Ethiopia's BRICS Membership Bearing Fruit

Addis Ababa, April 19/2024(ENA)- As Ethiopia assumed its membership in the esteemed BRICS alliance in January 2024, the country's active involvement in various BRICS meetings has begun to yield a multitude of benefits.

From economic opportunities to technological advancement and global collaboration, Ethiopia's BRICS membership is proving to be a catalyst for growth and development.

Ethiopia wasted no time in making its mark within the BRICS community, with its first-ever participation in a major BRICS meeting held in January 2024.

This initial engagement focused on issues of common concern, allowing Ethiopia to contribute to the group's agenda and forge meaningful connections with fellow member nations.

One of the key advantages of Ethiopia's BRICS membership lies in the technological sphere. BRICS nations are renowned for their advancements in technology and innovation.

By joining BRICS, Ethiopia gains access to a vast pool of technological expertise, best practices, and collaborative opportunities. This strategic positioning empowers Ethiopia to strengthen its own technological capabilities and advance its digital transformation agenda.

Ethiopia's commitment to information security has also been showcased through its active participation in the BRICS Working Group on Security in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

During the 10th meeting held in Moscow, Ethiopia emphasized the significance of international information security and the peaceful utilization of ICTs.

The country stressed the need for close cooperation and coordination among BRICS member nations to proactively prevent cyber attacks, fostering a secure digital landscape.

The recent meeting focused on 'Security in the use of Information and Communications Technologies' saw Ethiopia's enthusiastic engagement alongside all member countries.

The Information Network Security Administration (INSA), Director General , Tigist Hamid who represented who represented Ethiopia at the forum, highlighted the nation's commitment to leveraging its abundant young talent for Ethiopia's journey to prosperity.

Recognizing the importance of adapting to the rapidly changing information and technology ecosystem, she emphasized the need for swift adjustments to mitigate the growing global threat of cyber attacks.

The issue of information security resonated strongly among BRICS member countries, who collectively recognized its significance. Tigist also called for continued emphasis on the topic, stressing the importance of cooperation and coordination among member nations. Strengthening resilience to cyber threats and fostering a secure global digital environment emerged as shared priorities within the BRICS community.

The 10th BRICS Working Group Summit concluded on a high note, with member countries reaching a comprehensive agreement. This agreement encompassed various aspects of information communication security, including information exchange, joint prevention of cyber threats, capacity building programs, increased resilience to cyber attacks, and the sharing of best practices.

The 10th BRICS Working Group meeting confirmed the mutual interest of all the participants of the group in strengthening cooperation among members. An important practical result of the work was the decision to establish a register of BRICS contact points for the exchange of information on computer attacks/incidents in the expanded membership. The partners received a positive response to the Russian proposals on strengthening the regulatory and legal framework for cooperation, as well as on launching a dialog through the scientific and academic community.

During the event, the delegations agreed to continue close cooperation in all aspects at multilateral platforms. They reaffirmed their commitment to the exclusively peaceful use of ICTs, to prevent militarization of information space, to prevent conflicts in it, and to overcome the digital divide. They agreed to jointly promote these principles in the UN.