ANKARA, November 13. /TASS/. Turkey has received an invitation to become a BRICS partner state, Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced.

"BRICS is a coalition of important countries, which together account for 25% of the world's GDP. The popularity of BRICS is growing. Regarding Turkey's participation, we have been offered partnership. Turkey's involvement in the work of BRICS would be highly beneficial for the country in terms of cooperation with all significant international platforms," Haber TV quoted Bolat as saying.

The minister recalled that at the last BRICS summit in Kazan, the sides "considered the applications of Turkey and several other countries." "As we understand, we have been offered the status of a partner. At the same time, there is no talk of India vetoing our membership [in the alliance]," Bolat added.

He noted that "countries from Africa, the Persian Gulf, the Middle East, and Asia" are part of BRICS in various capacities, and Turkey’s goal is "to develop multifaceted and multi-level relations on the platform of the association, both in foreign policy and trade."

In October, Germany's Bild newspaper reported that India had allegedly vetoed Turkey’s accession to BRICS due to Ankara’s close ties with Pakistan. The Turkish presidential administration denied this information.