Speech by Minister Maite Nkoana‐Mashabane to the South African Institute off International Affairs (SAIIA) on the topic ‘The relationship between South Africa and the Emerging Global Powers’

The document argues that the rise of emerging powers—specifically the BRIC nations—provides an opportunity for South Africa and the broader African continent to shift the global economic center of gravity toward the South. Minister Nkoana‐Mashabane emphasizes that South Africa seeks to balance its memberships in IBSA and BRIC to amplify the voice of developing nations in multilateral processes and the reform of Bretton Woods Institutions. For Africa to transition into an emerging power itself, the Minister identifies four critical priority areas: Infrastructure, Intra-trade, Industry, and Integration. The speech frames these geopolitical shifts not as a zero-sum game, but as a means to address shared global challenges including climate change and energy security through cooperation between the developed and developing worlds.

• South Africa views the rise of emerging powers, particularly Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC), as a catalyst for re-mapping global political and economic power to ensure greater representation and fairness for developing countries.
• South Africa pursues a diversified foreign policy that utilizes both the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) and BRIC groupings, viewing their mandates as complementary for strengthening the influence of the Global South.
• The IBSA Trust Fund, known as the Hunger and Poverty Alleviation Facility, has been recognized as a successful model of South–South technical cooperation for its projects in Cambodia, Burundi, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, and Palestine.
• Trade between BRIC nations and Africa grew significantly between 2000 and 2008, with the BRIC share of African trade rising from 4.6% in 1993 to nearly 20% in 2008; China, India, and Brazil are now Africa's 2nd, 6th, and 10th largest trading partners respectively.
• To enable Africa to become an emerging power, the Minister identifies four urgent intervention areas: Infrastructure, Intra-trade, Industry, and Integration.
• South Africa advocates for the reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions to make them more accountable, transparent, and democratic, seeking a greater voice for Africa and other developing nations in international governance.
• The document identifies climate change, energy security, and the coordination of trade and finance as salient global challenges that require concerted cooperation between developed and developing nations.

APA

Nkoana‐Mashabane, M. (2010). Speech by Minister Maite Nkoana‐Mashabane to the South African Institute off International Affairs (SAIIA) on the topic ‘The relationship between South Africa and the Emerging Global Powers’. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/saia_spe_min_maite_nkoana_mashabane_20101101.pdf

Chicago

Nkoana‐Mashabane, Maite. Speech by Minister Maite Nkoana‐Mashabane to the South African Institute off International Affairs (SAIIA) on the topic ‘The relationship between South Africa and the Emerging Global Powers’. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2010. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/saia_spe_min_maite_nkoana_mashabane_20101101.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Nkoana‐Mashabane |first1=Maite |title=Speech by Minister Maite Nkoana‐Mashabane to the South African Institute off International Affairs (SAIIA) on the topic ‘The relationship between South Africa and the Emerging Global Powers’ |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=1 November 2010 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/saia_spe_min_maite_nkoana_mashabane_20101101.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{nkoanamashabane2010speech, author = {Nkoana‐Mashabane, Maite}, title = {{Speech by Minister Maite Nkoana‐Mashabane to the South African Institute off International Affairs (SAIIA) on the topic ‘The relationship between South Africa and the Emerging Global Powers’}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2010}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/saia_spe_min_maite_nkoana_mashabane_20101101.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }