Meeting at the inaugural BRICS Forum on SMEs 2026, held in the Indian city of Agra, representatives of member countries and partners of the intergovernmental bloc discussed strengthening the ecosystems of this type of economic partnership, promoting sustainability, and improving global competitiveness.

  According to Indian authorities, the forum, which took place after the third meeting of the Working Group on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, represented an important opportunity to advance economic cooperation among the BRICS nations, focusing specifically on SMEs.

  In this context, Jitan Ram Manjhi, India’s Minister of Economy, Industry and Tourism, emphasized the importance of collective action in shaping the future of these economic partnerships among the countries of the intergovernmental bloc.

  “SMEs are fundamental to achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development, and the challenges they face today—whether in terms of financing, technology adoption, sustainability, or market access—require collaborative solutions,” he stated.

  He noted that the BRICS countries possess enormous strengths and complementary capabilities, and through continued dialogue and cooperation, a robust capacity-building framework can be constructed to become engines of innovation, exports, and employment.

  The Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to fostering stronger economic partnerships and facilitating knowledge sharing among the BRICS member countries.

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