The BRICS Economic and Trade Forum convened in Beijing on Friday, unveiling a new handbook designed to boost trade cooperation and standards alignment among member states.
Titled the "Handbook on BRICS trade development and standards cooperation", the publication systematically compiles essential trade and national standards information across member states.
As a practical reference tool, it seeks to enhance "soft connectivity" by offering targeted guidance to align standards and streamline cross-border commerce.
"It helps align diverging national standards, reduce frictions, which is especially important for small and middle-sized enterprises," said Gudkov Nikolay, chief representative of the Beijing office of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russia Federation.
"I think the release of this book is of great significance to all the BRICS and BRICS Plus countries," said Atul Dalakoti, executive director of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The handbook is expected to help BRICS countries to lower information acquisition costs, help them navigate compliance risks, strengthen their capacity to address technical barriers to trade, and boost their participation in international economic and trade cooperation and standards setting.
Initially established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, BRICS has now evolved into an influential international cooperation mechanism with an expanded membership among emerging economies.
BRICS forum releases handbook to boost trade cooperation, standards alignment
