The BRIC grouping, comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China, invited South Africa to join in December, cementing the rise in the country's-and Africa's-global standing. While South Africa's population and economy are far smaller than the big four-and also much smaller than other candidates with a potential claim to membership, such as Mexico, Turkey or Indonesia-the invitation reflects South Africa's dominant position in Africa (at least in economic terms), its vast mineral wealth and BRIC's desire to represent all of the key emerging-market regions. South Africa hopes that BRIC membership will bring trade and investment benefits, but the impact may be relatively small, as the BRIC group is an informal term without a definitive agenda. The bilateral arena-and South Africa's membership of the longer-standing India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) forum-will continue to be more important, although joining the BRIC group (which may now have to be renamed) and taking part in summits is unlikely to do any harm.