The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises successfully hosted the first BRICS MSME Forum and the third SME Working Group Meeting in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, on 19 June 2026, bringing together ministers, senior officials, business representatives and entrepreneurs from BRICS member and partner countries. Held under the theme, Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability, the event underlined the growing importance of micro, small and medium enterprises in driving economic growth, employment and innovation across emerging economies.
Delegations from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, the UAE, Belarus, Cuba, Malaysia, Uganda and India took part in the programme. The gathering reflected an effort by BRICS and partner countries to strengthen policy cooperation and create a stronger framework for small businesses that are increasingly expected to play a central role in sustainable and inclusive development.
The day began with the inauguration of an exhibition that showcased the diversity and quality of MSMEs across sectors. The exhibition highlighted a wide variety of enterprises, from traditional products and crafts to modern and innovation-led businesses. Alongside this, the third SME Working Group Meeting discussed the theme Building MSME Ecosystem – Sustainable Roots to Global Routes, with member countries sharing experiences, policy measures and institutional models designed to strengthen their small business sectors.
BRICS focuses on stronger MSME ecosystems
The programme then moved into two parallel sessions. One focused on deliberations by private sector stakeholders from BRICS member countries, while the other continued the discussions under the third SME Working Group Meeting. Together, the sessions pointed to a shared intention among BRICS nations to deepen cooperation, encourage innovation and create a future-ready MSME framework that is resilient and globally connected.
Ministry calls for deeper BRICS cooperation
Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said MSMEs are engines of economic growth, innovation and employment not only in India but across BRICS nations and the wider Global South. He stressed that stronger BRICS cooperation is needed in several critical areas, including affordable finance, technology adoption, digital transformation, market access, skilling and sustainability. He also placed India’s MSME agenda within the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and said collaborative efforts among BRICS countries could strengthen innovation, improve participation in global value chains and support sustainable development across partner economies.
Uttar Pradesh showcases enterprise strength
Bhupendra Chaudhary, Uttar Pradesh Minister of MSME, highlighted the state’s emergence as a major centre of enterprise, innovation and traditional craftsmanship. He said Uttar Pradesh’s vibrant MSME base has been strengthened by initiatives such as One District One Product, which have helped empower local entrepreneurs, improve livelihoods and connect local products with global markets. He said closer cooperation among BRICS countries could open fresh opportunities for MSMEs through shared knowledge, technology exchange and sustainable business practices, while also promoting more inclusive economic growth.
Digitalisation and Value Chains in focus: MSME Secretary
In his keynote address, Bharat Khera, Secretary in the Ministry of MSME, said MSMEs are central to economic resilience, innovation and inclusive development across BRICS nations. He said the time had come to move beyond dialogue and focus on practical cooperation in key areas such as finance, technology, digitalisation, sustainability and integration into global value chains. Khera also highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure as a transformative tool for small businesses, suggesting that digital systems can help enterprises access markets, services and opportunities more efficiently. He called for deeper BRICS cooperation to build a stronger, more competitive and globally relevant MSME ecosystem.
Dr Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner in the MSME Ministry, set the context for the forum by presenting the key outcomes of the three BRICS SME Working Group Meetings held so far. He pointed to progress in advancing cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, sustainability, market access and capacity building for MSMEs. His remarks showed that the Agra forum was not a standalone event, but part of a continuing process aimed at building practical and long-term cooperation among BRICS economies.
Private sector as key partner: ASSOCHAM SG
The voice of industry was also strongly represented. Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General of ASSOCHAM, shared the outcomes of the private sector stakeholder meeting, which focused on the priorities of the SME Working Group. He said SMEs need a more supportive ecosystem built on policy collaboration, digital transformation, improved market access and stronger partnerships among BRICS countries. He added that SMEs remain critical drivers of innovation, growth and employment generation, making it necessary for governments and industry bodies to work together more closely.
Yogita Swaroop, Principal Economic Adviser at DPIIT, said MSMEs have become increasingly important in shaping resilient and future-ready economies. She underlined the need for stronger BRICS cooperation to create new opportunities for small businesses through innovation, technology adoption and stronger trade linkages. Her remarks reinforced the broader message of the forum that MSME cooperation must be linked to future competitiveness and deeper economic integration.
In the valedictory remarks, Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of MSME, thanked ministers, heads of delegation and representatives from BRICS member and partner countries for their participation and contributions. She also acknowledged the support of DPIIT, the Ministry of External Affairs, other ministries and departments of the Government of India, and industry stakeholders in organising the event. She said the forum marked an important milestone in deepening BRICS MSME partnership and turning policy dialogue into meaningful action. Stressing the importance of private sector participation, she added that the future of MSME cooperation would be shaped not only by governments but also by entrepreneurs, innovators and industry leaders.
Overall, the Agra meeting signalled a clear push by India and BRICS partners to place MSMEs at the centre of economic resilience, innovation and sustainable growth, while building new pathways from local enterprise to global opportunity.
