Inaugural BRICS MSME Forum 2026 Concludes with Focus on Enhanced Collaboration
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India successfully convened the inaugural BRICS MSME Forum 2026 in Agra on June 19, 2026. The forum brought together government representatives, policymakers, industry leaders, and private-sector stakeholders from BRICS Member and Partner Countries to deliberate on strengthening MSME ecosystems, fostering sustainability, and enhancing global competitiveness.
Union MSME Minister Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi emphasized the importance of collective action in shaping the future of MSMEs across BRICS nations, stating that MSMEs are central to achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development. He highlighted that challenges facing enterprises related to financing, technology adoption, sustainability, and market access require collaborative solutions, and reaffirmed India's commitment to fostering stronger economic partnerships and facilitating knowledge-sharing among BRICS member countries.
Shri Bhupendra Chaudhary, Minister for MSME, Government of Uttar Pradesh, highlighted the state's emergence as one of India's fastest-growing economic regions with MSMEs playing a transformative role in employment generation and grassroots development. He emphasized the state's focus on creating an enabling ecosystem through infrastructure development, policy support, skill enhancement, and digital empowerment.
MSME Secretary Shri Bharat Khera emphasized that MSMEs are not merely economic units but engines of innovation, employment, entrepreneurship, and regional development. He identified immense potential for BRICS collaboration in areas including technology adoption, sustainable manufacturing, digital transformation, skilling, and market access.
Dr. Rajneesh, Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME, presented key outcomes emerging from the three BRICS SME Working Group Meetings and outlined priorities that have emerged through sustained engagement among member countries. The forum followed the 3rd BRICS SME Working Group Meeting and marked a significant milestone in advancing economic cooperation among BRICS nations.
Ms. Yogita Swaroop, Principal Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), highlighted the importance of policy coordination and enabling frameworks to support enterprise growth, emphasizing that strengthening ease of doing business, improving access to finance, fostering innovation ecosystems, and facilitating international market linkages will be critical.
Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General of ASSOCHAM, presented recommendations and outcomes from private-sector stakeholder consultations, underscoring the need for deeper cooperation in technology exchange, digital trade, sustainable manufacturing practices, capacity building, and supply-chain integration.
The forum featured presentations by government representatives from BRICS Member and Partner Countries who shared best practices and successful case studies on strengthening MSME ecosystems, promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing productivity, and facilitating access to international markets. A special MSME film showcasing India's entrepreneurial strength, innovation capabilities, and MSME success stories was screened during the inaugural session.
Secretary Bharat Khera inaugurated the BRICS MSME Exhibition, which served as a platform for innovation, collaboration, and growth among BRICS nations, highlighting the strength and potential of the MSME sector in driving inclusive and sustainable economic development.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, who expressed appreciation for participating delegations and noted that discussions reaffirmed the shared vision of BRICS nations to create resilient, sustainable, and future-ready MSME ecosystems. The forum ended with a strong consensus to enhance cooperation in sustainability, innovation, digital transformation, entrepreneurship development, and global value chain integration, reinforcing the pivotal role of MSMEs in driving inclusive economic growth across BRICS economies.