Brazil, which holds the bloc's presidency in 2025, said the member states approved Indonesia's entry as part of an expansion push initially adopted at the bloc's 2023 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to Brazil, Indonesia's bid got the green light from BRICS in 2023 but the Southeast Asian country asked to join following the presidential election held in 2024. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took office in October 20.
The Brazilian government emphasised that Indonesia shares with the other members of the group support for the reform of global governance institutions, and contributes positively to the deepening of cooperation in the Global South.
Indonesia, the world's fourth most-populous nation, had previously expressed its desire to join the group as a means to strengthen emerging countries and further the interests of the so-called Global South./.
VNA
Malaysia on January 6 launched the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), which focuses on two core pillars – high yield and sustainable tourism.
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo has advised parents and schools to collaborate in minimising students' consumption of fast food to ensure their health and physical development.
After the national football team of Vietnam won their third ASEAN championship trophy following an impressive second-leg final victory against Thailand in Bangkok on January 5, major media outlets of Cambodia, such as Thmey Thmey, Koh Santepheap Daily, and FRESH News ran stories lauding Vietnam’s outstanding performance.
Indonesia is preparing strategic steps for achieving national salt self-sufficiency by 2027.
The Indonesian government is preparing to implement the mandatory 50% biodiesel (B50) programme in 2026 to stop diesel imports, according to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has allocated 4.7 trillion IDR (around 303.2 million USD) for the Free Health Check-up Programme, which will target 60 million Indonesians this year.
Singaporean authorities reported that approximately 35 residents were evacuated early on January 5 (local time) following a fire at an abandoned three-story house in the East Coast Road of the country.
Singapore saw a sharp increase in sham marriages or marriages of convenience in 2024, according to the Southeast Asian country's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
The Indonesian government has prepared a total of 20,000 billion IDR (1.29 billion USD) in loan funding for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), creative economy players and migrant workers, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar has said.
Malaysia recorded over 2.62 trillion MYR (595 billion USD) in trade from January to November last year, an 8.7% increase year-on-year, according to Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Around 600 volunteers, including locals, hotel staff and tourists, gathered on beaches in Bali to clean up massive plastic waste washed ashore by monsoon rains.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is intensifying measures to tackle air pollution as PM2.5 dust levels in the capital remain high, expected to persist through February.
The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) reported on January 3 that 2024 is recorded as the hottest year in the Southeast Asian country's history.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) of Singapore on January 3 announced the awarding of a contract to electricity generator PacificLight Power to build a hydrogen-compatible natural gas power plant on Jurong island.
The Thai Ministry of Industry has asked manufacturers in five industries, including automobile manufacturing, electronics, electrical appliances, steel and garment, to take more serious efforts to adapt to projected US trade policies, the influx of low-cost imports into the Thai market, and disruptive technology.
Malaysia's renewable energy sector is expected to witness robust growth, driven by government initiatives and forthcoming investments, according to financial services company Philip Capital.
The Thai Government has sped up the application process to just 30 minutes for enterprises looking to export rice instead of having to wait three days as in the past.
The year 2025 is set to be a challenging year for Southeast Asian countries that are looking to boost their economic growth while the world faces economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions, and trade fragmentation, particularly new tariff by the US – the largest economy in the world.
At least eight people were killed after a speedboat carrying 30 passengers sank in the waters off Seram Bagian Barat regency in Indonesia's eastern Maluku province on January 3.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has declared her personal assets worth more than 400 million USD, including hundreds of watches and dozens of luxury handbags.
