BRICS is the abbreviation for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Initially, this grouping was originally known as "BRIC" before the inclusion of South Africa in 2010. The BRICS members are all developing or newly industrialized countries, but they are distinguished by their large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs; all five are G-20 members.
South Africa held the chair of the BRICS group in 2013, having hosted the group's fifth summit in 2013.