Musings From Abroad

Brazil’s Lula da Silva wants more members for BRICS

Published

10 months ago

August 3, 2023

Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed support for the inclusion of more countries in the BRICS group which currently consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Lula’s remarks came after it was reported that Brazil had objected to the joining of more countries because some Brazilian diplomats were worried that doing so may reduce the influence of current members.

“We are going to discuss the entry of new countries (to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa bloc), and I am of the opinion that as many countries want to enter if they are in compliance with the rules we are establishing, we will accept the countries’ entrance,” explained President Lula.

Lula also praised the potential of the BRICS bank, better known as the New Development Bank, which is now sponsoring infrastructure projects in Brazil.

“I think the BRICS bank needs to be more effective and more generous than the IMF. That is, the bank is there to help save countries and not to help sink countries, which the IMF often does,” he added.

Lula’s position might influence Africa’s involvement with BRICS as the South American leader has a rich history of relations with Africa, having been president for two terms before his current term which began in January.

A few African countries have indicated an interest in joining BRICS. Last month, Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune was reported to be keen on his country becoming a shareholder member of the BRICS Bank with an investment of $1.5 billion.

The spokesperson of Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry, Meles Alem in June also told journalists that Ethiopia “has applied for membership and we expect BRICS to give us a positive response to the request we have made”

Both Egypt and Algeria had previously expressed a desire to join the group. Bangladesh, Argentina, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have all indicated a desire to join the alliance in addition to Africa.

South Africa, the only African state in the group, will host the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg, from 22 to 24 August 2023.

Related Topics:Brazil BRICS Featured President Lula

Click to comment

Musings From Abroad

Nigeria’s Air Peace accused of safety violation by UK regulator

Published

1 day ago

May 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority has received a letter from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority claiming that Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, had allegedly broken several aviation safety laws.

The allegation comes just three months after the Nigerian airline initiated the Lagos-London route.

“United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report with reference number: CAA-UK, -2024-0217” and “NATS Management System Safety Report” were the titles of the CAA’s letter of complaint that was sent to the NCAA. Additionally, the NCAA has written to Air Peace to elucidate the matters at hand.

The letter was labelled “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report” and has the reference number NCAA/DOLTS/APL/Vol.11/03624 on it. Capt. O.O. Lawani, the NCAA General Manager of Operations, signed the document, which had the date May 14, 2024.

The NCAA stated in the letter that the flight captain acknowledged using an electronic flight bag for navigation and that the UK CAA had alerted it to the lack of operational approval for Electronic Flight Bag functions that could compromise the aircraft’s safety.

NCAA added that “no mounting device for the use of EFB, no charging points, or battery for backup” was mentioned in the letter from the CAA.

Air Peace has started flying from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to London Gatwick as part of Nigeria and the United Kingdom’s bilateral air services agreement.

As of the time of publication, Stanley Olisa, the Air Peace spokesperson, could not be reached.

Since Air Peace started operating flights from Lagos to London, international airlines including British Airways, Virgin, and others have reduced their fares on the route.

Several industry watchers have urged Nigeria’s government to back Air Peace by opposing ‘aero politics” along the route and taking retaliatory measures to undermine Air Peace’s viability there.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Hailiang, Shinzoom to establish vehicle battery installations in Morocco

Published

5 days ago

May 16, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Hailiang and Shinzoom, Chinese car battery makers, will establish two separate operations in Morocco as the country strives to adapt its burgeoning automotive sector to rising demand for electric vehicles, Moroccan officials announced on Tuesday.

Tanger Tech, the Moroccan northern industrial zone’s development authority, said Hailiang intends to establish a $450 million copper facility on a 30-hectare plot of land. Shinzoom, a subsidiary of Hunan Zhongke, plans to invest $460 million in an anode plant spanning 20 hectares, according to a statement.

In April, the Moroccan government approved Chinese electric battery company BTR New Material Group (835185.BJE)’s plans to build a factory in Tangier to manufacture crucial component cathodes.

Another Chinese firm, CNGR Advanced Material (300919.SZ), plans to develop a cathode plant in Jorf Lasfar, 100 miles south of Casablanca, where the government has set aside 283 hectares for electric battery sectors.

Last year, the Moroccan government and China’s Gotion agreed to examine establishing an electric vehicle battery plant in the country, with a potential investment of up to $6.3 billion. Last month, Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour told Reuters that the Gotion project was moving forward, with conversations over its footprint and location.

Morocco’s strategic location on the Strait of Gibraltar, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and existing automotive sector cluster all attract Chinese enterprises.

In 2023, the automotive sector topped Morocco’s industrial exports with $14 billion, a 27% increase. Morocco is home to Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and Renault (RENA.PA) production factories with an annual combined capacity of 700,000 automobiles, as well as a network of local suppliers.