BRICS Summit

Chair: Noor Waheed


BRICSSummit
Dossier

1. PresidentofRussiaVladimirPutin
WithalmosttwodecadesofexperienceastheleaderoftheRussianFederation,
anextensivehistoryworkingfortheKGB,adegreeinlaw,andhighpolitical
ambitions,PutinsdesiretorestoreRussiatoasuperpowerstatusisevident.
Somesayhehasbeenveryheavyhandedinhisinternationaldealings(e.g.Syria,
Ukraine)whileothershavelaudedthemascalculatedmasterstrokestoincrease
RussiasrelevanceintheareawhileemphasizingthehelplessnessoftheWestto
intervene.BeingpartofBRICSisobviouslyinRussiasbestinteresthowever,
whatdoesthatmeanintermsofregionalconflictswithgiantslikeChina
threateningtorenderRussiainasubordinateposition?

2.ActingPresidentofBrazilMichelTemer
TemerservedastheVicePresidentofBrazilunderDilmaRousseffstenureprior
toherimpeachment.Heplayedanimportantroleinsecuringsaidimpeachment
andRousseffhadgonesofarastocallhimatraitorto[her]administration.
Temersagendaseemstobeaimingformoreglobalizedtradeandincreasing
Brazilsinternationalcredibility.However,atthesametime,hemayseeksupport
fromitspowerfulneighbor,theUnitedStates,inordertosecurehisownposition
inBrazil.Temerspresidencyisalsoquiteunpopularwithallegationsof
corruptionleviedagainsthimaswell.

3.PresidentofChinaXiJinping
JinpingsprimarygoalhasalwaysbeentoconsolidateandgrowChinese
influenceinAsiaasevidentbyitscurrentinvolvementintheSouthChinaSea.
Xisfirmstanceonthisissuedoesnotmeanthathewillactrecklesslyand
increaseinternationaltensionsonpurposeitsimplymeansthathewillnotbow
downtoforeignpressuresindefendingChinasnationalinterests.Hebelievesin
fivethings.First,thereisthetrendtowardamultipolarworld.Second,thereis
thetrendofglobalization.Third,thereisthetrendofpeaceanddevelopment.
Fourth,thereisthetrendofreformintheinternationalsystem.Andlastly,there
isthetrendofgrowingprosperityintheAsiaPacificregion.

4.PrimeMinisterofIndiaNarendraModi
SinceModi'stakingofficeasPrimeMinister,hisadministrationhasfocusedon
reformingandmodernisingIndia'sinfrastructure,reducingbureaucracy,
encouragingincreasedforeigndirectinvestment,improvingnationalstandards
ofhealth,andimprovingforeignrelations.Heiskeentoincreasethestakesof
IndianstatesinamajorforeignpolicyforumlikeBRICS.Modi'semphasisison
buildingBRICSbecauseithelpsinbrandingIndia'sstrengthsanddiversity,and
creatingacounterargumentagainstthosewhoaccuseIndiaofaproUStilt.
Howeveratthesametime,ModiisawareofthethreatposedbygiantslikeRussia
andespeciallyChina,withwhomithasconsistentborderdisputes.
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5.PresidentofSouthAfricaJacobZuma
ZumahasbeenservingasthePresidentofSouthAfricasince2009,andwas
reelectedin2014.SincehiselectionZumafacedmountingcriticismthathis
administrationhadfailedtoimprovethenationaleconomyortoeffectivelybattle
corruption.Additionally,hislessthanperfectcriminalrecord,whichincluded
rapeandcorruptioncharges,hasbeenanimpedimenttohisPresidency.Heaims
tousethisBRICSsummittoimprovehisappearancedomesticallyandnationally.
ZumaalsoaimstoincreasetheeconomicpartnershipsthatSouthAfricahaswith
otherBRICSmembersasawaytojumpstarthisnationseconomy.Zumafurther
aimstodothiswhileatthesametimenotcomingundertheswayofChina,inthe
waythatotherAfricannationshavebeen.

