BRICS nations to take call on setting up development bank

The Summit of BRICS nations here tomorrow may take a call on the setting up of a development bank notwithstanding some key issues dogging it even as the leaders will advocate reforms of the global governance architecture. The Summit, which will open late tonight with a cultural programme and attended among others by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is expected to take a decision on launching the BRICS bank that will fund infrastructure and development projects in the BRICS and other emerging economies and developing nations.

Finance Ministers of the five-nation grouping including P Chidambaram and those of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa are likely to prepare a report for consideration of their leaders tomorrow in which they are expected to say that launching a BRICS bank is "feasible and workable". However, Indian negotiators are also conscious of the fact that issues like capital, membership and governance are yet to be thrashed out before the summit can put a seal of approval on launching the BRICS bank. Discussions are on over capital for the development bank, initially envisaged to be set up with a capital of USD 50 billion, to be shared equally by the five members. Now Indians are a little cautious over the enthusiasm of Chinese to pick up higher stakes in the capital if some members find it difficult to come up with their share.

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