On 1 January 2024, Russia assumed the BRICS Chairship. This year the bloc welcomed new members namely, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to the BRICS bloc as per adoption through the 15th BRICS Summit Declaration in August of 2023 (BRICS Summit Declaration – Johannesburg II).
The event offered an opportunity to engage with leading experts, scholars, and policymakers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, and, Ethiopia, and provided a unique platform to exchange ideas, share insights, and contribute to the discourse on global governance, economic development, and geopolitical dynamics. Attending the 16th BRICS Academic Forum by invitation were experts from Algeria, Canada, Nigeria, and the United States of America.