On April, 6, 2023, Anna Nesterova, the BRICS WBA Russian Chapter’s Chairperson, and Vladimir Padalko, the Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met with Anil Sooklal, the Sherpa of South Africa in BRICS, who was in Moscow on a working visit.
Anil Sooklal conveyed greetings from the BRICS WBA South African Chapter’s Chairperson Lebogang Zulu, thanked the Russian Chapter for the work and expressed hope for further fruitful activity. Ambassador Sooklal stressed that the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance is vibrant structure with a great potential.
Anna Nesterova spoke about the Russian Chapter’s initiatives, including information on the current status of the Common BRICS Women’s Business Alliance Platform, the BRICS White Paper on the Care Economy, the recommendations for the development of tourism and transport security in the BRICS, the expert dialogue on ESG agenda and energy security, the BRICS School on Financial Literacy and Security for Women, the BRICS Forum “Green Fashion & Universal Design”.
Moreover, the Russian Chapter’s Chairperson emphasized the importance of the BRICS Africa WBA Trade Conference, which will be held on the sidelines of the XV BRICS Summit in South Africa.
In addition, Anna Nesterova invited Anil Sooklal to take part in the Alliance’s panel session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June this year.
Anil Sooklal, for his part, stressed that the 10th anniversary of the BRICS Business Council, celebrated this year, should aim the association countries to deepen cooperation, diversify mutual trade, including using the unique opportunities that the business structures of the five countries currently have.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Pavel Knyazev, Executive Secretary of the Russia-South Africa Business Council Olga Chuprakova, who shared their vision of the prospects for further joint work with the South African side within the framework of the BRICS.