Bangladesh keen to join BRICS: Momen

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Bangladesh is keen to join BRICS, an economic bloc of five countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, if the platform invites Bangladesh.  

"We will surely join if they invite us. BRICS leaders are thinking of taking eight emerging economies, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Indonesia," he told reporters at the foreign ministry this afternoon. 

The foreign minister said Bangladesh has already become a member of the BRICS New Development Bank.

"We want more money from different sources. If they (BRICS) invite us .. I think we will welcome it," he said.

Earlier in Geneva, the foreign minister hinted that Bangladesh is likely to become a member of BRICS in August this year.

Momen recently attended the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting virtually at the invitation of the Foreign Minister of South Africa Dr. Naledi Pandor.

At the meeting, Momen said the current global economic crisis is inducing countries to cooperate more on regional and multilateral platforms.

BRICS leaders are expected to attend the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa from August 22-24. The Summit will be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) in Johannesburg, Gauteng, reports BSS.