BRICS BRASIL

Employment and Agriculture agendas inaugurate BRICS Brasil meetings this week

With six new countries participating as full members, the Employment meeting scheduled for Wednesday (12) will inaugurate the group’s meeting cycle.

Published on Feb 10, 2025 6:32 PM

Brasil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates the frontline of BRICS Brasil. Image: Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom/Agência Brasil

BRICS will hold its first two meetings under the Brazilian Presidency this week. On February 12–13, discussions will begin with the Employment agenda, followed by Agriculture on February 13–14. This marks the fourth time Brazil has presided over BRICS, now with increased responsibility, as the number of member countries has more than doubled, and nine partner nations have joined.

The new discussion format will rely heavily on videoconferencing and will be coordinated from the BRICS Headquarters in Brasilia, which will host most sessions. The first in-person meeting will also take place this month at the Itamaraty Palace. Sherpa and technical meetings are exclusive to full members.

Employment

Under the coordination of the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment, the technical meeging on the issue will be held on February 12–13 (Wedensday and Thursday). Discussions will focus on the impacts of climate change on labor and the pathways for a just transition, as well as the effects of the advancement of artificial intelligence on the future of labor. The agenda will center on the need for the private and public sectors to promote training opportunities for workers to update their skills in the face of the new social, climatic, and digital scenario.

Agriculture

The Brazilian Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock, Agrarian Development, and Fisheries and Aquaculture are leading the discussions at the technical meeting on February 13–14 (Thursday and Friday). Key topics include sustainability, innovation and agricultural financing, the international market, and food and nutritional security. Regarding the latter, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty—launched during Brazil’s G20 Presidency last year—will be part of the discussion.

The two working groups aim to build on discussions initiated during Brazil’s G20 Presidency, highlighting cohesion between the country’s international agendas. By July—when the 17th BRICS Summit is set to take place—the group will have held around 100 meetings on a wide range of issues.