Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira has revealed that 30 countries will soon join the BRICS group.

Vieira told the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that BRICS is now discussing the form in which it can create a new category of members similar to the BRICS group (partners), especially since about 30 countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS group as partners and negotiations are still underway to create this new category.

Four countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and India – agreed in 2006 to form a group they called BRIC. South Africa joined the group in 2010, making it the BRICS.