logo

Malaysia calls on BRICS to boost intra-trade, champion fair, just global order

Malaysia Sun06-07-2025
KUALA LUMPUR, 5th July, 2025 (WAM) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for an increase in intra-BRICS trade and for the group to emerge as a strong and principled force,
grounded in equity, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to shaping a more balanced and just international order.
Lamenting unilateral tariff measures and protectionist policies, Anwar expressed confidence that BRICS, which today accounts for nearly 40% of the global economy, holds vast potential to boost trade within the informal grouping. "With that collective strength, we can engage the world safely, fairly, and justly, negotiating on equal terms with all partners in the multilateral system," he said as quoted by Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA).
He further emphasised the need for reform of key international institutions. "We must demand the transformation of global governance structures, from the United Nations to the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank towards a more democratic and just multilateral order," he said at the BRICS Business Forum entitled: 'Bridging Continents, Building Future: A Shared Agenda for Sustainable Progress' in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil today.
Also present were President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vice President of Brazil Geraldo Alckmin and President of the Brazilian Confederation of National Industry (CNI) Ricardo Alban.
Anwar arrived earlier today to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit hosted by Brazil from 6 to 7 July at the invitation of President Lula.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Figma, Motiff Settle Intellectual Property Disputes
Figma, Motiff Settle Intellectual Property Disputes

Barnama

time15 minutes ago

  • Barnama

Figma, Motiff Settle Intellectual Property Disputes

BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Figma and Motiff have reached an agreement to resolve their intellectual property (IP) disputes in the United States (US) and Singapore, effective July 23. The dispute began in September 2024, when Figma sued Motiff for breach of contract and copyright infringement in the US and simultaneously filed a copyright and trademark infringement suit in Singapore. According to a statement, Figma and Motiff have mutually agreed to settle both lawsuits; in addition, Motiff has also agreed to reimburse Figma's legal expenses. 'Figma is singularly focused on building the best possible product for our users. We welcome fair competition and strongly believe that no one should be allowed to copy our or others' IP to gain an advantage. 'We are pleased to have reached a global settlement that aligns with Figma's values and allows us to keep building for our customers and community without distraction,' said a Figma spokesperson. Meanwhile, a Motiff spokesperson commented that the company is equally pleased to have reached a compromise global settlement with Figma that will allow them to focus its efforts on Motiff's AI 2.0 product as it is committed to bringing AI value to its users. Under the settlement agreement, Motiff will cease selling its current Motiff Editor Tool and refrain from launching any future products derived from it globally, with the exception of mainland China, where sales may continue for one year during a redesign phase. -- BERNAMA

Has the elephant begun stomping in the ground of the bald eagle? — Phar Kim Beng
Has the elephant begun stomping in the ground of the bald eagle? — Phar Kim Beng

Malay Mail

time15 minutes ago

  • Malay Mail

Has the elephant begun stomping in the ground of the bald eagle? — Phar Kim Beng

AUGUST 15 — When reports emerged that India had 'sent a circular to BRICS granting full rupee access' for trade settlement, the immediate interpretation was that the world's most populous democracy had finally decided to stomp its feet on the monetary turf long dominated by the United States. After all, in the lexicon of geopolitics, the 'elephant' is India and the 'bald eagle' is America. The symbolism was irresistible. But reality, as is often the case in the intricate dance of international finance, is more layered than headlines suggest. On August 14, 2025, India's Ministry of External Affairs and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) moved quickly to clarify that de-dollarisation is not on the country's financial agenda. Instead, New Delhi is pursuing a pragmatic pathway: expanding the use of the Indian rupee for cross-border trade, especially among BRICS members and key bilateral partners, without attempting to dethrone the dollar outright. This does not mean nothing significant is happening. Far from it. The RBI has been quietly removing roadblocks to rupee-based trade settlement, with Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) at the heart of the effort. On August 12, foreign banks holding these SRVAs were allowed to invest their entire rupee surplus in Indian government securities, without having to register as foreign investors. A day later, the RBI streamlined rupee–rouble trade with Russia, easing payment delays and simplifying the process for authorised banks. An earlier circular, issued on August 5, now permits Indian banks to open SRVAs without prior RBI approval — a bureaucratic bottleneck that often deterred foreign partners. The geopolitical context is just as important as the monetary mechanics. Within BRICS, the talk of a 'common currency' remains highly premature, and member states diverge sharply on feasibility. Yet the bloc agrees on one thing: overreliance on the dollar exposes them to sanctions risk, interest rate shocks, and external policy shifts beyond their control. India's rupee-settlement push is therefore part of a broader trend — seen in China's yuan-clearing banks across Eurasia and Brazil's push for more real-denominated trade — towards hedging, not replacing, the dollar. Chinese President Xi Jinping and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. — China Daily pic For the United States, this is not yet an existential threat to dollar dominance. The greenback still accounts for nearly 60% of global reserves and anchors the bulk of energy trade. But the message from New Delhi is subtle and unmistakable: friends and partners are building financial escape hatches, not out of hostility, but out of prudence. India is, in effect, asserting monetary sovereignty in a way that aligns with its strategic autonomy doctrine — a doctrine that keeps its ties with Washington, Moscow, and Beijing all intact. The next test will come on August 20–21, when an Indian delegation visits Moscow to expand rupee-based settlements in energy, defence, and high-technology trade. If successful, this could cement the rupee's role in sanctioned economies while reinforcing India's position as a reliable counterparty in an era of transactional geopolitics. Critics will argue that without deep liquidity, global acceptance, and the kind of trust the dollar enjoys, the rupee will remain a regional instrument at best. They are correct — for now. But currency influence often grows in increments, through small but irreversible institutional shifts. Allowing foreign banks unrestricted access to invest rupee surpluses in Indian debt is one such shift. So, has the elephant begun stomping in the ground of the bald eagle? Not in the sense of a frontal challenge. What we are seeing instead is the elephant learning to move with deliberate weight, pressing new footprints into the global monetary soil — footprints that may, over time, alter the shape of the terrain. If the bald eagle notices the ground subtly changing beneath its talons, it would do well to remember that in today's multipolar financial world, the challenge to dominance rarely comes with a trumpet blast. It comes with quiet but purposeful steps. * Phar Kim Beng is a professor of Asean Studies and Director of the Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies at the International Islamic University of Malaysia. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.

DayOne announces flagship hyperscale data center project in Lahti, Finland
DayOne announces flagship hyperscale data center project in Lahti, Finland

Barnama

time19 minutes ago

  • Barnama

DayOne announces flagship hyperscale data center project in Lahti, Finland

LAHTI, Finland, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- DayOne, a Singapore-based global data center developer and operator, today announces its significant investment in a state-of-the-art hyperscale data center campus in Lahti, Finland. The aggregated value of DayOne's investment in Lahti is projected to reach approximately EUR 1.2 billion, reinforcing the company's commitment to advancing Finland's digital infrastructure. The Lahti data center project will transform a former industrial site, located in the neighborhood of Kiveriö, into an advanced, high-performance digital infrastructure facility. Spanning 98,901 square meters, the site is fully zoned for industrial usage. With a total potential capacity of 128 megawatts (MW) IT load, the project comprises a first building of 50MW IT load. Negotiations with potential tenants are in progress, with no agreements finalized to date. Construction will commence with site demolition in Q3 2025, and operations are scheduled to be ready for service in 2027.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store