South Africa
Source: www.iol.co.za

In the ever-evolving landscape of global economics and politics, two acronyms have been making significant waves: the G20 and BRICS+. These groups, representing major economies worldwide, are redefining international relations and economic strategies.

The G20: A Forum in Flux

The G20, established in 1999, brings together 19 countries and the European Union, accounting for approximately 85% of the world's GDP and over 75% of global trade. It serves as a platform for international economic cooperation, addressing issues ranging from financial stability to climate change. However, recent events have highlighted challenges within the G20 framework.

The recent G20 finance ministers' meeting in South Africa saw significant absences, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato. This poor turnout underscores the organisation's waning relevance amid strained global cooperation, exacerbated by US President Donald Trump.

South Africa, holding the G20 presidency for the first time, emphasised pressing issues such as debt relief and climate change. President Cyril Ramaphosa called for collective action towards a resilient and equitable global economy. Yet, the US’s America First stance and limited participation in G20 events highlight internal divisions that challenge the group's effectiveness.

BRICS+: Expansion and Influence

Parallel to the G20's challenges is the rising bloc BRICS, gaining momentum, especially with its recent expansion to BRICS+. The 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia, marked a pivotal moment as the bloc welcomed further countries adding to the bloc’s collective power, with 9 partner states.

This expansion signifies BRICS+'s ambition to amplify the voice of the Global South in international affairs. The inclusion of diverse economies enhances the bloc's economic clout and geopolitical influence, positioning it as a counterbalance to traditional Western-dominated institutions. The establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) further underscores BRICS+'s commitment to providing alternative financial mechanisms for emerging markets.

Convergence and Divergence

While both the G20 and BRICS+ aim to foster international cooperation, their trajectories highlight differing approaches. The G20's recent struggles with internal cohesion contrast with BRICS+'s proactive expansion and unified stance on reforming global governance. This divergence raises questions about the future effectiveness of the G20 in addressing global challenges collectively with countries from the Global North and Global South.

Interestingly, the G20 has seen a shift towards greater representation of the Global South. With consecutive presidencies by Indonesia (2022), India (2023), Brazil (2024), and now South Africa. There's a concerted effort to place the Global South's agenda at the forefront of global governance, but is it working.

Implications for the Global Order

The evolving dynamics of the G20 and BRICS+ have profound implications for the global order. BRICS+'s expansion reflects a desire among emerging economies to assert greater influence and challenge the status quo. This shift could lead to a more multipolar world, where power is distributed among various blocs rather than dominated by a few Western nations.
For the G20, the challenge lies in maintaining its relevance amid internal divisions and the rise of alternative groupings like BRICS+. To remain effective, the G20 may need to adapt by embracing reforms that reflect the changing geopolitical landscape and address the concerns of emerging economies.

The G20 and BRICS+ are at pivotal junctures, reflecting broader shifts in global power dynamics. As BRICS+ expands and asserts its influence, the G20 faces the challenge of adapting to a more diverse and multipolar world. The interplay between these groups will undoubtedly shape the future of international relations, economics, and governance.

South Africa
Source: www.iol.co.za

During the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) of China’s parliament in Beijing on 7 March this year, the country’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a statement declaring that China will take countermeasures in response to arbitrary pressure from the US imposing further trade tariffs.

Before this statement, on 18 February 2025, at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting, South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola also made a statement challenging the use of US pressure on South Africa, cutting USAID funding for its HIV program, and calling on South Africa to abandon its constitutional land reform program.

On Saturday, 8 March 2025, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and its Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi also challenged the US attempts to use talk of negotiations as a pretext to apply more pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program.

Recently, widely published in the media, three members of the BRICS+—Iran, Russia, and China—demonstrated their longstanding naval cooperation partnership by jointly conducting naval military exercises along the Iranian coast. While the BRICS+ is not a military alliance, its members freely engage in joint naval military cooperation, as did the South African, Russian, and Chinese navies along South Africa’s Indian Ocean coastline in February 2023.

