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On December 11, 2024, a pivotal meeting was hosted at the headquarters of Sitronics in Moscow, bringing together distinguished leaders from various sectors under the collaborative umbrella of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance. The session was presided over by Ms. Lebogang Zulu, who serves both as the Executive Chairperson of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and President of the Expanded BRICS Women Foundation. Her leadership was instrumental in steering the discussions toward substantial economic development across Africa.
Joining her were Ms. Moyahabo Maela, Board Chair of Blended Mining/Kokozu International; Ms. Raquel Simone Lochenberg and Ms. Eleni Manthona Malumbete from One Africa, specializing in business development/finance and digital transformation/investment respectively. Their insights were crucial in framing the potential impacts of the projects discussed. BRICS WBA also benefited from the participation of Mr. Vitaly Nikiforov, International Project Coordinator for BRICS WBA South Africa, who provided valuable project coordination expertise.
From Rosatom SMART Utilities JSC, Mr. Alexey Golubev, Advisor to the CEO, represented Rosatom State Corporation, bringing a strategic perspective on infrastructure solutions. The meeting also welcomed Mr. Andrey Filippov, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at Digital Economy ANO, who added depth to the discussions on digital economic strategies.
Financial and investment insights were offered by Mr. Denis Grigoriev, CFA Investment Director, and Mr. Alexander Pavlov, Analyst, both from Sistema PJSFC. Their expertise was pivotal in assessing the financial viability and strategic planning of the infrastructure projects. Ms. Natalia Kharitonova, Business Development Manager from JSC Sitronics, provided critical technological and market expansion strategies, enriching the meeting’s discourse.
The discussions focused on a series of transformative projects that promise to significantly reshape the economic landscape across the African continent. Notable among these were the development of cutting-edge hydropower facilities aimed at enhancing sustainable energy access, the construction of a comprehensive railway network linking at least five African countries, and the Cato Ridge Port project in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province, envisioned as a key logistical hub to bolster trade connectivity and economic integration across the BRICS and African nations.
This high-level assembly exemplified a forward-looking commitment to fostering infrastructure and energy innovation, with Rosatom SMART Utilities JSC and Sitronics providing unparalleled expertise in energy systems and advanced technology solutions. The strategic cooperation discussed during the meeting is set to create enduring value for communities across the African continent, generating employment, upskilling workforces, and strengthening regional connectivity. This partnership aims to lay the groundwork for sustainable development and shared prosperity, with the outcomes anticipated to catalyze transformative change and position Africa as a central player in the global economy, reflecting the core principles of innovation, collaboration, and resilience championed by the BRICS partnership.
