Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are five nations that form BRICS, a network of nations with major emerging national economies. These newly industrialized countries set themselves apart with their budding nominal growth, and their great influence on global and local affairs. Also G-20 members (group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governor from 20 major economies), the five countries represent an estimated $4 trillion (US) in foreign reserves and a combined grossed domestic product (GDP) of $16.039 trillion (US).

BRICS (formally BRIC before the inclusion of South Africa) formed in fall of 2006; congregating in New York City, where they began a series of meetings on economic growth and commercial development. Their first formal summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 2009, where respected leaders of each nation attended. There, they called for a global reserve currency, an act that would indirectly lead to a dip in the value of the US dollar, which has been criticized for being the dominant currency. Together, the BRICS countries also agreed to create a global financial institutional to rival western-dominated World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The plans to solidify that action will begin later this year.

Brazil has the largest national economy in Latin America and the seventh largest economy in the world. It is the BRICS nation with the highest life expectancy (74), and ranks second with their national literacy rate (93.5 percent). Brazil grosses $2,395.9 billion, with $12,200 GDP per capita. Their consumer spending market is 60 percent of the national GDP, with a household final consumption expenditure of $1,266,270.

The expansive economic growth can be attributed to the active agricultural, mining, manufacturing and service sectors. Its major exports, ranked at 23rd worldwide, include orange juice, ethanol, automobiles, aircrafts, electrical equipment, textiles, footwear, steel, iron ore, coffee and soybeans -- and they have the fourth largest car market in the world. Tourism is also a prominent economic sector for Brazil. 5.4 million visited the country in 2011, and $6.8 billion(US) was reached in receipts.