All three countries are members of the BRICS+ group and, together with Russia, have systematically refused to be bullied into submission by the new Trump administration. In addition to these three countries, Egypt, another member of the BRICS+ from Africa, has refused to succumb to US pressure to take in Palestinians displaced from Gaza as a result of Israel’s genocidal war against the citizens in the region.

Other Arab members of the BRICS+ bloc have, in fact, rejected Donald Trump’s proposal to turn the Gaza Strip into some kind of Riviera for real estate developers following the attack on Palestinians. Both Wang Yi and Ronald Lamola also made it absolutely clear in their statements that China and South Africa support the inalienable rights of Palestinians to their homeland.
Russia, at the UN Security Council, also opposed any displacement of Palestinians. Egypt, together with other Arab countries, including members of the BRICS+, proposed an alternative plan of action for the reconstruction of Gaza. In addition, recently, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom have openly supported the Arab Plan for the reconstruction of Gaza.

However, long before President Trump promoted himself as a global peacemaker, the BRICS+ members have been at the forefront of seeking peaceful solutions to conflicts in Ukraine since 2022 and in Palestine, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, declared that Beijing will “firmly counter” United States pressure after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese goods. The Minister added that despite China’s good intentions to engage in positive efforts to negotiate, China’s intentions have been met with an evil response, possibly provoking a trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
On South Africa’s side, there was silence to the country’s attempts to re-engage the Trump administration on economic relations between the two countries. In fact, recently, the US administration has taken a bellicose position against South Africa’s constitutionally mandated land reform program and cut off USAID financial support for South Africa’s fight against HIV.

Last month at the G20 meeting, Ronald Lamola indicated that he was setting up meetings to mobilize support with a number of countries, including China, to discuss the threats South Africa faces from the US position.

Although South Africa is not totally dependent on US aid for its HIV program, many in the country feel that the country’s preferential trade status under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) may also come under pressure from the US administration. With its affiliation to the BRICS+ and its commitment to a non-aligned position in geopolitical conflicts, South Africa is being viewed as the most vulnerable and, therefore, being targeted for bullying in the superpower rivalry amongst the US, EU, China, and Russia.

In the context of international relations, and international trade in particular, how will China and South Africa deal with the implications of US trade tariffs and sanctions? China has promised to respond with a reciprocal tariff regime against goods imported from the US. Of course, this will start a trade war cycle that will go against mutually beneficial trade relations between two of the most powerful economies in the world.

China and other BRICS+ members want to avoid a trade war. In his statement during the NPC meeting in Beijing, Minister Wang Yi warned that in a globalized world, the unique pursuit of national interests by countries will lead to the “law of the jungle.”

Already, both countries have introduced retaliatory tariffs since January 2025. However, Wang Yi was quick to point out that current China-US trade ties are mutual and could be beneficial to both countries if there was no pressure from tariffs from either country. Mr. Wang Yi went further to reiterate that no country should imagine that it can suppress China while at the same time trying to develop good relations with the country.

As if to underscore this point, one of the major decisions of the NPC meeting was for a 5% growth rate over the forthcoming economic cycle. Notwithstanding these bilateral tensions, Minister Wang Yi insisted that the USA and China have mutually broad common interests and space for cooperation.
It is ironic that the USA, a founding member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a signatory to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), is now adopting policies contrary to the principles of these institutions.

The implications of higher trade tariffs generally lead to reduced trade, higher prices for consumers, and potential negative economic impacts for exporting and importing countries.

Underscoring Minister Wang Yi’s view that there are no winners in a trade war, a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) study by Lukas Boer & Malte Rieth, entitled The Macroeconomic Consequences of Import Tariffs and Trade Policy Uncertainty, published in 2024, provided evidence that unexpected increases in import tariffs and in trade policy uncertainty will most likely have negative consequences for the macroeconomic fundamentals in the US economy and will not significantly assist in redistributing economic activity across sectors or space.

For China, South Africa, and other BRICS+ economies, US trade tariffs are likely to shift trade policy towards trade diversion, targeting the huge markets in China, Africa, the Belt and Road Initiative, Eurasia, the Middle East, and Asia.

