South Africa's membership of the Brics group of countries represents a turning point for Africa and its economic activities, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.
Addressing delegates during the opening plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa, Zuma said countries in Africa had been overlooked too many times when it came to major world events.
"This time around, the Brics links indicate that Africa cannot be bypassed by the events that are changing the landscape economically, socially, and politically in the world."
Zuma said South Africa would represent Africa's more than one billion people through its membership of Brics -- a grouping of emerging market countries comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
"Africa's attitude to itself and how it should interact towards the world has changed," Zuma said.
One of the major problems Africa faced was finding financing to fund infrastructure development.
Talks between Brics partners and African leaders had been facilitated in this regard, he said.