Egypt’s BRICS engagement enters third year

Egypt’s participation in the BRICS grouping enters its third year this week as President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi leads the country’s delegation to the bloc’s 18th summit in New Delhi.

The summit, hosted by India on September 12 and 13 under the theme “Building Resilience, Innovation, Co-operation and Sustainability,” brings together the grouping’s 11 member states.

Sisi’s programme includes participation in the summit’s sessions and bilateral meetings with leaders of BRICS countries and senior officials from international organisations.

Egypt formally joined BRICS in January 2024, seeking to expand its economic, trade and investment ties with emerging economies and deepen co-operation with countries of the Global South.

The grouping, originally established by Brazil, Russia, India and China before South Africa joined, has grown into a major platform for political and economic coordination among emerging powers. Its current membership includes 11 countries.

Egypt’s trade with BRICS members rose to approximately $53.5 billion in 2025, up from $45 billion in 2024. Egyptian exports to the bloc increased from $9.5 billion to $14 billion over the same period.

Egyptian officials have used BRICS meetings to call for stronger economic and financial co-operation, easier access to development financing for Global South countries, wider use of local currencies in trade, and greater support for digital transformation, green growth and artificial intelligence.

The New Development Bank, established by BRICS, is also seen by Cairo as an important source of financing for infrastructure and development projects.

Egypt has taken part in ministerial and preparatory meetings ahead of the New Delhi summit, with its ministers responsible for trade, industry and finance contributing to discussions on the group’s economic agenda.

Preparatory activities also included a conference in Cairo entitled “Egyptian-Indian Partnership within BRICS: Towards a Shared Vision for the Global South.”

Cairo has presented its BRICS membership as part of a broader effort to diversify its international partnerships and strengthen its position as a bridge between Africa, the Arab world and other emerging economies.