With a targeted growth rate increase of 5%, China’s internal market is expected to grow bigger. US trade tariffs, sanctions, and trade policy uncertainty will most likely hurt the US economy more than China, South Africa, and the BRICS+ economies.
There are no winners in a trade war.

Russia
Source: mid.ru

We will march alongside each other, together and forever
Hugo Chavez

March 14 is an important date for Russia and Venezuela as they mark 80 years of diplomatic relations.

Over these decades, the relations between our two countries enjoyed an upward momentum, adding mutually beneficial cooperation and trust-based dialogue rooted in our convergent political, spiritual and moral tenets to the bonds of friendship and mutual sympathy between our nations. This relationship evolved into a strategic partnership at the turn of the century. It hinges on our unwavering commitment to the principles and values of equality, mutual trust, non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs, as well as supporting each other in matters dealing with respecting sovereignty and promoting national interests.

The first contacts between the people of Russia and Venezuela date back to the 18th century. According to historical sources, Francisco de Miranda travelled to the Russian Empire in 1786. Born in Caracas, he was one of the first Latin American leaders to call on his compatriots to take up arms and liberate the region from Spain’s oppressive colonial rule. Empress Catherine the Great granted this brave Venezuelan the title of Russian Army Colonel within the Yekaterinoslavsky Cuirassier Regiment. She also gave him a Russian passport to make it easier for the man to travel around Europe.

Simon Bolivar continued de Miranda’s cause and carried on with the liberation war which led to independence for the people of Venezuela in 1811. This earned him the status of Venezuela’s national leader and Father of the Nation as an informal title. We know that at the grassroots level many Russians supported Venezuelans in their aspiration to become independent, since quite a few Russian volunteers took part in this anti-colonial struggle. Ivan Minuta and Ivan Mayer were among these volunteers. Russia kept a close eye on the success and advancement of Latin American nations with many press titles of that time, in particular, The Moscow Telegraph, devoting entire pages to covering developments on this distant continent by offering detailed reports on the nascent sovereign states.

The Russian Empire established official state-to-state relations with the Republic of Venezuela on February 17, 1857, when Emperor Alexander II sent a response letter to President Jose Tadeo Monagas recognising the country’s independence. Fast forward just a few years, and in 1878, the governments of the two countries appointed their respective consuls in Caracas and St Petersburg. The geographical distance separating the two countries did not prevent them from proactively expanding their trade and economic ties.

We remember the fact that Venezuela firmly sided with the anti-Hitler coalition during the harsh years when we fought Nazism. Caracas played an important role in supplying allies with oil, a vital asset. It was Latin America’s biggest oil producer at the time and one of the world’s biggest exporters, supplying allies with fuel and lubricants despite the huge distance separating it from the main theatres of war. These deliveries made it all the way to our country through lend-lease transactions, enabling us to ensure the uninterrupted operation of our air forces, tanks and other military hardware, including during the Battle of Stalingrad.

March 1945 marks the latest landmark event, and reference point, in the diplomatic relations between Moscow and Caracas. This is when the two countries established regular political dialogue and started exchanging delegations, expanding trade, while also promoting contacts in culture and research. The first official visit by the president of Venezuela to the USSR took place in November 1976. President Carlos Andres Perez met with Soviet leaders and the two countries signed an economic and industrial cooperation agreement, which laid the foundation for our future economic cooperation.

The end of the Cold War, dissolution of the Soviet Union and the resulting tectonic shifts on the international stage tested the strength of Russia-Venezuela ties. Today, we have every right to assert that our bilateral cooperation has stood the test of time.

Our relations moved to a new level during the rule of President Hugo Chavez. A true patriot and a loyal son of his country, he led a new stage of the struggle for independence and openly declared the right of his homeland to sovereignty, rejecting Washington’s idea of looking up to the “older brother.” Hugo Chavez has left an indelible print in global politics. A charismatic leader on the international scale and a clearsighted statesman, he was one of the first politicians in the modern history of Latin America to promote the idea of multipolarity. He has done a great deal to turn it into a mainline trend on the international stage.

