India participated in 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting held at the Itamaraty Palace, Brasília, Brazil, under Brazil’s Chairship, under the Theme: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”
Key Highlights
Expanded BRICS Participation
- Attended by Industry Ministers from:
- Original BRICS nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
- Newly inducted members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, UAE
- Joint Declaration:
- Reaffirmed commitment to an open, fair, and resilient global environment
- Stressed strengthening of multilateral systems
- Called for enhancing economic and social resilience amid global challenges
India’s Focus Areas at Meet
a) MSME Sector Emphasis
- India highlighted the importance of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs):
- 5.93 crore registered MSMEs in India
- Over 25 crore individuals employed
- Contributed 45.73% of India’s total exports (FY 2023–24)
b) Digital Transformation & Industry 4.0
- Emphasis on the role of smart technologies for industrial development
- Digital India campaign showcased as a successful model:
- Internet users grew from 251 million (2014) to 954 million (March 2024)
- Positioned India as the world’s most connected democracy
c) Guiding Principles for Cooperation
India proposed four Sanskrit principles to guide future BRICS cooperation:
- Sahyog (Collaboration)
- Samanjasya (Harmony)
- Samagrata (Inclusiveness)
- Sarvasammati (Consensus)
BRICS Startup Knowledge Hub- India’s Key Contribution
- Launched on 31st January 2025 under the BRICS Start-Up Forum
- Objective: Foster cross-border collaboration and startup ecosystem development
- Aims to:
- Exchange policy insights, innovations, and best practices
- Promote entrepreneurial growth strategies across BRICS