6.MinisterofForeignAffairs,BrazilLuizAlbertoFigueiredo
Machado
Machado,educatedformallyinlaw,hasoverthecourseofhiscareerbeen
successfulinforgingdiplomatictieswithotherLatinAmericancountriesaswell
asrepresentingBrazilintheUS,CanadaandParis.Thefocusofhispolicy
revolvesaroundagreatercultureofsustainabilityinBrazil,bothintermsofits
economicresourcesandtheenvironment.TheMinistryofForeignAffairs,also
knownasItamaraty,isresponsibleforBrazilianforeignpolicyandinternational
relationsonthebilateral,regional,andmultilaterallevels.TheMinistryadvises
thePresidentoftheRepubliconforeignpolicyandontheimplementationof
diplomaticrelationswithStatesandinternationalorganizations.Machadoisalso
BrazilspermanentrepresentativetotheUN.

7.MinisterofForeignAffairs,RussiaSergeyLavrov
LavrovhasformerlyservedbothasthepermanentrepresentativeofRussiatothe
UNbutalsoasPresidentoftheSecurityCouncil.Hehasbeendescribedasa
brilliantdiplomatandatough,reliable,andextremelysophisticatednegotiator,
butmerelyacivilservantandnotapolitician.Theforefrontofhispolicyrevolves
aroundthepreventionoftheexpansionofNATO,andincreasedcooperationnot
onlywiththeWestinareassuchasterrorism,butalsoincreasedcooperation
withtherapidlyrisingAsiaPacificregion.Hebelievesthatthisisthesecond
waveofglobalization,whichneedstobeutilizedifRussiaseekstobesuccessful
inthefuture.

8.MinisterofForeignAffairs,ChinaWangYi
YihasathoroughgraspofAfricanandAsianlanguages,graduatingfromcollege
withadegreeinJapaneselanguage.InhistimeasForeignMinisterhehas
furtheredinitiativesonbehalfoftheChineseintheArabworld,visitingIsrael
andPalestineanddiscussingtheimportanceofanArmsTreatywithIran.
Additionally,hehasworkedonexpandingintoAfricawithgreaterbilateral
relationsbetweenSomaliaandChina,andbelievesitisimportanttofurtherthe
ChinaIndiacompromiseinordertoensureamutuallybeneficialfuturetoboth
parties.YialsoembodiesChinesenationalism,havingastrongstanceagainstthe
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SouthChinaSeaarbitrationandthequestionofhumanrightsviolationsin
China.

9.MinisterofForeignAffairs,IndiaSushmaSwaraj
Swarajhasabachelor'sdegreeinSanskritandPoliticalScienceandisan
advocateintheIndianSupremeCourt.Sheisaseasonedpoliticianandiswidely
consideredtoamongstthebestspokenIndianpoliticiansanddiplomats.Shehas
twomainpolicygoalsinhertenure.Firstly,somethingshecallsfasttrack
diplomacy,leadingIndianforeignaffairsthroughaseriesofproactive,strong,
andsensitivemeasures.Secondly,adoptingaLookEastpolicy,which
acknowledgestheupcomingstrengthincountriestowardstheeast,suchas
Vietnam,Japan,andChina.

10.MinisterofForeignAffairs,SouthAfricaMaiteNkoana
Mashabane
AsSouthAfricasMinisterofInternationalRelationsandCooperation,Ms
NkoanaMashabaneisentrustedwiththeformulation,promotion,andexecution
ofSouthAfricasforeignpolicy,takingoverallresponsibilityforallaspectsof
SouthAfricasinternationalrelationsinconsultationwiththePresident.Inthe
pastshehasalsohadconsiderableexperiencedealingwithcountriesinSouth
AsiasuchasIndia,SriLanka,Bangladesh,theMaldives,andNepal.Sheisvery
sympathetictothecauseofpovertyinSouthAfrica,isastrongsupporterof
PresidentZuma,andbelieveseconomicdevelopmentshouldbethecenterpieceof
BRICS.

