Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the BRICS Business Forum Over the past five years, the BRICS countries accounted for over 40% of global GDP, while the contribution of the Group of Seven <...> was just 29%. As for global economic growth over the same period, our association accounted for nearly half of it, while the G7 contributed just 18%. What drives these trends? The answer is actually quite simple: the BRICS countries, which are home to roughly half the world's population, have vast and dynamic domestic markets. Our cities are growing and developing rapidly, urbanisation is advancing quickly, and our national companies are increasingly making their mark as global players. See more on the Kremlin’s official website.