We remember Hugo Chavez’s historical visit to Russia in 2001 and his talks with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, which reaffirmed the similarity of their conceptual views on geopolitics and the world order that formed the basis for strategic partnership between Russia and Venezuela. Our presidents met many more times after that. Apart from Moscow, Hugo Chavez also visited St Petersburg, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don and many other Russian cities. It was in that period that truly comradely and trust-based political contacts developed between our countries, which launched large-scale joint projects in energy, finance, medicine, agriculture and high-tech sectors.

It is notable that the initiatives and reforms launched by Hugo Chavez are being implemented and have been given a new lease on life during the term of President Nicolas Maduro, who is firmly upholding Venezuela’s independence and national interests despite the inhuman sanctions war.
Today, Russian-Venezuelan relations are developing on a firm basis of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which was signed in 1996, and a common foreign policy philosophy focused on establishing and protecting national sovereignty and a balance of interests in international relations. Our countries are committed to the creation of a more just polycentric world order based on the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and as a whole, and the right of nations to independently determine their paths and models of political and socioeconomic development.

Our countries reject Western diktat and hegemonic actions. They are working closely together against the modern practices of colonialism, and are in the vanguard of fighting against any manifestations of racism, xenophobia and neo-Nazism. We preserve our historical memory and protect our nations’ heritage from the attempts to falsify history undertaken by those who would benefit from forgetting or distorting the facts of aggression and genocide. We are grateful to our Bolivarian friends for their understanding of the causes and goals of the special military operation. We highly appreciate the fact that the largest Immortal Regiment march in Latin America is held in Caracas and that many Venezuelans take part in it.

Russia and Venezuela stand together in defence of the principles and norms of international law on multilateral platforms. They are acting together to derail the attempts of a narrow group of Western states to impose their rules-based order on the international community.

In this context, I would like to make special mention of our joint efforts to promote the consolidated approach of the Global Majority countries within the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter, which is coordinated by Caracas. Its format has been used to harmonise joint statements at the UN Security Council, the General Assembly and its main committees, in particular, on unilateral coercive measures, food security, decolonisation and neocolonialism, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and many other dramatic issues on the global agenda.

Russia and Venezuela have developed a practice of mutual support at the UN, where our partner goes on record by making vocal statements in support of the key Russian initiatives when it has no right to vote because of the Western sanctions. Venezuela has traditionally co-authored our draft resolutions on combating the glorification of Nazism, on the no first placement of weapons in outer space, transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities, the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and on international ICT security.

We attach great importance to the further strengthening of our cooperation to stabilise the global energy market, including within OPEC+ and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

We value Venezuela’s interest in deepening cooperation with BRICS – a association advancing the interests of the Global South and East, and a pillar of the multipolar world order.

We commend Caracas’ vigorous role in consolidating centripetal trends across Latin America and the Caribbean. Venezuela stands as the epicentre for progressive leftist forces on the continent. We acknowledge with appreciation its support for Russia’s efforts to expand collaboration with the region.
Building upon this principled foundation, we have substantially intensified political dialogue. Since 2013, presidents Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro have met over ten times. In October 2024, they held talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan. Regular exchanges of messages and phone calls between the heads of state further sustain this dynamic.

Inter-parliamentary ties remain pivotal to interstate engagement, including through Friendship Groups active in both chambers of our parliaments. Russian and Venezuelan deputies participate reciprocally in international events hosted by each country and actively observe electoral processes. Cross-factional and inter-party exchanges continue to broaden.

Political engagements rest on robust and multifaceted trade, economic, and investment cooperation. Despite Western sanctions, we have advanced mutually complementary collaboration. Moreover, unilateral restrictive measures against Russia and Venezuela have brought our nations closer, while our economies have developed resilient immunity to such pressures.

Practical coordination is channelled through the High-Level Russian-Venezuelan Intergovernmental Commission. At its 18th session (Caracas, November 7, 2024), a long-term plan for developing key cooperation areas until 2030 was signed.

