The BRIC group (Brazil, Russia, India and China) might admit South Africa as a member. For many experts, although other countries have stronger economies, South Africa is useful, especially for China, as a gateway to Africa. However, the United States as well as India might see their role diminished.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In late December, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told South Africa that it was invited to join BRIC, a grouping of the major emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India and China. For some analysts, the decision to bring in this new member reflects more a strategic move by China and Russia to build up their presence in Africa than the true strength of the country’s economy. In fact, South Korea would probably be a better candidate for BRIC membership.

South Africa had raised the possibility of joining the grouping in 2009. In April of this year, its president, Jacob Zuma, will be an observer at the third BRIC summit in Beijing following an invitation from his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao.

Experts note that South Africa’s economy, population and growth rate are much smaller than all the other BRIC members are. The African country’s GDP last year was US$ 286 billion, far less than the US$ 2 trillions of India and Brazil, China’s US$ 5.5 trillion, and even Russia’s US$ 1.6 trillion.

Its growth was a tepid 3 percent, less than Russia’s 4 per cent, Brazil’s 7.5 per cent, India’s 9.7 per cent and China’s 10.5 per cent.

Similarly, its population of 49 million is dwarfed by that of China (1.36 billion) and India (1.2 billion).

Goldman Sachs Asset Management chairman Jim O'Neill, who first coined the acronym BRIC for Brazil, Russia, India and China to refer to the emerging economic giants, said that South Korea would have been a more suitable candidate than South Africa for BRIC membership.

At just US$ 286 billion, South Africa’s GDP is less than half of South Korea's US$ 832.5 billion, Turkey's US$ 617.1 billion and Mexico's US$ 874.9 billion. It is two-thirds of Indonesia's US$ 540.3 billion.

Politics rather economics explain the decision to have South Africa join, especially China’s interest in Africa’s riches. For Beijing, Pretoria provides a better access to Africa. This is particularly important in order to contain the United States, which has recently upgraded its presence in the continent.

In fact, it is not an accident that the first BRIC summit in June 2010 in Yekaterinburg saw leaders discuss a possible currency alternative to the US dollar, an issue that has little traction in South Korea, Mexico or Indonesia.

“This is something that China sees in its own interest with its aim of understanding the future of Africa and becoming an ever bigger presence there,” said Marvin Zonis, professor emeritus at the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business.

China exports high tech and other manufactured goods to Africa and imports energy and raw materials. Trade between China and Africa hit a record US$ 115 billion as of the end of last November.

South African Minister of international relations and cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane acknowledged that his country would act as a “gateway” for BRIC nations to increase investment and trade in Africa.

Russia and Brazil welcomed the news, but India has so far not made any official statement on the matter because it is pinning its hopes on US support for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

For Washington, Africa is a region where the United States and India should closely cooperate. For the Americans, India is an emerging power without a colonialist past, and might be interested in limiting Chinese expansion.

Africa is indeed high on India’s foreign policy agenda for 2010, and this is likely to generate friction with China.

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