Experts discuss e-trade in BRICS countries

At the meeting on 3 December 2015 the BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues discussed the implementation of the BRICS plan of action for e-trade that was drafted on the basis of recommendations of the first BRICS Expert Dialogue on e-Commerce and approved by the BRICS economy and foreign trade ministers.

Deputy Director of the Ministry of Economic Development's Department for Asia, Africa and Latin America Natalya Strigunova said experts plan to launch a comprehensive study on the barriers that are obstructing e-commerce in the BRICS countries and draft common methods for overcoming them.

Members of the Contact Group also discussed the results of the recent BRICS single window seminar and Russia's initiative to create a website for small and medium-sized companies in the BRICS countries, Latin America and South-East Asia.

"The website will give the exporters, importers and investors from the BRICS countries unique opportunities for accessing new markets, finding potential partners and launching promising projects," Ms Strigunova emphasised.

The participants discussed the implementation of the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership, approved by the BRICS leaders at the Ufa Summit last July and reaffirmed the need for the early completion of the road map for BRICS trade, economic and investment cooperation until 2020. They emphasised the importance of closer cooperation and coordination of the positions of the BRICS countries in the world arena, including the WTO and the G20.