Joining the BRICS economic grouping as a partner country opens up opportunities for Bolivia to expand trade and diversify its economy, according to the South American country's President Luis Arce.
"Integration with BRICS gives us the opportunity to promote key sectors such as energy, trade, technology, manufacturing and sustainable finance. In a world full of uncertainties due to the transition to a new global order, being part of this bloc allows us to diversify and protect our assets, becoming a relevant player within an investment platform in emerging economies with immense potential," President Luis Arce wrote on the social platform X.
According to Arce, joining BRICS as a partner country "opens new doors" for Bolivia and also provides opportunities to "expand and diversify trade relations with dynamic and growing markets."
Brazil assumed the presidency of BRICS on January 1, 2025, and on the same day new members joined the bloc as partner countries. As the Russian Foreign Ministry reported earlier, the first BRICS partners were Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
The introduction of the category of "partner countries" is part of the new formula for the further development of BRICS, which was agreed at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October.