11.ExecutiveSecretaryoftheBrazilianDefenceCouncilJosElito
Carvahlo
CarvahloisastrongproponentofanincreasedmilitarypresencebyBrazils
bordersandexpandingtheNavyandAirForcesjurisdictioninthesurrounding
areas.Heisalsoinfavourofhumanitarianintervention,havingbeenvery
involvedintherestorationofHaiti,andsupportstheideaofBrazilreceiving
foreignmilitaryresources.

12.MinisterofDefense,RussiaSergeiShoigu
RankingasaGeneralintheRussianArmyandservingastheMinisterof
EmergencySituations,Shoiguhasalotofexperienceunderhisbelt.Hebecame
popularbecauseofhishandsonmanagementstyleandhighvisibilityduring
emergencysituations,suchasfloods,earthquakesandactsofterrorism.As
MinisterofDefensehehaspushedRussiatosigntreatieswithVietnam,Cuba,
Nicaragua,Singapore,andmanymoretohousepermanentmilitarybasesor
refuelingstopsinthosecountries.HewasinvolvedintheRussianinterventionin
SyriaandalsowasaccusedofsupportingseparatistmilitiasinUkraine.


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13.MinisterofDefense,IndiaManohavParrikar
AnarchitectoftheDefenceProcurementPolicy,ParrikarisinterestedinIndia
expandingitsweaponsmanufacturingability,focusingonspeedyprocurement
andindigenousdesignamovethatwouldputIndiaatanadvantageboth
militarilyandeconomically.Hehasapenchantfortechnicalthinking,beinga
graduatefromatoptechschoolinIndiawithadegreeinmetallurgical
engineering.HehasexpressedhisconcernoverthehappeningsintheSouth
ChinaSea,andtheIndoPacificingeneral,reiteratingIndiasLookEastpolicy,
concurrentlyacknowledgingthemilitarychallengeofrisingeasterncountries,the
threatofterrorism,andtheimportanceofcooperation.Inaddition,hehas
launchedmaritimesecuritydialogueswithAustralia,China,France,Japan,and
theUnitedStates.Goingbeyondthetraditionalnotionofsecurity,hesupports
Indiasattemptstobuildeconomiccooperationwithmaritimeneighborstoreap
thebenefitsoftheBlueEconomy.

14.MinisterofNationalDefense,ChinaChangWanquan
ChangWanquanbelievesthatChinasdestinyisvitallyinterrelatedwiththatof
theworldasawhole.AprosperousandstableworldwouldprovideChinawith
opportunitieswhileChinaspeacefuldevelopmentalsooffersanopportunityfor
thewholeworld.Chinawillunswervinglyfollowthepathofpeaceful
development,pursueanindependentforeignpolicyofpeaceandanational
defensepolicythatisdefensiveinnature,opposehegemonismandpowerpolitics
inallforms.Chinasarmedforceswillremainastaunchforceinmaintaining
worldpeace.ParticularlydisturbedbyexpansionbytheUSintheAsiaPacific
region,aswellastheirclosetiewithJapanandSouthKorea,Changbelieves
Chinahastherighttosafeguarditsnationalunification,territorialintegrityand
developmentinterests.

15.MinisterofDefense,SouthAfricaNosiviweMapisaNqakula
In1984,sheleftSouthAfricatoundergomilitarytraininginAngolaandthe
SovietUnion.SouthAfricandefensepolicyrevolvesaroundcompleteneutrality
inconflictbetweenthesuperpowerswithprioritygiventoSouthAfricannational
interests,especiallythosethatguaranteefreeenterprisethatfurtherSouth
Africaneconomicandfinancialpolicy.Ambitionsandfinancesneedtobe
reconciledandSouthAfricadoesnotwanttoengageinanythingthatundermines
that.

16.MinisterofAgriculture,BrazilBlairoMaggi
Maggisgoalsaretosupportventuresthatpromoteenvironmentalsustainability.
Brazilhasundertakenarangeofinitiativestoaddressenvironmentalconcerns,
andtoadapttoandmitigateclimatechange.Moreover,environmentaland
sustainabilitycriteriaarenowwrittenintofarmsupportprogrammes.These
regulationsarelikelytohaveanincreasingrole,giventhepaceofoutputgrowth
andtheexpansionofagriculturalareaintheCentreWest.


