Global economic recovery was closely linked to the success of the economies of the four BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday before leaving for the Russian city of Yekaterinburg to attend a summit of the grouping.

Stressing that the four countries would play a crucial part in overcoming the ongoing economic slowdown, the prime minister said: "The countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) together account for 40 percent of the world's population and 40 percent of global GDP. The BRIC grouping has the potential to lead global economic growth."