An estimated US$499.77 million worth of agreements were reached at this year’s BRICS and Agriculture Investment & Trade Summit in Durban, South Africa.
The summit had an interesting focus on supporting women entrepreneurs, the development of cross-border partnerships and the introduction of advanced technologies in the agricultural sector in the Global South.
Major contracts in agribusiness and infrastructure, are the US$456 million sugar export deal between South African and Brazilian companies.
Another is the planned construction of a US$25,5 million sugar factory based on the Brazilian agro-model in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.
More include the US$16,11 million injection in poultry production through a partnership with Zimbabwe; an infrastructure project (fertiliser production, solar energy, borehole drilling in South Africa) worth over US$5 million.
Zanele Ntuli, Head of Food Security Working Group of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance South Africa, said “BRICS states can really ensure food security in emerging markets because we have South Africa and Nigeria, the most populous country on the African continent.”
In additioon, an agri-tech platform, based on artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, was launched at the Summit.
The platform was developed by women from South Africa.
About 29 women startups initiatives were funded and five women executives received grants for business internships in India.
Photo: Njabulo Mzobe / 2025 BRICS+ Agriculture Investment & Trade Summit