The BRICS Bank and Reserve Arrangement: towards a new global financial framework?

At this summer's summit held in Fortaleza, Brazil, the five countries which form the BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – agreed on the establishment of their own financial institutions: the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA). The New Development Bank is to lend for infrastructure and sustainable-development purposes, both in BRICS countries and other developing and emerging economies. In this context, developing countries are looking for a new source of financing with more flexible conditions. The CRA is an agreement among the BRICS' central banks for mutual support during a sudden currency crisis. The agreements were signed on 15 July 2014 – after two years of negotiations – but still need to be ratified by the members' legislatures.