BRICS Business Council
Joint Statement on COVID-19 pandemic

 

We, the Leaders of BRICS Business Council National Chapters proceeding from the common interests of the BRICS countries in strengthening stability, security and sustainable economic development in the region, ensuring health and well-being of its multibillion population and from the need to further expand the trade-economic and investment ties, cross-border and inter-regional cooperation,

EXPRESSING our serious concerns about the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared as a pandemic on 11 March 2020, and its negative effects on the well-being of the people and global socio-economic developments.

RECOGNIZING the important role of the WHO and National Governments and committed to working closely with relevant organisations and the international community towards fighting the pandemic and its impact.

 

ACKNOWLEDGING the role of New Development Bank in providing support via Emergency Assistance Program Loan to BRICS countries to finance direct expenses related to the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak and provide support to governmental measures contributing to economic recovery.

 

EMPHASIZING the value of regular and timely exchange of experience and sharing of best practices among the BRICS participants and with BRICS’s external partners in effectively responding to COVID-19 and help business to recover from the dramatic and ongoing economic slowdown.

 

EXPRESSING deepest condolences and sympathies for the loss of life and suffering caused by the pandemic.

EMPHASIZING our gratitude and support to all medical professionals, healthcare workers and other frontline personnel who have been working with all their hearts and minds to fight the pandemic.

REAFFIRMING our shared commitment to enhance cooperation and mutual support among the BRICS countries to control and contain the spread of the pandemic, addressing the adverse impact of the pandemic on our societies and economies.

 

SUPPORTING governments’ efforts to mitigate the pandemic’s effects on jobs and growth, and lay the foundations for a strong and inclusive recovery.

 

RECOGNIZING the role of extensive immunization against COVID-19 as a global public good for health in preventing, containing and stopping transmission in order to bring the pandemic to an end, once safe, quality, efficacious, effective, accessible and affordable vaccines are available.

 

In this context, we collectively call on the BRICS Leaders to continue strengthening cooperation in this challenging time and pay attention to the following actions:

 

  • Minimise disruptions to trade and global supply chains through intergovernmental cooperation
  • Provide barrier-free logistics environment for essential comodities between the BRICS countries
  • lmplement tailored short- and medium-term fiscal policy measures to support economic activity and international cooperation within the BRICS business community
  • Prioritize direct support to small and medium business
  • Share of experience and best practices in epidemiological research and development, clinical treatment, joint research and development of vaccines and anti-viral medicines
  • Intensify cooperation for adequate provision of medicines, essential medical supplies and equipments
  • Support responsible business conduct approach and promote measures to increase sustainable financing
  • Provide a balance between a fast recovery, the continuity of enterprises and sectors, and environmental and social issues
  • Collaborate to promote both private sector and government-funded research and development, including open innovation, across all relevant domains, on measures necessary to contain and end the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular on vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics

 

We strongly believe that now is the time to stay together for concrete measures to respond to the economic dimensions of the pandemics.

BRICS business organisations can be a strong partner for the National Governments and play a key role in helping to identify solutions that maximize healthy outcomes while minimising economic damage.