From an acronym coined by the economist Jim O'Neill for the leaders of the
developing countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China - to a powerful bloc, the
Brics have come a long way in the last decade.
For starters, they were joined by South Africa, adding the final 'S' to the
original Bric.
Furthermore, since the economic turmoil of 2009, these large emerging
countries have gained importance, even though they still face many challenges.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18242370
