Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
Participants in TRENDS' first BRICS Think Tank Summit, held by TRENDS Research & Advisory in Russia on the sidelines of the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, emphasised the need to expand the roles of think tanks and media to play a vital role in supporting public policies and crafting innovative strategies for sustainable development and enhancing international cooperation among BRICS nations.
They stressed that the role of think tanks and media institutions in BRICS nations is now more important than ever. These institutions are tasked with generating the knowledge that drives innovation, progress, and prosperity. With the capabilities to analyze challenges and turn them into promising opportunities, these institutions play a crucial role in developing economic and social policies that enhance cooperation between BRICS nations and enhance their collective global influence.
The participants also highlighted that think tanks play a vital role in charting development paths for BRICS nations. They noted that the bloc needs to activate media diplomacy and train young researchers to advance the collective knowledge of BRICS nations. Additionally, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles is essential for promoting green innovation and sustainable development.
Summit Partners
The TRENDS first BRICS Think Tank Summit was held in Russia in partnership with the Russian News Agency TASS and Russia Today, as media partners for the summit.
Fourteen think tanks from 10 BRICS member countries participated in the event, which featured two main sessions: the first focused on "The Role of Think Tanks and Media in Developing Economic, Cultural, and Geopolitical Policies for BRICS Nations," while the second addressed "The Role of Think Tanks in Strengthening the Soft Power of BRICS Nations."
Purposeful Intellectual Summit
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, noted that while official discussions were ongoing between BRICS leaders at the Kazan Summit, TRENDS was committed to holding a purposeful intellectual summit. This gathering aimed to present constructive ideas and perspectives to support official efforts to enhance cooperation among BRICS nations and promote prosperity, peace, and collaboration between the bloc’s countries and peoples.
Al-Ali emphasised that TRENDS seeks, through organising this high-level summit, to foster deep intellectual discussions on the best ways for BRICS think tanks to achieve their ambitious goals, with focus on foreseeing future developments and developing policies that will increase future opportunities and minimise challenges that could hinder the development trajectory of BRICS nations and their collaborative relationships.
Vast Economic Potential
Al-Ali pointed out that the BRICS has immense demographic and economic capabilities. The ten current member countries represent 45 percent of the world's population and 25 percent of the Earth's land area. Their economies have a cobmined value of $28.3 trillion, representing 28.8 percent of the global economy, and they control 20 percent of global trade, according to WTO data.
He added that these substantial capabilities signal a promising future for the bloc, positioning it as a significant economic and political force on the global stage.
However, this requires a comprehensive scientific vision and a clear roadmap to achieve this future. He continued, "I firmly believe that this is the role of think tanks, which should collaborate to provide this integrated vision by developing innovative strategies and actionable plans."
Developing Geopolitical Policies
Mohammed Al-Salmi, Head of the Research Sector at TRENDS Research & Advisory, inaugurated the summit by delivering the opening remarks. He emphasised that think tanks and media institutions are playing an increasing role in developing geopolitical policies and strengthening the soft power of nations. He added that the TRENDS Think Tank Summit addresses a critical issue: the role of think tanks in shaping the policies of BRICS nations and increasing their global influence.
Al-Salmi mentioned that the summit aims to highlight the importance of cooperation between think tanks and the media, identify the challenges and opportunities available in this field, and develop strategies to support the soft power of BRICS countries, contributing to enhancing their position on the international stage.
BRICS Policy Development
Subsequently, discussions of the first session began under the title “The Role of Think Tanks in Developing Economic, Cultural, and Geopolitical Policies for BRICS Nations”.
The session was moderated by Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, a senior researcher at TRENDS. Dr. Natalia Berenkova from Lobachevsky University in Russia emphasised the importance of cooperation between think tanks in BRICS countries, stressing the need for dialogue and information exchange to bridge gaps in research methodologies.
Berenkova said that think tanks can enhance mutual understanding and encourage interdisciplinary approaches. She called for the training of young researchers and knowledge dissemination, highlighting the interconnectedness between academia and think tanks in Russia. She also called for more focus on training programs and collaborative projects to produce researchers with a global perspective.
Collective Knowledge
Dr. Osama El-Gohary, Prime Minister Assistant and Chairman of the Information and Decision Support Center, Egypt, said that the expected decline in global GDP growth over the next five years puts pressure on BRICS economies, making research and intellectual cooperation a key factor for the group’s success in achieving its goals.
He added that through partnership and collaboration, we can harness the collective knowledge of our countries and create a more prosperous and sustainable future. We must seize opportunities for cooperation and work together to advance academic and intellectual collaboration within the BRICS group.
He noted that the role of think tanks has become more important than ever, as they play a fundamental role in developing knowledge that drives innovation and progress.
Development Paths
Dr. Morteza Zamanian, a board member and senior advisor at the Governance and Policy Think Tank (GPTT), highlighted the vital role of think tanks in shaping development paths for BRICS countries, focusing on the challenges posed by the diverse political, economic and social structures of those countries.
He emphasised the importance of having institutional intermediaries to overcome these differences. He added that think tanks act as a bridge between academic institutions and policymakers, which enhances their importance in leading policy development. He pointed to the need to focus on establishing a common currency and a unified payment system for BRICS countries, calling for regular meetings of think tank representatives to discuss these economic priorities.