BRICSSummit
17.MinisterofAgriculture,RussiaAlexanderTkachyov
AquacultureisanimportantpartofRussianagriculturepolicy.Increasingthe
supervisionandcontroloverwaterbiologicalresourcesandprotectionoftheir
naturalhabitatsinRussiasinlandwatersisattheforefrontofTkachyovspolicy.
HehasbeendescribedbysomeasoneofPutinsmostloyallieutenantsandhas
beenastrongadvocateforbuildingadamacrosstheKirchStraitsbetween
KrasnodarKraiandUkraine.Heisalsostronglyopposedtointernalimmigration
andporousborders.

18.MinisterofAgriculture,IndiaRadhaMohanSingh
SinghhaslistedcowprotectionandbetterbreedingofIndiancowsasoneofhis
priorities,inadditiontoschemestoprovideirrigationandinsurancetofarmers.
Singhhasurgedofficialstoadoptlatesttechnologiesvisavismobile
applications,smartphonesandvideoconferencinginsteadofdoingwork
manuallytoupdatedatafromthefieldsonaregularbasis.Hecalledforthe
applicationofbiometricstoinduceproperworkculturetobringindesired
changesinourworkapproach.

19.MinisterofAgriculture,ChinaHanChangFu
Chang Fu holds a doctorate of law and was formerly the governor of the Jilin
Province.ForHanChangFu,foodsecurity isstillastrategicfocusforChina,and
the sector still needs a lot of support and attention. He believes that in the
modernization process, agriculture is laggingcomparedwithothersectors,such
as urbanization, industrialization and information technology. Hehasurgedfor
the restructuring and upgrading of business models and production systems to
onesthatfocus on technologyandextendtheproductionchainofagriculture.He
promotes supplyside reform because some products are excessive while others
are in short supply. The purpose of this reform is to increase the quality and
efficiency of supply, ensure stable production, and reduce pressure on the
environment.

20.MinisterofAgriculture,SouthAfricaSenzeniZokwana
AgricultureisanimportantindustryinSouthAfrica,duetoitsincredible
diversityandcompetitivemarketpractices.Zokwanaaimstobringthissector
furtherintotheforefrontthroughaseriesofmeasuresthatincludebuildingan
efficientandinternationallycompetitiveagriculturalsector,supportingthe
emergenceofamorediversestructureofproductionwithalargeincreaseinthe
numbersofsuccessfulsmallholderfarmingenterprises,andconserving
agriculturalnaturalresourceswhileputtinginplacepoliciesandinstitutionsfor
sustainableresourceuse.

21.MinisterofTradeandCommerce,BrazilArmandoMonteiro
MonteirospolicyregardingtradeandinvestmentinBrazilinvolvesencouraging
investmentandinnovation,supportingindustryandforeigntrade,providing
innovationfundingandtaxadvantages,encouraginggrowthofhighand
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mediumtechnologysectors,strengtheninginnovatorsandstartups,developing
workforcetrainingprograms,helpingstructurepublicprivatepartnerships,and
rewardingreductionsingreenhousegasemissions.WhileBRICSisobviouslya
beneficialunionforBrazil,itgoeswithoutsayingthatworkingwiththeUnited
StatesisalsoanimportantelementofBrazilstradepolicy.

22.MinisterofTradeandCommerce,RussiaDenisManturov
ManturovhopesthatinstrengtheningtieswiththeBRICSnations,Russiacan
overcomeitsweaknessesintradesuchasahighlevelofdependencyonoiland
gasprices.Economicstimulationwillleadtoanincreaseinmachineexports,
increasedmarketshareinCIScountries,anderadicationofdeeperissuessuchas
vulnerabilityintermsoffoodsecurityandagriculturalproductionahighlevelof
opennesscombinedwithahighlevelofimportconcentration.However,Russia
seemstobequiteadamantaboutkeepingitsbordersfrombeingporousevenin
thefaceofincominginvestmentfromtheITsphere,whichmightposea
challengetoitsalliance.

