BRICS sherpas discuss economic issues, terrorism

Ahead of the BRICS summit on Sunday, sherpas of the five countries today discussed key issues, including those pertaining to global economy as well as terrorism, in order to finalise the text of the Goa Declaration to be adopted by their leaders.
Issues like reform of the UN and the IMF, WTO and G20 were among the important subjects discussed by the sherpas, official sources said, adding that terrorism was also a key topic that was taken up.
"Terrorism being a common challenge faced by all BRICS countries, was an important part of the discussion," sources said.
The meeting is being chaired by Secretary ER (Economic

Relations), MEA, Amar Sinha.
Official sources said a particular focus was on intra- BRICS trade, finance and industrial collaboration as well cooperation in education, health, agriculture, science, energy and disaster management.

Several other important subjects, including reform of the UN and IMF, WTO and G20, apart from progress on the sustainable development goals were also deliberated upon by the sherpas.
India's chairmanship of BRICS has been marked by several new initiatives, enhanced people-to-people contacts and broad-basing sectoral cooperation between the member nations, sources added.
The main BRICS Summit on October 16 will begin with a photo opportunity followed by restricted talks between the leaders and later a meeting of business captains from the member-countries. In the second half, after the speech of the leaders, there will be BRICS and BIMSTEC retreat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be having nearly ten bilaterals, including an annual summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit and BIMSTEC outreach meet.