BRICS can provide an important platform for member countries to exchange successful approaches to skill development and prepare workers for changing labour-market demands, Alina Singh, Deputy Director of Russia's Skills Development Agency, said at the BRICS Business Forum.

Singh highlighted the value of cooperation among BRICS countries in sharing expertise, identifying effective training models and learning from each other's experiences. Her remarks come as skill development gains greater importance within the bloc amid rapid technological changes and evolving requirements across industries.

Skill Development Emerges as a BRICS Priority

The discussion reflects the growing emphasis on workforce development within BRICS. The BRICS Business Council identifies skill development as a strategic priority, particularly given the bloc's large young population and rising demand for future-ready capabilities. 

For businesses, the availability of appropriately trained workers is increasingly linked to competitiveness, productivity and the ability to adopt new technologies.

Singh's comments therefore place human capital alongside trade, investment, technology and supply-chain cooperation as an important part of the BRICS economic agenda.

Sharing Best Practices Across Countries

One of the potential advantages of BRICS cooperation is the ability of member countries to compare different approaches to vocational education and workforce training.

Countries within the grouping have developed their own systems for technical education, apprenticeships, vocational training and industry-linked skill programmes. Sharing successful practices could help governments and institutions identify models that can be adapted to their own labour markets.

Rather than creating a single training system for all BRICS members, cooperation could focus on exchanging knowledge and developing partnerships suited to individual national requirements.

Technology Is Changing Workforce Needs

The demand for new skills is also being driven by technological transformation.

Automation, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and advanced manufacturing are changing the nature of jobs across sectors. This is increasing pressure on education and training systems to help workers acquire skills that remain relevant as industries evolve.

For BRICS economies, cooperation in this area could include greater interaction between training institutions, businesses, technology companies and policymakers.

Russia Sees Scope for Deeper Cooperation

Russia has continued to emphasise vocational and technical skills as part of its workforce-development efforts. Singh's participation at the BRICS Business Forum highlights Moscow's interest in using the grouping to exchange experiences beyond traditional areas of economic cooperation.

Earlier BRICS discussions have also included efforts to build talent pools and strengthen collaboration in skills development. (INPDP)

Such cooperation could potentially create opportunities for institutions to work together on training programmes, industry standards and workforce mobility.

Businesses Need Future-Ready Workers

For the private sector, skill development is not only a social-policy issue but also an economic requirement.

Companies expanding into new markets need access to workers who can operate modern technologies and meet evolving industry standards. Better alignment between training institutions and businesses can help reduce skill gaps and improve employability.

This makes workforce development relevant to the wider BRICS objective of strengthening economic cooperation among member countries.

BRICS Cooperation Beyond Trade

The remarks by Singh also underline how the BRICS agenda is expanding beyond conventional trade and financial discussions.

The grouping is increasingly being used as a platform for cooperation in areas such as technology, startups, innovation, logistics and human-capital development. Current BRICS discussions include initiatives aimed at connecting startups and strengthening supply-chain cooperation. 

Skill development could become another practical area where cooperation produces tangible benefits for businesses and workers.

Building a More Connected Talent Ecosystem

The challenge for BRICS will be turning the exchange of best practices into sustained cooperation.

Greater interaction between training agencies, educational institutions, employers and policymakers could help member countries respond more effectively to changing workforce requirements.

Singh's remarks suggest that the value of BRICS cooperation may lie not only in expanding trade between member states but also in helping them develop the skilled workforce needed to support the next phase of economic growth.