Energy-sector investments in Venezuela underpin economic ties. Bilateral trade volumes grow via Russian exports of chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and agribusiness products. The Russia-Venezuela Council of Entrepreneurs operates effectively.

We systematically address logistical challenges within new geo-economic realities. Alternative financial mechanisms are being refined through interbank correspondent networks and central banks’ cooperation. The Russian-Venezuelan Evrofinance Mosnarbank functions successfully. Since 2024, Venezuela has accepted Russia’s Mir payment system cards via partner bank terminals. Independent transport and technological infrastructure leveraging domestic solutions is under development.
Military and military-technical cooperation, strengthened by joint exercises, visits of Russian vessels to Venezuelan ports, and initiatives to maintain the combat readiness of the Venezuelan Armed Forces, forms a cornerstone of bilateral relations.

During the coronavirus pandemic, humanitarian cooperation emerged as a vital social component, marked by Russian vaccine deliveries. This collaboration advanced further with the December 2022 inauguration of the Russian-Venezuelan Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Prevention in Caracas. Russian insulin shipments continue, with pilot projects underway to localise production.
Direct Caracas-Moscow-Caracas flights, operational since May 2021 via Venezuela’s state airline Conviasa, further deepen our ties. This route significantly contributes to tourism growth and strengthens friendship and trust between our peoples.

People-to-people ties have been a major element in our relations. Russia has been seeking to expand them by allocating state-sponsored scholarships so that Venezuelan nationals can enrol in Russian higher education institutions. The Centre for Open Education in the Russian Language and Teaching Russian at the Bolivarian University’s Francisco de Miranda Professional Training Institute operates successfully in Caracas, promoting mutual understanding. Universities have been forging closer ties too and there have been more delegation exchanges among civil society, research, educational and youth associations, coupled with joint lectures and workshops. There is also the good tradition of regularly receiving members of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry as interns at the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy.

Russia welcomes and supports mutually enriching cultural ties. Timed to coincide with the 240th anniversary of Simon Bolivar, Venezuela’s national hero, the unveiling of his monument in Moscow marked a major milestone. Venezuela reciprocated by placing Alexander Pushkin’s bust in the Ezequiel Zamora Park in Caracas to mark the great Russian poet’s 225th anniversary.

There have been more exchanges of music and threatre companies too. Venezuela offered a warm welcome to the Turetsky Choir, the Lyudmila Zykina State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble, and Grenada Russian Folk Band. Russian concert-goers enjoyed performances by the Bolivar Baroque Orchestra led by Maestro Boris Paredes in Moscow and St Petersburg. The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre has established direct contacts with Teatro Teresa Carreño, South America’s second largest theatre.

Sports diplomacy has also become an essential element on our bilateral agenda. Russia values Venezuela’s solidarity towards Russian atheletes when competing in international events, as well as during bilateral exchanges. Team Russia will always remember its experience at the 5th ALBA Games when it could proudly fly its flag in Venezuela in April 2023. We are always delighted to receive Venezuelan athletes in our country at the BRICS Games and the Games of the Future in Kazan.
Russia-Venezuela cooperation in the information space has been playing a special role recently, helping offer international audiences an alternative to the western mainstream.

Based on the experience we have accumulated in our relations and by being creative in building on this legacy, we reaffirm our commitment to further strengthening our friendship and promoting lasting, stable, predictable ties. We look to the future with optimism. We are certain that our bilateral relations will keep expanding into new domains, while our alliance on the foreign policy front will enable us to achieve our objectives. Celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and in WWII will definitely mark a major milestone in our bilateral agenda.

South Africa
Source: www.iol.co.za

Brazil holds the title of Latin America’s largest healthcare market, allocating 9.47% of its GDP—approximately $161 billion—to healthcare. Its healthcare system is defined by a dual structure comprising a vast public healthcare network (SUS) and a significant private sector. With 62% of its 7,191 hospitals privately operated, Brazil’s healthcare composition offers a study in contrasts, where public and private interests converge to address the country’s healthcare needs.

