Indian expert names most promising areas for BRICS cooperation

Energy, agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure development are the most promising areas for BRICS countries' trade, and economic and investment cooperation, Onkar Kanwar, Chairman of the Indian BRICS Business Council, said in an interview with the news agency TASS.

According to Mr Kanwar, food security is still a challenge for all five BRICS countries. "We need to focus on the joint selection of new climate-change-resistant crop varieties," he said, adding that BRICS agricultural product trade has much potential.

In healthcare, he stressed the need for cooperation in providing affordable medicines. "The BRICS countries have agreed to promote exports to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and other diseases. Pharmaceutical companies can pool their efforts to aid their governments and pursue joint research," he said.

Mr Kanwar also stated that one of India's priorities within BRICS was to ease visa requirements for BRICS business people, promote trade in national currencies, and work with the New Development Bank. A travel-friendly visa regime implies five-year multiple-entry visas to BRICS entrepreneurs. "We also hope to draft a declaration on investment guidelines, which would offer uniform rules to businesses in the BRICS countries," Mr Kanwar said in conclusion.