Several BRICS members, including Brazil, India, and China, are actively forging new trade deals with southern African nations. Brazil’s Lula da Silva administration announced its Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) will organize business missions scheduled for August 26 to September 2, 2026. India is pursuing partnerships in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals, with deals already signed. China’s trade with the region exceeded $208 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by a zero-tariff model. These moves strengthen the bloc’s economic foothold in a region previously overlooked by Western powers.
The Brazilian government, under the administration of Lula da Silva, launched a Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) to organize business missions in southern Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will lead talks with representatives, scheduled to take place between August 26 and September 2, 2026, according to a report from Brazil 247.
The itinerary includes visits to South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, and Ethiopia. The project aims to strengthen trade relations and establish the presence of Brazilian companies in the region. India is also seeking partnerships in the manufacturing and pharmaceutical industry. The Modi administration is pursuing deals in critical minerals to enhance business agendas. ANI reported that these deals were already signed by India with the presence of Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry.
China has already established a business route with southern African countries, with trade between the two exceeding $208 billion in the first half of 2026, according to Tunis Afrique Presse. China adopted a zero-tariff model with its African counterparts and maintained a diplomatic relationship. During May and June, China’s imports of African products exceeded $28 billion. The bloc members are gaining a stronghold in the region, which was mostly ignored by the West.