Public vs. Private Healthcare

The Unified Healthcare System (SUS) is the cornerstone of public healthcare in Brazil, serving 72% of the population. It offers free access to essential medical services, chronic disease medications, and nationwide vaccination campaigns, including pivotal efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Ministry of Health’s focus on Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PICS) emphasises preventive care and community well-being.

Despite these efforts, challenges persist. Brazil’s ranking of 125th out of 190 countries in the World Health Organisation’s healthcare rankings underscores the need for improved efficiency and quality of care. Meanwhile, the private healthcare sector, accessed by 50.7 million Brazilians, often duplicates services provided by SUS, highlighting inefficiencies within the system.

Access to Underserved Communities

One of Brazil’s greatest healthcare achievements lies in its extensive coverage of underserved areas. Community Health Workers (CHWs), numbering over 286,000, serve around 160 million people. Each CHW visits 100-150 households monthly, delivering health education, preventive care, and follow-up services. This system has contributed to a 75% reduction in under-five child mortality and a nearly 60% decline in maternal mortality over the past three decades. Additionally, life expectancy has risen by nearly ten years, reflecting the long-term impact of these initiatives.

Social programmes such as Bolsa Familia further bolster healthcare access by incentivising vaccinations and prenatal care through conditional cash transfers. This program has not only lifted 20% of the population out of poverty but also increased engagement with healthcare services.

Investment and Growth Opportunities

Brazil’s aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases create substantial investment opportunities. Sectors such as assisted living, mental health, rehabilitation, and chronic disease management are poised for growth. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have already demonstrated success in aligning public and private interests, driving investments, and reducing gaps in the healthcare system.

The healthcare market also benefits from a rapidly expanding consumer base. Rising purchasing power, an emerging middle class, and growing demand for high-quality healthcare services underscore the potential for innovation and investment. Regulatory frameworks, such as those established by ANVISA (Brazil’s Health Regulatory Agency), ensure compliance and quality while facilitating market entry for foreign companies. However, pricing competitiveness and strategic navigation of government relationships remain crucial for success.

The Role of Technology and Innovation

Technology is playing an increasingly vital role in shaping Brazil’s healthcare future. Telemedicine has expanded access to specialist care, particularly in remote and underserved regions, reducing patient wait times and improving treatment outcomes. Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics are also transforming diagnostics, patient monitoring, and hospital management, enhancing efficiency and personalised care. Digital health startups are flourishing, supported by government policies that promote innovation while ensuring regulatory oversight.

Additionally, Brazil’s pharmaceutical and biotech sectors are experiencing rapid advancements, with investments in research and development paving the way for novel treatments and homegrown medical solutions. Collaborations between universities, private enterprises, and international partners are fostering a more dynamic healthcare ecosystem that is well-positioned for future growth.

The Road Ahead

While Brazil’s healthcare system faces persistent challenges in quality and resource allocation, its achievements in expanding access and reducing mortality rates provide a strong foundation for growth. Strategic investments, both domestic and foreign, can bridge existing gaps, enhance efficiency, and further elevate the quality of care. As Brazil continues to prioritise healthcare in its national agenda, it remains a fertile ground for innovation and collaboration.

South Africa
Source: www.iol.co.za

Big Pharma is dominated by the US (United States), Switzerland and France, with Egypt minimally present in comparison. Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry is increasingly becoming the regional leader for drug manufacturing and production. Among the top pharmaceutical producing countries, China and India, founding BRICS+ members are featured and as of September 2024, 90% of Egyptian drug consumption was locally produced, with the number of pharmaceutical factories increasing by one-third over the past decade, according to Ahram Online.

Benefits of Localising Egypt’s Pharmaceutical Industry

Localising the Egyptian pharmaceutical industry if done effectively will hold massive benefits in a plethora of ways for Egypt's future and the region. The country not only achieves self-sufficiency by reducing its dependence on costly drug imports but also diversifies its export portfolio and strengthens economic ties with neighboring states across Africa and the Middle East. Additionally, it opens the sector for more FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) opportunities. After Saudi Arabia, Egypt is ranked second in terms of value of the Pharma market in MENA (Middle East and Northern Africa).

