---
title: "BRIC: Major Emerging Economies | Model Diplomat"
description: "BRIC refers to Brazil, Russia, India, and China, major emerging economies reshaping global governance. Discover its origins and significance."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/bric"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- BRIC is the acronym coined in 2001 for the four major emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India and China—that later formalised cooperation, adding South Africa in 2010 to become BRICS.
- Who coined the term BRIC and when?
- What is the difference between BRIC and BRICS?
- What institutions has BRICS created?
- How has BRICS expanded recently?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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## Timeline

1. 16 June 2009

   Political form followed analysis: foreign ministers of the four states first met on the margins of the UN General Assembly in September 2006, and the first f…

2. 1 January 2024

   Nonetheless, the grouping expanded sharply: at the Johannesburg summit in August 2023 it invited Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirate…

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Example

In July 2014, at the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, the five members signed the agreement establishing the New Development Bank, headquartered in Shanghai, with India's K. V. Kamath becoming its first president.

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