The BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting commenced in Kochi on July 8, 2026, under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, bringing together Ministers and Heads of Delegation from BRICS Member Countries. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation, advance women's empowerment, and reaffirm shared commitment to inclusive, resilient and sustainable development. This meeting built on the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting held on July 6-7, 2026, where senior officials deliberated on priority areas under the BRICS Women Track.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smt. Annpurna Devi delivered the inaugural address, underscoring that women's leadership is central to building resilient economies and societies. She called for deeper collaboration among BRICS Member Countries under India's Chairship theme of "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."
The significant outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the Joint Statement of the 4th BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting, which strengthens long-term collaboration across the BRICS Women Track. Two key deliverables initiated under India's Chairship were welcomed by BRICS member countries: the BRICS Women Digital Repository of Best Practices (a shared knowledge platform documenting best practices and experiences from BRICS countries) and the BRICS Women Digital Capacity Building Guidelines (a roadmap for expanding institutional partnerships, digital learning and capacity-building across the BRICS community).
The ministerial program included a guided walkthrough of an exhibition showcasing India's best practices in women-led development across sectors including financial and digital inclusion, skilling, entrepreneurship, leadership and representation discussions on women's entrepreneurship. The second day of the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to take place the following day in Kochi.