BRICS+ Collaboration in Pharmaceutical Advancements

In Egypt, the main pharmaceutical producing countries have an opportunity to engage in sharing best practices, have collaborative programs and can make a major impact in the industry representing the global South. Recently, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has signed two new cooperation protocols with the Upper Egypt Development Authority focused on the expansion of medical services, enhanced hospital facilities, strengthened family healthcare, and improved diagnostic and surgical services. As the relationship between Egypt and BRICS+ countries develops, the advancements that this agreement will provide can be replicated in other member countries which have the same healthcare dynamic. Conversely, BRICS+ members with stronger healthcare statuses can advise and give guidance to Egypt’s government-led initiative ‘New Beginning to Build the Egyptian Person’.

Egypt’s Medical Tourism and Pharmaceutical Growth

Pairing the pharmaceutical stature with Egypt’s high revenue-generating tourism sector, the country is set to become a key player in the global healthcare landscape by increasing its prevalence in Egyptian medical tourism.

Historical Foundations of Egypt’s Pharmaceutical Sector

Egypt has a long history in pharmaceuticals, considering it is one of the oldest strategic sectors dating to 1934 with the establishment of Misr Pharmaceutical Company (Holdi Pharma). The country has over 60 firms and 172 factories producing a wide range of medications at different levels of industry. The market has recently been valued at EGP 5 billion annually ($1 billion), and by 2030, it is projected that the export growth will grow to $3 billion particularly to African markets. Despite that, Egypt is one of seven African countries with vaccine manufacturing capacity, the other countries are Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Ethiopia and Tunisia.

COVID-19’s Impact on Egypt’s Pharmaceutical Standing

Despite all the tragedy that COVID-19 brought across industries globally, it successfully boosted Egypt’s pharmaceutical positioning on a global scale. Evidence of this is seen by medical supplies from Egypt being relied on by European countries such as the UK; this shows the quality of medical products produced from Cairo. Other factors that positively contribute to Egypt’s successful pharmaceutical exports include, fair pricing, effective public-private partnerships to strengthen capabilities and incorporating technological innovations like automation, digitising supply chains and artificial intelligence (AI). Combined these developments streamline the drug production processes, reduce costs, aids in optimising the development process by identifying the most compatible drug formulations, ensures more accurate inventory management, overall improving the sector’s efficiency, reducing human error and decreases labour costs.

Reducing Africa’s Dependence on Pharmaceutical Imports

Africa imports most (80-94%) of its medical supplies, unlike the EU (6.6%), making it reliant on external suppliers like China, India, and the EU. Egypt's potential as a pharmaceutical hub could mitigate this dependency, enhancing public health resilience and economic stability, especially during global disruptions.

Mega Projects and the Future of Egypt’s Healthcare Sector

Egypt is positioning itself as a medical tourism destination by capitalising on African healthcare innovative advancements and mega construction projects like the Medical City in NAC (New Administrative Capital) . This initiative aims to curb the trend of patients seeking care abroad and attract patients from Gulf countries by providing high-level services locally. Gypto Pharma City, the largest pharmaceutical city in the Middle East, will play a significant role in boosting Egypt's medical tourism, particularly for R&D, treating chronic diseases, cancer, dental work, and fertility treatments, all at cost-effective rates.
Egypt's pharmaceutical industry is driving economic growth, with Cairo positioned to become a major pharmaceutical hub. Through investment in laboratories, innovative treatments, and infrastructure, Egypt aims to provide affordable, high-quality healthcare to Africa, the Middle East, and other regions.