23.MinisterofTradeandCommerce,IndiaNirmalaSitharaman
SitharamanholdsamastersdegreeinEconomicsandaPhDinIndoEuropean
Textiletrade.SheisafirmadvocateofModisliberalizationofForeignDirect
Investment(FDI)normswithinIndia,beingcompletelyinlinewithhisMadein
Indiapolicy.ShebelievesthechangeinFDIpolicywillhelpmakeIndiaa
manufacturinghubandcreatemorejobsinthecountry.Herpolicyservesto
attractmoreinvestmentsthroughautomaticroutesinsevensectorsincluding
defence,civilaviation,singlebrandretail,pharmaceuticals,andthebroadcast
industry.

24.MinisterofTradeandCommerce,ChinaGaoHucheng
HuchengstressesallrounddevelopmentinChinasforeigntrade.Thismeans
adheringtodevelopingeconomicandtradepartnershipsbasedonpractical
cooperationandmutualbenefitwithallcountries,nomatteriftheyarebigor
small,richorpoor.ItiscrucialforChinatopromoteinternationalcooperationin
emergingindustriesofstrategicimportance.Todevelopnewstrategicindustries,
itisofgreatsignificanceforChinatorecognizethetransformationofforeign
trade,andtoadapttoitthroughsustainabledevelopment.

25.MinisterofTradeandCommerce,SouthAfricaRobDavies
Duringhisfirsttermfrom20092014,Daviesoversawthedevelopmentand
implementationofthreeIndustrialPolicyActionPlansaswellassteeringSouth
Africa'sparticipationinimportanttraderelations,includingtheTripartite
SADCCOMESAEACFreeTradeArea,BRICS,EconomicPartnershipAgreement
withtheEuropeanUnion,theUSAfricaGrowthandOpportunityAct,andthe
WorldTradeOrganisationBalipackage.


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26.MinisterofHealth,BrazilRicardoBarros
InBrazil,publichealthhasapoliticalandsocialagendadrivenbyvarioussectors
ofsociety,suchaslaborunions,institutionalcommittees,andpoliticalparties.
BarrosunderstandsthattherequirementsfortheimprovementofBrazil'spublic
healthsystemaretwofold:boththequalityandquantityofservicesmustbe
addressed.Todothis,additionalfinancialandhumanresourcesareessential.
Lackofinfrastructureregardingbasicequipmentandmedicationsinclinicsand
hospitalsisaseriousissueleadingtochaosinvariousmunicipalities.Qualityof
managementalsoneedsconsiderableprogresstocreatebetterallocationof
scarceresourcesandareductionofcorruptioninthepublichealthsector.

27.MinisterofHealth,RussiaVeronikaSkvortsova
Aneurologistbyprofession,Skvortsovasmainchallengeinthefieldofpublic
healthisthefactthatRussiaisslashinghealthcareservicestoplugbudgetgaps
leftbyloweroilprices.ThismakesRussiaseconomicwellbeingcrucialtoher
ownagendaofhealth.Despitethelargenumberofhospitalsandahugearmyof
medicaldoctors,Russiahasbeenunabletoprovidepeoplewithanacceptable
levelofhealthcareservices.Thisismainlyduetoacontinuedlackoffunds,
medicalandtechnicalequipmentsupplies,andtheineffectiveorganizationof
healthcaredeliveryservices.Asaresult,thequalityofservicesandtheir
accessibilityremainsquitelowandapressingissueinthefaceofRussianpolitics.

28.MinisterofHealth,IndiaJPNadda
NaddaseekstolessenIndiasconsiderableproblemsinthefieldofhealthcarevia
thedraftNationalHealthPolicy.Thedraftpolicyappreciatestheurgencyto
achieveuniversalhealthcoverageaccesstoqualityhealthcareforallwithout
increasingfinancialburdenonindividualsandfamilies.Itfurtherrecognizesthe
needforhigherlevelsofpublicexpenditure,improvementstoprimary
healthcaredelivery,movementtowardapurchasermodelforhealthcare
servicesincludingbothpublicandprivateproviders,andtheexpansionofa
nationalhealthinsuranceprogramtargetingthepoor.

