New Delhi. IndustrialPunch : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for stronger cooperation among BRICS countries around resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. He said solutions developed within the grouping should be adaptable, affordable and accessible to meet the needs of the wider Global South.
Addressing the opening session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, PM Modi said India’s BRICS Presidency had focused on four key pillars—resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability—with the objective of converting the shared vision of member countries into practical and mutually beneficial cooperation.
BRICS Must Strengthen Resilience Against Global Crises
PM Modi said the growing number of conflicts and tensions across the world was having a far-reaching impact on ordinary people. Pandemics, climate disasters and disruptions in supply chains had shown that crises in an interconnected world could not remain confined to one region.
He said BRICS had therefore prioritised timely identification of emerging challenges, preparedness and quick response mechanisms.
The grouping has agreed to work on an Integrated Early Warning System for preventing and responding to infectious diseases. Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines have also been prepared for disaster management.
The BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework is aimed at making global supply chains more reliable, stable and resilient.
Focus on Innovation, Startups and Digital Agriculture
Highlighting the innovation pillar, PM Modi referred to the proposed BRICS Incubator Network, which will connect startups and incubators across member countries.
He also highlighted the proposal for a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to promote innovative and scalable solutions in emerging sectors.
The BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture is expected to create new opportunities for farmers by combining artificial intelligence, geospatial technology and Digital Public Infrastructure with practical agricultural needs.
However, PM Modi cautioned that the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals could obstruct shared progress. He stressed that technology must be adopted in an inclusive manner so that developing countries are not left behind.
Cooperation Must Become People-Centric
The Prime Minister said BRICS cooperation should not remain limited to governments and official institutions. Entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth and ordinary citizens must also become active participants in the grouping.
Through BRICS CONNECT, cooperation has been promoted in areas such as skill development, employability, women’s participation in the workforce, social security and capacity building.
The BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal has been initiated to connect small businesses with knowledge, finance and new markets. Similarly, the BRICS Urban Mobility Hub will facilitate the exchange of best practices among cities.
Sustainability and Clean Energy at the Centre
Emphasising the sustainability pillar, PM Modi said Indian civilisation had traditionally regarded nature as a mother and viewed development and environmental protection as complementary priorities.
He said BRICS must maintain a balance between human development and environmental protection, describing sustainability as a responsibility towards future generations.
The BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage has been established to make clean-energy systems more reliable, efficient and accessible.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the Centres of Excellence for Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture, which aim to connect traditional knowledge with modern science.
He said community-based climate adaptation principles could help make indigenous knowledge an important foundation for climate action.
BRICS Cooperation Should Benefit the Global South
PM Modi said India’s BRICS Presidency had focused on inclusive global growth and ensuring that solutions developed within the grouping were not limited to BRICS member countries.
He called for these solutions to be made adaptable and accessible to countries across the Global South.
According to the Prime Minister, confidence in BRICS among developing countries has increased because their voices are being heard, their experiences are being respected and solutions are being developed together with them rather than merely for them.
“The strength of BRICS lies in our diversity and cooperation,” PM Modi said, stressing that member countries may be rooted in different realities, but they can rise together through collective efforts.
He concluded by calling for BRICS’ diversity to remain its identity, cooperation to become its inspiration and collective progress to serve humanity.
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