South Africa
Source: www.iol.co.za

China and the UAE: Leading the Quantum Charge

China is making significant and revolutionary strides in quantum computing. In 2020, Chinese scientists introduced the Jiuzhang, a quantum computer that completed a calculation in just 200 seconds, compared to an anticipated 2.5 billion years for a traditional supercomputer. China's dedication to attaining quantum dominance has been demonstrated by this accomplishment. A major milestone for Origin Quantum Computing Technology's Origin Wukong machine, a 72-qubit quantum computer that uses superconducting technology, was also recently reported. Its global effect is demonstrated by the fact that since its cloud availability in January 2024, academics from 139 countries have visited it remotely more than 20 million times.

China has made significant advancements in quantum communication in addition to computation. The founding of a nationwide quantum network that spans thousands of kilometers was made possible by the 2016 launch of the Mozi satellite, and it allowed for long-distance quantum transmission. Chinese scientists worked along Russian scientists to successfully establish quantum communication between Urumqi in China's Xinjiang province and ground stations near Moscow, spanning 3,800 kilometers. This experiment was proof that a quantum communication network across the BRICS+ bloc could be implemented, providing previously unheard-of levels of security against eavesdropping.

As a recent addition to the BRICS bloc, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also established itself as a pioneer in technical advancement. The UAE has established strategic alliances with international quantum research institutes and has made significant expenditures in secure communication networks, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. The nation is making significant investments in quantum-secure financial technologies, which are essential for cybersecurity and digital banking in the future. The UAE's desire to play a significant role in quantum developments is reflected in the creation of quantum research facilities in Abu Dhabi.

Russia and Iran: Pioneering Quantum Research and Collaboration

Institutions such as the Russian Quantum Center (RQC) demonstrate Russia's dedication to quantum technologies. One of the major accomplishments of the RQC is the demonstration of quantum key distribution (QKD) for secure communication. Russia's standing in the quantum world has been further strengthened by partnerships with China. In addition to demonstrating scientific superiority, the collaborative quantum communication experiment with China has highlighted the BRICS+ bloc countries' capacity to create a secure quantum communication network that does not depend on Western infrastructures.

Another new member of the BRICS, Iran, has also been developing quantum computing. To improve national security, Iranian researchers have been creating their own cryptography methods and quantum algorithms. To speed up quantum research, Tehran has also looked into joint ventures with China and Russia, notably in the fields of safe financial transactions and military communications.

India and Brazil: Strategic Investments in Quantum Technologies

India has made calculated investments aimed at capitalising on the revolutionary potential of quantum technologies after realising their potential. In order to promote the development of quantum technologies in a variety of fields, including computing, the Indian government established a National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications, providing over $1.12 billion over five years. At the forefront of this research are organisations like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), which concentrate on quantum computing, communication, and cryptography.

Particularly in the areas of quantum algorithms and cryptography, Brazil's Federal University of Minas Gerais' Quantum Computing Group is making significant strides. Brazil is positioned as a major player in the Global South's quantum landscape thanks to their research, which covers theoretical aspects of quantum computing including error correction and communication protocols.

South Africa and Ethiopia: Emerging Players in Quantum Research

Despite being a latecomer, South Africa is making steady progress in the field of quantum research. Quantum communication, encryption, and information processing are the main areas of study for the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Quantum Research Group. Their work on error correction methods and quantum algorithms is essential to the continent's technological advancement.

Through collaborations with China and India, Ethiopia, another recent addition to the BRICS, has started investing in quantum technologies. With an emphasis on cybersecurity and financial security applications, the Ethiopian government has started projects to incorporate quantum computing into its digital infrastructure.

Practical Implications and Future Outlook

There are various real-world ramifications to the BRICS+ bloc combined efforts in cybersecurity and quantum computing. Secure data transmission is ensured by the development of quantum communication networks, protecting against potential cyberthreats. This is especially important for safeguarding private financial and governmental data. By developing quantum technologies, the BRICS+ countries demonstrate their sovereignty in vital technological areas and lessen their reliance on Western technologies. Investments in quantum technologies have the potential to benefit the general public by fostering the growth of new industries, the creation of jobs, and economic diversification. As BRICS+ countries lead the way in advanced technologies, their geopolitical clout is expected to grow, allowing them to have a greater say in establishing international technology norms and regulations.