New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) A BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry delegation met with Union MoS for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh to discuss strengthening industry‑led engagement across BRICS and BRICS Plus, an official statement said on Monday.

The delegation discussed stronger engagement through innovation, startups, emerging technologies, research collaboration and entrepreneurship, the statement from the Ministry of Science & Technology.

Dr. Singh said that India’s growing stature as a global innovation hub and its leadership in emerging technologies provide an ideal opportunity for industry organisations to build stronger international partnerships that contribute to national growth and global development.

The representatives briefed the minister on the Chamber’s initiatives over the past decade to promote trade facilitation, business-to-business engagement, women entrepreneurship, startup networking, Artificial Intelligence, research partnerships and sectoral cooperation among BRICS and BRICS Plus countries.

The delegation was led by Sameep Shastri, Chairman of BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI), and included Atul Bansal, Vice Chairman, and Shabana Nasim, Vice Chairperson, and other office bearers.

The country has witnessed remarkable progress in sectors such as space, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy and deep technology, opening new avenues for global collaboration.

He said reforms of the last decade transformed these sectors into engines of economic growth and entrepreneurship, creating significant opportunities for partnerships involving government, industry, academia and innovators.

Industry platforms such as BRICS CCI can facilitate collaborations between Indian startups and innovation ecosystems across partner countries while promoting technology-led economic engagement, the minister said.

Singh encouraged the chamber to deepen its engagement with the wider BRICS ecosystem through sector-specific meetings, innovation forums and thematic engagements.

The minister also invited the chamber to identify focused areas of cooperation aligned with India’s scientific and technological priorities and develop sector-specific proposals that could facilitate productive engagement.

BRICS CCI shared its ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, trade facilitation, women-led enterprises, research collaboration and business networking.

—IANS

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