Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra has said New Delhi has a positive intent for the expansion of BRICS.

He said India supports BRICS with an open mind.

In a special briefing ahead the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to South Africa for the BRICS meeting, he was quoted as saying by ANI, “In so far as BRICS expansion is concerned, we have been clear from the start that we have positive intent and an open mind when it comes to BRICS expansion. Those are the subject matters of ongoing current discussion between the Sherpas of the BRICS in South Africa and I would not want to prejudge the outcome of the discussions.”

Kwatra said, “There is considerable interest in many countries to become part of BRICS and to associate themselves with BRICS to leverage various opportunities that the alliance presents for itself.”

Meanwhile, Indian PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday departed for a four-day visit to South Africa and Greece.

In South Africa, Modi will attend the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg from August 22–24 at the invitation of the country's president, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.