The initiative of official “Day Zero”

2025-07-05 21:00

Vice President of the International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ICIE), Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the VII International Municipal BRICS Forum, Mikhail Cherepanov, presented an initiative in Brazil to establish an official "Day zero" as part of the annual BRICS Business Council.

This idea was first introduced to representatives of municipal cities and business circles in the state of Rio de Janeiro during a conference in Angra dos Reis. Conference participants emphasized the importance of this initiative, highlighting its significant potential for fostering cooperation among entrepreneurs from different BRICS countries.

On July 5, during the BRICS Business Council Forum, Mikhail Cherepanov discussed the possibility of supporting the initiative with Sergey Katyrin, the Head of the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Business Council and President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was decided to hold a meeting in Moscow for further cooperation.

The initiative proposes the creation of an official "zero day" within the framework of the annual BRICS Business Council meeting. The concept envisions that on this day, reputable commercial entities from non-BRICS countries and non-partner states will have the opportunity to present relevant topics for economic development and business initiatives that could have a positive impact on the economies of BRICS member states. Speakers will be able to present infrastructure projects and proposals for removing trade barriers, developing export-import cooperation, and improving the business climate, thereby strengthening dialogue between BRICS businesses and the business communities of other countries.

"The proposed initiative will help to build new bridges for investment. Representatives of major businesses from non-BRICS countries and partner states will be able to engage in discussions on business development strategies, overcoming existing barriers, and presenting infrastructure projects for future investment. If our initiative is approved, each national chapter of the BRICS Business Council will be able to establish a working group comprising reputable organizations from their respective countries. These groups will be responsible for selecting countries and organizations for the official zero day throughout the year. Coordinating the speakers with all BRICS Business Council members will ensure that the perspectives of BRICS representatives are considered while expanding ties with businesses from non-member countries," noted Mikhail Cherepanov.