29.MinisterofHealth,ChinaLiBin
Whilehealthcareitselfisnotinternationallytradedonasignificantscale,China
drawsextensivelyonmedicaltechnologythathasbeendevelopedelsewhere.
Additionally,theevolutionandmanagementofChinashealthcaresystemisalso
ofgreatinteresttointernationalfirmsthatmarketnewdrugsandothermedical
technology.Overtime,LiBinexpectsthatChinesepharmaceuticalfirms,
universities,andmedicalschoolswillbecomemoreengagedinternationallyin
researchandtraining,offeringinterestingopportunitiesforinternational
exchanges.Assumingthattheleadershipwillbeabletocontinuefocusingon
Chinaspeacefulrise,policiestoreduceeconomicinequality,alongwithbetter
protectionoftheenvironment,willbecritical.


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30.MinisterofHealth,SouthAfricaAaronMotsoaldei
Currently,SouthAfricaseekstouniversalizeitshealthcarethroughajointeffort
onpartofpublicandprivatehealthcareresources.This,coupledwiththeHIV
epidemicwithintheregion,furtheremphasizesSouthAfricasneedtohavea
flourishingeconomyinordertoaccommodateitsdesireforuniversalhealth
coverageforallitscitizens,andisatthecenterofMotsoaldeispolicies.

31.MinisterofScienceandTechnology,BrazilAldoRebelo
Rebeloplanstomakethescienceportfolioaverypoliticalone,linkingittoissues
ofnationalsovereignty,strategicpositioning,defence,andeconomicprowess.
ThisnewtonebeingadoptedbyRebelomaygrateharshlyoninternational
partnersinthescientificandresearchcommunityseekingtoengageBrazilin
deepercooperation.Rebelomadethesomewhatopaqueannouncementthat
Brazilshouldntbecomeatechnologycolonyandwarnedagainstsciencebeing
usedtodividepeoplesandhumanity.Atthesametime,however,he
acknowledgesthatscienceandtechnologyareinstrumentalinpropelling
democracyinBrazil,resultinginadifficulttounderstandsciencepolicy.

32.MinisterofScienceandTechnologyDmitryLivanov
LivanovbelievesthatitisimperativethatRussiaisattheforefrontofresearch
andhasresourcesandopportunitiesthatattractbrilliantnewmindsbothlocally
andinternationally.Hehopestofosteraneraoftechnologicaldevelopmentthat
isconducivetocreatenewlaboratories,equipthemwiththenecessaryscientific
equipment,andinviteleadingscientistsbothforeignandRussian.

33.MinisterofScienceandEducation,IndiaDr.HarshVardhan
TheScienceandTechnologyInternationalCooperationDivisionofDepartment
ofScienceandTechnologyhasthemandatedresponsibilityofnegotiating,
concluding,andimplementingScienceandTechnology(S&T)Agreements
betweenIndiaandothercountriesandprovidinginterventionsonS&Taspectsin
internationalforums.Dr.VardhanisastrongsupporteroftheLookEastactand
theMadeinIndiapolicy.AlsoitisevidenttoDr.Vardhanthatinorderto
maximizeIndiasgaininthefieldsofscienceandtechnology,itwillbeimportant
toengageinasmanyinternationalalliancesaspossible.

34.MinisterofScienceandTechnology,ChinaWanGang
ThemajorgoalofWanGangsprogramistoaddressmajorscienceand
technologyissuesinnationaleconomicandsocialdevelopment.Theprogram
concentratesontheresearchanddevelopment(R&D)ofkeyandcommon
technologiesthatdrivetechnicalupgradingandrestructuringofindustriesthat
promotesustainablesocialdevelopment.Theprogramprovidesadvancedand
applicablenewtechnologies,materials,techniques,andequipmenttoindustrial
andagriculturalproduction,whilefacilitatingtheapplicationand
industrializationofhightechachievementstoenhancetheinternational
competitivenessofkeyindustriesandhumanwelfare.Italsoaimstocultivatean
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elitegroupinvolvedinkeyR&Dandestablishanumberofinternationally
recognizedtechnicalinnovationbases.Itsmajorobjectivesrevolvearound
improvingthequalityandaccessibilityofmedicalequipment,better
agroproductprocessing,andmovingtowardsmoreenvironmentallysustainable
technology.