Integrated Economic Indicators
Dr. Maxim Meyer, Advisor of General Director of Rusgeologia, noted that specialized and private research, intellectual and analytical centers are more successful and efficient than government centers affiliated with ministries and central banks. This opens the door for BRICS research and analytical centers to work together in understanding the prospects and trends in relations among BRICS member states.
He mentioned that there are many diverse areas of cooperation between BRICS countries, such as modern payment systems, advanced vocational education, economic education, environmental production development, and expanded industrial cooperation. He stressed that BRICS countries need to establish sovereign systems, and think tanks and analysts must help develop these systems and propose the important directions and details for them.
Strengthening Soft Power
The second session of the summit, titled “The Role of Think Tanks and Media in Strengthening the Soft Power of BRICS nations”, was moderated by Ali Al Ali, researcher and Director of TRENDS Dubai Department.
Alok Kumar, President of Russia and Central Asia Economic Council of India, began the session’s contributions by saying, emphasised the importance of trust, shared values, and strategic integration to achieve sustainable cooperation among BRICS countries, in addition to integrating environmental, social and governance principles to promote green innovation and sustainable development.
He added that civil society institutions and the private sector play pivotal roles in enhancing cooperation and sustainable development. Civil society is seen as a mediator and a source of reliable scientific information, supporting inclusive decision-making, while the private sector drives economic growth, creates jobs, and boosts technology.
Activating Media Diplomacy
Fadila Al-Muaini, Chairperson of the UAE Journalists Association, noted that the rapid development taking place in BRICS bloc countries requires the media to play a parallel role to highlight the bloc’s efforts. This underlines the necessity to create a new media powerhouse for the bloc, aimed at reaching the various audiences in member countries. She stressed the urgent need for the BRICS countries to activate media diplomacy now in order to highlight bloc’s real goals for seeking a multipolar world.
Al-Muaini believes that media outlets in BRICS countries need to build media cooperation bridges, enhance people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning, and speak with a unified voice on the international stage. She explained that media and research institutions in BRICS countries should utilise the current technological revolution in working to develop the group, raise awareness among its citizens, and provide official institutions in member countries with ideas and visions capable of spreading the spirit of sustainable development in the countries of the group.
Genuine Multilateralism
Hu Zhentao, Director of the China International Communications Group Office in Moscow, asserted the importance of cooperation among BRICS countries in light of global changes. He noted that the expansion of BRICS group marks a new era of cooperation in the Global South, promoting deeper exchanges among member countries. He added that despite the challenges posed by unilateralism and global protectionism, BRICS countries remain committed to genuine multilateralism. Hu Zhentao emphasized the role of media and research centers in addressing global challenges.
Openness, Inclusivity, and Cooperation
Dr. Zhao Zhongxiu, President of the University of International Business and Economics in China, explained that BRICS countries uphold the spirit of openness, inclusivity, and cooperation in all dimensions, focusing on shared benefits. This approach has strengthened the capabilities and economic progress of the BRICS countries among many developing countries, contributing significantly to the global economic recovery.
He pointed out that the international influence and appeal of the BRICS mechanism continue to grow, drawing attention from more countries interested in joining the group. He affirmed that think tanks in BRICS countries play a vital in supporting public policy and formulating of innovative strategies to achieve sustainable development and enhance international cooperation. Dr. Zhao Zhongxiu added that think tanks shoulder the responsibility of promoting technological advancement and social development.
Formulating Cooperative Initiatives
Dr. Yitina Gebre, Director of Ethiopian Institute of Foreign Affairs, said that the TRENDS Summit of BRICS Think Tanks opens the door for knowledge exchange and identifying shared challenges and solutions, in addition to its significance in providing policy recommendations, formulating cooperative initiatives, and advocating for impactful policies that boost sustainable development.
He explained that BRICS think tanks are capable of unifying and highlighting the strengths in climate resilience, trade and investment, sustainable development, and technological innovation. These think tanks can shape the future of joint scientific and knowledge-based initiatives that reinforce prosperity, peace, technological advancement, and collaborative climate action.
A New World Order
Dr. Hussein Solomon, from the Center for Gender and Africa Studies, emphasized that the world is currently living in a period of severe climate change at a time when a new global order, led by BRICS countries, is taking shape. He pointed out that BRICS countries represent more than 42 percent of the world’s population and nearly 36 percent of the global GDP.
Solomon also said that the BRICS group can become an advocate for Africa in multilateral forums, particularly concerning climate change. He emphasised that BRICS could be a viable new partner for Africa, a continent that remains the most vulnerable to climate change despite its minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Economic Studies Platform
In a related context, and on the sidelines of the first TRENDS BRICS Think Tank Summit, Fahad Al-Mahri, Head of “TRENDS Dubai” Sector, announced TRENDS’ initiative to establish the Economic Studies Platform for BRICS Think Tanks. He explained that this platform will serve as an interactive forum bringing together experts and researchers from all the collaborating think tanks of BRICS countries, with the aim of supporting knowledge exchange and data analysis related to BRICS economies.
Al-Mahri added that the platform seeks to provide a comprehensive repository of analyses and research on the economies of BRICS countries, making it a reliable source of information that facilitate a deeper understanding of the economic challenges and opportunities in these countries.
He emphasised that the platform would support collaboration among think tanks, academic institutions, and researchers from various BRICS countries by promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise and developing joint research projects.