Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank, engaged in discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, On October 22, 2024 – on the margins of 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. Their meeting touched on significant themes such as local currency financing, the pressing issue of indebtedness in Global South countries, and the proposed expansion of BRICS, according to the official statement of New Development Bank.
President Putin recognized the significant achievements of the New Development Bank (NDB), stating, “We hold in high regard the accomplishments you have achieved in recent years, and the New Development Bank is a strong, evolving, and promising financial institution.”
President Putin underscored the New Development Bank’s impact by noting that since 2018, it has financed approximately 100 projects totaling $33 billion. President Putin further emphasized that increasing the use of national currencies for transactions helps lower debt servicing costs, enhances the financial independence of BRICS nations, and reduces geopolitical risks.
Addressing the challenges of Global South, Rousseff said, “we have indeed implemented and allocated a substantial amount of funds towards a variety of projects. However, this remains insufficient relative to the needs of the Global South. Therefore, it is crucial to provide funding in national currencies and in specialised formats. The New Development Bank is dedicated to this endeavour, funding not only sovereign projects but also private initiatives.” 
Dilma Rousseff held discussions with several other heads of state and state functionaries in the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 23. She reaffirmed the Bank’s dedication to advancing projects that align with the development goals of its member countries, as well as their commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. In discussions with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, NDB’s contributions to infrastructure and sustainable development within its member nations was raised. They explored various potential collaboration areas, including education, technological advancement, social sector support, industrial modernization, logistics, digitalization, and energy infrastructure.
During her conversation with Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, Rousseff underscored the importance of the upcoming 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku in November 2024. She emphasized that climate finance is a critical focus for international financial institutions, including the NDB.
In a meeting with Retno Marsudi, Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rousseff highlighted the alignment between Indonesia’s national strategic initiatives and the NDB’s mission, expressing optimism about future partnerships. She reiterated the Bank’s commitment to supporting infrastructure and sustainable development projects that align with its members’ development goals.
In the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit, Rousseff also met with Aruni Wijewardane, Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka, to discuss potential areas for collaboration between the NDB and Sri Lanka. She reaffirmed the NDB’s role as a multilateral development bank dedicated to mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development in BRICS and other emerging markets. Rousseff engaged with Mohd Rafizi bin Ramli, Malaysia’s Minister of Economy, to further explore avenues for cooperation in the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan.
The dialogues led by Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank (NDB), elegantly highlight the Bank’s essential role in meeting the urgent needs of emerging markets of Global South. With holding the dialogues with leaders from Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Azerbaijan, Rousseff reaffirmed the NDB’s dedication to mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects. The focus on NDB’s initiatives and the overarching goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate finance, especially in light of the upcoming COP29, underscores the Bank’s proactive commitment to combat pressing issues, the Global South nations facing.