12 and 13 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi under India’s chairship. It is guided by the theme: Building for resilience, innovation, co-operation and security, and brings together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, as well as outreach invitees.
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This afternoon, the president will deliver remarks at the BRICS Business Forum. His focus will be on trade and supply chains, agriculture, women-led development, the digital economy, and innovation.
The forum gathers BRICS leaders, business representatives – including members of the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women’s Business Alliance – investors, and entrepreneurs from BRICS countries and partner economies.
It plays an important role in shaping the BRICS economic agenda and strengthening business-to-business co-operation.
On September 12, he will address the India/South Africa business leadership roundtable.
The discussion will centre on enhancing bilateral trade and investment, and encouraging additional Indian foreign direct investment in pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, critical minerals, and the electric vehicle battery value chain.
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Later the same day, he will join a closed session of BRICS leaders titled: Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.
The session will examine the need for a more inclusive, representative, and responsive global governance architecture, with particular attention to reform of the United Nations system, the international financial architecture, and the multilateral trading system.
On September 13, he will deliver a statement during the summit’s open session for BRICS and invited leaders on Resilience, innovation, co-operation and sustainability: Shaping the future for inclusive global growth, which will focus on India’s chairship priorities.
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South Africa will use the summit to advance its diplomatic and economic priorities. These include expanding intra-BRICS trade and investment, promoting industrialisation and value addition, and mobilising investment in African infrastructure aligned with the African continental free trade area.
He will also join other leaders in visiting the Bharat Innovates & BRICS @20 Exhibition, which will showcase innovation, technology, and key achievements of BRICS co-operation. He will also take part in a joint tree-planting ceremony.
He is expected to hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and government, as well as engagements with business leaders and captains of industry.
The president is supported by Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, and Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi.
Selected meetings will be live-streamed on the @BRICS2026India and @MEAIndia YouTube channels.
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