35.MinisterofScienceandTechnology,SouthAfricaNalediPandor
Pandorsgoalsaretodeveloptheinnovationcapacityofthenationalsystemto
contributetosocioeconomicdevelopment.Pandoraimstoaccomplishthisby
enhancingSouthAfricascapacityforgeneratingknowledgetoproduce
worldclassresearchoutputs.Itishishopethatthesetheseadvancedfindingsare
spurredintoinnovativeproductsandprocesses.Developmentofhumancapital
inscientificandtechnologicalinnovationandworldclassinfrastructureiscentral
tothisvision.HeseekstopitchSouthAfricaasacenterofstrategicinternational
researchtopromoteanexchangeofknowledgeandresourcesbetweenSouth
Africaanditsregionalandotherinternationalpartners,thusstrengtheningthe
nationalsystemofinnovation.

36.PresidentofNationalResearchUniversityAlexanderShokhin
ShokhinistaskedwithoverseeingtheoperationsoftheNationalResearch
UniversityofRussia.HeisalsoinvolvedwithintheRussiangovernmenton
severaldeliberativecommittees.Shokhinaimstoexpandandimproveuponthe
nationaleducationsystemandisoftencalledinonsuchmeetingstoserveasan
agentwhocanprovideeconomicexpertiseinordertohelpwiththedevelopment
ofhumancapital.Alexanderaimstodothisbyallowingforgreatertravelof
humanresourcesbetweenBRICSnationsinordertoincreaseeachnationsown
educationalabilities.

37.RectoroftheUniversityofSaoPauloMarcoAntonioZago
ZagooverseastheexpansionoftheUniversityofSaoPauloanditsgeneral
functioning.Asamedicinalexpert,Zagoaimstoexpandonthemedicinal
abilitiesoftheUSP.HealsoaimstodeveloptheabilityoftheUSPtoexpandand
adapttothechangingglobalandBrazilianeconomy.Marcoespeciallyaimsto
attractmoreguestprofessorsinordertoallowhisownprofessorstohavehigher
capabilities.Atthesametime,healsoaimstoensurethatsuchguestlecturersdo
notcompromisetheBrazilianhierarchyofthenationaluniversity.

38.PresidentofTsinghuaUniversityQiuYong
QiuYongistaskedwithmakingtheTsinghuaUniversitymorevisibleonthe
globallevel.HeisalsoinvolvedwithintheChinesegovernmentonseveral
committeesregardingpossibleforeignactions.Yongaimstoexpandandimprove
uponthenationaleducationsystemandisoftencalledinonsuchmeetingsto
serveasanagentwhocanprovideeconomicexpertise.Yongaimstodothisby
allowingforgreatertravelofhumanresourcesbetweenBRICSnationsinorderto
increaseeachnationsowneducationalabilities.Healsowishestoadvertisethe
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universityandgaininternationalprestigebymakingtheuniversitycollaborate
withotheruniversitiesonresearchprojects.

39.DirectoroftheIndianInstituteforScienceAnuragKumar
KumaraimstomakestheIndianInstituteforSciencethecenterforpioneering
scientificprojectsintheAsiansphere.GiventhepastsuccesstheIIShashadin
creatingstudentswhohavegoneontoexcelinthefieldofscienceabroad,Kumar
aimstoattractsuchsuccessfulindividualsbacktotheIndiawiththepromiseof
governmentfundingandtalentedlabor.Healsoconsiderscollaborationwith
otherdevelopingnationsasapaththatmustbeexplored,butdoesnotwant
foreignindividualsinterferingwiththebureaucracyoftheIndianInstitute.

