Egypt has officially joined the BRICS group as of January 1, 2024. This move is anticipated by many productive sectors in the country, aiming to reduce reliance on the dollar and to help meet manufacturing needs and production inputs from BRICS member countries with additional facilities that alleviate pressure on the dollar. A source from the Egyptian foreign trade sector stated that "Egypt's entry into BRICS will facilitate agreements on local currency trade with some countries within the BRICS alliance, especially Russia and China." This source also noted that "the steps and procedures for joining began in August 2023, making Cairo a member of the economically strongest alliance after the G20."
The BRICS group, which includes countries of varying economic sizes and political systems, shares a common goal of limiting the control of the dollar over trade movements and finding alternatives to a global system dominated by the dollar and Western powers. More than 40 countries have recently expressed interest in joining BRICS.
The Information Center of the Egyptian Cabinet, in a previous statement, emphasized that Egypt's membership in BRICS signifies the strength of the economic and political relations between Egypt and the bloc's countries and underscores its economic and geopolitical standing in the Middle East and North Africa.
Ibrahim Al-Mansurly, a former official in the Ministry of Trade, stated that "Egypt's accession to the BRICS group will significantly enhance the competitiveness of local products in terms of quality and price." He explained that with Egypt joining this group, there will be an increase in exports, imports, and exchanges among member countries, which will help reduce the trade deficit of the member states, thereby alleviating pressure on the demand for dollars.
According to recent data from the General Authority for Statistics, the value of Egyptian exports to BRICS countries increased by 5.3% in 2022, reaching $4.9 billion compared to $4.6 billion in 2021.