Not just governments: PM Modi puts startups, farmers and MSMEs at heart of BRICS

Not just governments: PM Modi puts startups, farmers and MSMEs at heart of BRICS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sought to expand BRICS beyond an intergovernmental platform, outlining a network of portals, funds and cooperation mechanisms intended to connect small businesses, startups, farmers, workers, researchers and cities across member countries.

Addressing the second day of the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Modi said cooperation within the grouping should not remain limited to governments.

“We want our entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth and ordinary citizens to become active participants as well,” he said.

The expanded BRICS grouping represents 49.5 percent of the global population and 40 percent of global GDP, according to India. Modi’s address focused on converting that scale into practical cooperation among institutions, businesses and people.

A cross-border platform for MSMEs

One of the key initiatives is the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal, which Modi said would connect small businesses with knowledge, finance and new markets.

According to an official PIB backgrounder, the portal is designed as a digital ecosystem linking MSMEs, technology centres, trade associations, financial institutions, training organisations and policymakers across BRICS countries.

The grouping has also institutionalised a dialogue on MSME finance and prepared a work plan for the internationalisation of small enterprises.

These initiatives seek to address two common constraints faced by smaller businesses: access to affordable finance and entry into international markets.

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Startups get an incubation network

For startups, BRICS has established an Incubator Network connecting national nodal agencies, selected incubators and entrepreneurs across its member countries.

The network is intended to allow qualifying startups to be referred to incubators in other BRICS economies, opening access to expertise and institutional support beyond their home markets.

India has also proposed a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to support early-stage and growth-stage enterprises developing scalable solutions.

The New Delhi Declaration welcomes further consideration of the fund. Its proposed corpus, funding structure and launch timeline have not been specified.

AI and digital infrastructure for farmers

Modi also highlighted the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, which seeks to align artificial intelligence, geospatial technology and digital public infrastructure with farmers’ requirements.

The network covers agriculture as well as agroforestry, fisheries and aquaculture. IIT Delhi is coordinating its initial phase, according to the government.

BRICS has separately established a network of centres of excellence on agroecology and regenerative agriculture. Modi said these centres would combine traditional knowledge with modern science to improve climate resilience and agricultural productivity.

Skills, social security and women’s employment

The people-focused agenda also includes BRICS CONNECT, short for the BRICS Cooperation Network for Capacity Building, Employability, and New Skills and Technologies.

The voluntary platform covers skills and employability, social-security capacity, women’s participation in the workforce and digital public infrastructure.

BRICS members have also agreed to strengthen cooperation on forecasting demand for skills in digital, green, care and other emerging sectors.

Connecting cities and clean-energy systems

At the urban level, BRICS has established an Urban Mobility Hub to facilitate exchanges on affordable, inclusive and sustainable transport.

A Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage has also been launched as a voluntary platform for sharing technical knowledge, regulatory practices and potential pilot projects.

Modi said the centre would help member countries make clean-energy systems more efficient, reliable and accessible.

The initiatives are at different stages. Some networks and hubs have been established, while the startup fund remains a proposal and several frameworks are voluntary or non-binding.

Together, however, they extend BRICS cooperation beyond meetings between governments and into specific areas affecting enterprises, employment, agriculture, energy and urban development.

Modi said the benefits of solutions developed within BRICS should not remain limited to its members. They should be made adaptable and accessible to countries across the Global South.

“The strength of BRICS lies in our diversity and cooperation,” he said.

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