40.ChancelloroftheUniversityofCapeTownGracaMachel
MachelaimstoadapttheUniversityofCapeTowntothedomesticeconomic
changesthatSouthAfricaisexperiencing,andaimstoretaintalentfromleaving
SouthAfrica.HewishestostopthebraindrainthatSouthAfricaexperiencesby
makingSouthAfricanuniversitiesmoreattractivetothenationsyoung
population.Healsobelievesthatwhileforeigntalentwouldbenice,itshouldbe
targetedmoretowardsimprovingdomesticteachingcapabilitiesasopposedto
makingforeignteachersandexpertsapermanentfixtureatSouthAfrican
universities.

41.MinisterofEconomicDevelopmentofSouthAfricaEbrahim
Patel
Patelistaskedwithensuringthatthereisacentralizedwaybywhichpolicyis
coherentanduniform,andsothatdecisionsforeconomicdevelopmentarenot
madeonanadhocbasis.Tothisextent,gettingacentralizedplantoboost
employment,andtoboosteconomiclinkagesbetweenruralandurbanareasof
thecountry.Ebrahimaimstocreateapipelinebywhichtheyouthgraduating
fromSouthAfricancollegeshaseasyaccesstothejobmarketrightupon
graduation,andalsoaimstoensurethatmicrofinanceloanscanbeharnessedby
thecountrytofunddevelopmentintheruralareas.

42.MinisterofEconomicDevelopmentofRussiaAlexeyUlyukaev
Recently,Russiahasfacedsevereeconomiccontractionasaresultofthevarious
sanctionsimposedonitintheaftermathoftheUkrainianCrisis,andalsodueto
thelowpriceofoil.Asaresult,TheEconomicDevelopmentMinistryofRussiais
attemptingtodiversifyandexploitthirdworldmarketsforeconomicgrowth.To
developthenationtheMinisterhastotacklethebudgetdeficit,whichheaimsto
dosobychangingtheretirementageofthecountry.Atthesametime,printing
moneyandhighforeignborrowingsarealsobeingsuggested,butthatwould
deepenthebudgetdeficitofthecountry.

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43.PresidentoftheCentralBankofBrazilIlanGoldfajn
IlantookofficeinJune2016,andhasbeenthrustintoavolatileeconomic
situation.Reelingfromthehighinflationratesandthepoliticaluncertainty,Ilan
needsaplantoavoidadefaultandtorestoreconsumerconfidenceinthe
economy.Thiscouldbedonebyattractingbusinessfromotherdeveloping
nations,orfromgettingincreasedforeigncashflows.Additionally,providing
incentivesliketaxbreakswouldhelptokeepbusinessesinvestedinthenation.

44.DevelopmentCommissionerofChinaXuShaoshi
GivenChinasprominentpositionontheglobaleconomy,Xuwillaimtoensure
thatChinaisabletotakeadvantageofthismeetingtogetmoreagreementsthat
ensurethatChinesebusinessescancontinuetoexpandoverseas.WhatXuis
currentlyfocusingonisthegrowthoftheChineseeconomyandwaystoensure
thatthereisaconstanttransferofcorporateandstateincometowardsthe
developmentoftheChinesemiddleclass.

45.MinisterofMicroandSmallEnterprisesofIndiaKalrajMishra
TheMinistryofMicroandSmallEnterprisesofIndiaaimstoencourageboutique
companiesthroughoutIndiathatprovidelocalservicesandgoods,whilealso
relyingonIndiansupply.GiventheimportanceofsuchcompaniesintheIndian
economy,Mishraaimstoensurethateasyfinancingoptionsareavailabletosuch
enterprises,andtoindividualsaimingtosetupsuchcompanies.Thishasbeen
triedbyvariousbankingandfinancinginitiativesbytheIndiangovernment,but
thesedonotappeartohavepaiddividends.

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Gary DePalo
Secretary-General
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PO Box 400435
Newcomb Hall Station Charlottesville, VA 22904-4435

Non-Affiliation Statement
Although this organization has members who are
University of Virginia students and may have University
employees associated or engaged in its activities and
affairs, the organization is not a part of or an agency of the
University. It is a separate and independent organization
which is responsible for and manages its own activities and
affairs. The University does not direct, supervise or control
the organization and is not responsible for the organizations
contracts, acts, or omissions.