TEHRAN – Several Iranian artists, government officials and businesswomen are expected to take part in the BRICS Women Entrepreneurs Forum to be held in Moscow, Russia from June 2-4.
The forum is being held with the support of the Eurasian Women’s Forum as a business network for women entrepreneurs in the BRICS countries, providing a platform for dialogue between national chapters of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (WBA), representatives from the business, social and government circles to discuss new opportunities and challenges in developing women entrepreneurs in the enlarged BRICS countries.
The event is expected to attract more than 300 participants from 30 countries and feature over 70 speakers discussing a range of issues, IRNA reported.
At the invitation of the forum, Iranian painter Aida Razaghzadeh will attend the event and exhibit a collection of five oil paintings on canvas that convey the common concepts of cooperation and energy transfer.
She began painting in 2010 and has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Tehran, Dubai, and Barcelona. She received the Arts Leadership Award at the 22nd Middle East Women Leadership Excellence Awards in Dubai in 2023.
Officials from Russia, Brazil, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran will speak at the forum’s opening ceremony on June 3. Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Djalali will be the Iranian speaker at the ceremony.
The opening ceremony will be followed by a plenary session titled “BRICS: Opportunities for Growth and Development”, where participants will discuss areas and directions of mutually beneficial joint activities, as well as prospects for growth and development among BRICS countries.
Representing Iran at the session will be Ashraf Sadat Mi-ri Tammeh, Adviser on Women’s Affairs to the Minister of Economy and Finance, as well as representatives from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
This will be followed by a panel session entitled “International payments in BRICS countries’ local currencies: key opportunities and challenges”, which will discuss the need to increase the proportion of payments in local currencies and establish effective financial platforms in order to develop trade and economic cooperation among BRICS countries.
Minou Kiani Rad, undergraduate lecturer at Tehran University and Khatam University and former Deputy Governor of Foreign Exchange at the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, will address the session along with speakers from China, Ethiopia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The program will continue with the panel session “BRICS: Creative Industries as a Growth Driver”. In the modern world, creative industries businesses form new niches at the crossroads of cutting-edge technologies and creativity, expanding opportunities for the application of human capital. Creative industries not only generate employment and competitive products, but also contribute to improving people’s quality of life and realizing their potential. The development of innovative infrastructure will enable BRICS countries to form a positive image, attract more international investments and contribute to the growth of their tourism potential.
Representing Iran, Nafiseh Shahi Noori, CEO of cultural industry-based Irsa Creative House, will speak at the event along with speakers from Brazil, China, Egypt, India and South Africa.
The next panel session is “Tourism in BRICS: the path to synergy”. The share of tourists visiting BRICS countries is growing significantly, contributing to the development of the tourism sector. The increase in tourists will have a positive impact on the economies of BRICS countries, maintaining monetary balance and strengthening the position of their countries in the international tourism market. An important condition in this regard is ensuring comfortable and safe conditions for tourists’ movement and stay in BRICS countries, transport facilities, tourist infrastructure, cultural and natural heritage sites.
Fatemeh Boniadi, Head of the Digital Innovation Center at the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Lecturer at Fars News College, documentary film director and editor and freelance science journalist, will represent Iran at the session, while speakers from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates will also address the participants.
The final panel session of the day was “The Role of Women in Inclusive BRICS Economies”. Women play a vital role in the inclusive economies of BRICS countries, as drivers of socio-economic progress and key actors in shaping sustainable and diverse labour markets.
Speakers at the session will share experiences and best practices in enhancing women’s participation in shaping an inclusive business environment that fosters sustainable development in BRICS countries.
The event will feature Mina Mernoush, owner and CEO of KASBINO (Iran’s first social business network), and will also feature speakers from Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India and South Africa.
The establishment of the BRICS WBA was proposed at the First International Women’s Conference held by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS member states in July 2017. The inaugural meeting of the BRICS WBA was held in July 2020 under the framework of Russia’s BRICS chairmanship.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. Initially formed to highlight investment opportunities, since 2009 it has evolved into a cohesive geopolitical bloc whose governments meet annually at official summits to coordinate multilateral policies. Bilateral relations among the BRICS are primarily based on non-interference, equality and mutual benefit.
The founding nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China held their first summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009, with South Africa joining a year later. Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates joined in January 2024.
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