PM Modi Urges Financial, Infrastructure And Startup Boost At 16th BRICS Summit In Russia

At the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the growing global significance of BRICS, which now represents an economy exceeding $30 trillion and 40% of the world's population. He commended the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance for boosting economic cooperation. Modi highlighted key agreements made within BRICS, including WTO reforms, trade facilitation in agriculture, and resilience in supply chains, as well as the need to focus on small and medium-scale industries. Modi also expressed enthusiasm for the BRICS Startup Forum, set to launch this year, which was initially proposed during India's chairmanship in 2021. He acknowledged India's Railway Research Network initiative for improving logistics and supply chain connectivity between BRICS nations. Additionally, Modi stressed the importance of financial integration, infrastructure development, and UPI (Unified Payments Interface) expansion, calling for a larger role for BRICS in addressing global challenges and driving sustainable growth.