What BRICS+ Business Truly Faces This Fall in Trade, Investment, and Finance?

Several practical signals have acted as catalysts: Indonesia's Trade Minister confirmed Jakarta's interest in deepening ties with Russia through the BRICS format, as stated in an interview by the ministry's head, Santoso, to RIA Novosti. Meanwhile, in Moscow, at a startup summit, participants from 40 countries announced new investments and partnerships, as reported by Vice Mayor Natalia Sergunina.

What does Indonesia's Trade Minister's statement on BRICS' role in relations with Russia signify?

This signals Jakarta's view of BRICS as a channel to boost trade with Moscow and expand cooperation. This was directly stated in an interview by Indonesia's Trade Minister, who assessed BRICS as a platform for new opportunities in bilateral projects, as stated in an interview to RIA Novosti by Santoso.

For exporters and investors, this indicates a reduction in political barriers and an increased readiness for settlements and joint initiatives within the BRICS framework, primarily in goods trade and investments.

Is de-dollarization accelerating, or is it a "myth" amid crisis expectations?

Sources' assessments vary: some experts predict a surge in demand for the dollar as a "safe haven" during a potential 2026 crisis, while others point to a systemic drift towards multi-currency systems and the weakening of dollar hegemony.

The pro-dollar camp emphasizes that capital flees to the U.S. in stress scenarios; they cite data on the dollar's share in reserves (around 58%) and arguments about the depth of U.S. treasury markets and technological leadership, as asserted by Belnovosti, referencing the IMF's COFER, and statements by Larry Summers, Janet Yellen, and Nouriel Roubini.

Opponents refer to the "great cycle" – the rise in U.S. debt, the weakening dollar index, and the acceleration of the shift towards national currency settlements in energy and within BRICS, as written by Belnovosti, citing ideas from Ray Dalio, Paul Krugman, and Barry Eichengreen.

"Diversification is a natural process, but there is no alternative to the dollar."

This position by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is cited by Belnovosti with reference to her speeches and congressional hearings, as indicated by the publication.

Where are practical BRICS+ mechanisms already emerging – payments, AI, innovation?

The focus is shifting to applied infrastructure: from payment solutions and security standards to technological alliances and investment showcases.

The first Moscow Startup Summit was held in Moscow: 5,000 participants from 40 countries, over 150 experts, around 100 solutions on display, and funds announced over 1.6 billion rubles in investments; the platform is positioned as key for BRICS and the SCO, as reported by Natalia Sergunina.

In the AI domain, BRICS countries are increasing cooperation: Russia's Foreign Ministry confirms the formation of an AI development alliance (17 organizations from 14 countries), and there are projects by Sber with Tsinghua University; against a global backdrop, Europe is building connections like Mistral AI—ASML, while the U.S. maintains leadership in investments and computing power, according to an article by Izvestia.

On the payment side, steps towards non-dollar settlements within BRICS (including via BRICS Pay) have been announced, and the share of such trade is estimated to be growing, as reported by Belnovosti, citing analytical centers.

How is the international platform for rule-setting changing—G20 and financial security?

The political "superstructure" is becoming more multipolar: BRICS countries are increasing their influence on the G20 agenda and bringing issues of the real economy and balance of interests to the forefront.

Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev emphasized that over the past four years, BRICS countries have helped restore a "balanced character" to G20 discussions, including through institutional solutions like the African Union's accession, as reported by the Smotrim.ru portal.

Concurrently, financial security in the AI era is being discussed: at a forum in Krasnoyarsk, Rosfinmonitoring and participants from the banking and scientific communities highlighted threats from deepfakes, online fraud, and cyberattacks, and supported cooperation with BRICS and the FATF, as reported by the government of the Kirov region.

What tactical steps are currently appropriate for exporters and investors from BRICS+?

• Document Indonesia's interest in expanding trade via the BRICS channel and proactively develop product lines and logistics for the Southeast Asian market, considering potential institutional support.
• Hedge currency risks under two scenarios: "dollar as a safe haven in a stress period" and "multi-currency settlements within BRICS"; diversify payment channels where available.
• Utilize opportunities for access to capital and corporations: pitch days and accelerators (e.g., the Moscow summit format), where deals and interest from industrial partners have already been confirmed.
• In AI, join consortia and pilots with local vendors and universities in BRICS countries; for industrial cases, choose solutions that operate on "proprietary hardware" and withstand export controls.
• Enhance security functions: KYC/KYB procedures, antifraud measures, and counterparty verification, taking into account new threats (deepfakes, phishing, breaches) and practices discussed at relevant forums.

Outcome: the contours of a "practical BRICS+" are becoming tangible – trade channels with Southeast Asia, innovation hubs, AI cooperation, and an emphasis on financial security. At the macro level, the dilemma regarding the dollar persists; at the micro level, opportunities to join projects and access capital within the BRICS+ ecosystem already exist.