The BRICS Information Sharing & Exchanging Platform (www.brics-info.org), sponsored by Fudan University, was launched on the 11th of September.After being recommended by the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, the platform was developed and built by Fudan's Center for BRICS Studies in cooperation with several BRICS universities and research institutions, with the aim to promote economic and trade cooperation among the BRICS countries.

The launch of the platform marks the fact that exchange and cooperation among the BRICS members in the field of economics and trade have moved on to an entirely new level.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Yu Jianhua and Deputy Mayor of Shanghai Weng Tiehui attended the launching ceremony and gave speeches.

In 2013, the Third Meeting of BRICS Trade Ministers discussed and endorsed the "BRICS Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework", in which the Fudan project “BRICS Information Sharing & Exchanging Platform” tops the list of the eight BRICS cooperative projects for 2013-2014.

Guided and promoted by the Ministry of Commerce, Fudan's Center for BRICS Studies completed the initial design and assessment of the platform-building scheme between October 2012 and February 2013, while from February to August 2013 it set up and debugged the platform successfully.

The representatives of the BRICS countries highly lauded the construction and development of the platform, believing that it is an important point of departure to make trade among the BRICS countries easier.

According to Fan Yongming, the Director of the Center for BRICS Studies, the BRICS Information Sharing & Exchanging Platform functions in three ways.

First of all, it provides economic, trade and investment information concerning China, Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa for countries around the world.

Secondly, it facilitates economic and trade cooperation among the BRICS countries through the sharing of information, and consolidates the foundations which the BRICS countries have already laid for cooperation in the spheres of politics and the economy.

Thirdly, as an independent third party, it integrates scattered information and relevant activities and publishes them in a public platform to push ahead with interaction and cooperation between the BRICS academic communities and their economic circles and government authorities.

The BRICS Information Sharing & Exchanging Platform is divided into three sections: Law & Policies, Business Opportunities and Cooperation Activities.

The Law & Policies section offers information about trade administration, investment administration, customs clearance, policies for SMES and quality supervision, and inspection & quarantine. This section, linked directly to the official websites of the BRICS authorities, timely releases official information regarding economic and trade policies that has been confirmed by the BRICS governments.

The Business Opportunities section is divided into trade opportunities and investment opportunities. Oriented towards convenience, reliability and efficiency, it presents information on the import and export commodities demanded by all the different sectors of the BRICS countries, and introduces investment projects and cooperation opportunities.

The Cooperation Activities section shares information about trade promotion and fairs, along with a variety of macroscopic information and data such as forecasts, analysis reports, and ideas for major project issued by BRICS institutions, both public and private, for the development of economics and trade in the BRICS countries.

Translated by Chen Mirong

Revised by Gabriele Corsetti