BRICS Business Forum - Dainik Jagran English

Jaishankar on BRICS Self-Reliance and Economic Security

Abhishek Joshi — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:25:30 +0530

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has called for greater economic self-reliance among BRICS nations, arguing that stronger domestic capabilities, resilient supply chains and deeper cooperation can improve both economic activity and security across the grouping.

Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, Jaishankar said the bloc needs to strengthen its ability to withstand global disruptions while remaining connected to international markets. He also stressed the importance of predictable business conditions, diversified trade relationships and closer cooperation in technology and innovation.

Self-Reliance as a Growth Strategy

Jaishankar's remarks come as India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

The minister linked self-reliance with economic resilience rather than isolation. For BRICS economies, building stronger domestic production capabilities and reducing excessive dependence on vulnerable external supply chains could help businesses manage disruptions while sustaining economic activity.

The approach also reflects the wider debate over how emerging economies can protect strategic sectors while continuing to benefit from global trade.

Resilient Supply Chains Key to BRICS Growth

Jaishankar highlighted resilient supply chains as an important part of the bloc's economic agenda.

Global trade has faced repeated disruptions in recent years, including geopolitical tensions, shipping challenges and changes in international trade policies. Against this backdrop, BRICS countries are looking to diversify sources of supply and strengthen links among their own economies.

A more resilient network could help member countries absorb external shocks without completely cutting themselves off from global markets.

Predictable Business Environment Needed

The External Affairs Minister also emphasised the need for a more predictable business environment across BRICS.

Greater certainty in trade and investment rules can make it easier for companies to plan long-term investments and build cross-border partnerships. Jaishankar's comments placed private-sector participation at the centre of efforts to deepen economic integration within the grouping.

For businesses, stronger economic cooperation would depend not only on political agreements but also on practical improvements in trade procedures, payments, logistics and market access.

Technology and Startups Gain Focus

Innovation and startups are another area where India wants greater cooperation among BRICS economies.

Jaishankar highlighted opportunities for collaboration in startups and innovation, suggesting that emerging technologies and entrepreneurial ecosystems could become important drivers of future economic growth.

Closer links between startups, investors, technology companies and research institutions could help BRICS countries share expertise while developing their own capabilities in strategically important sectors.

Diversifying Trade Relationships

Jaishankar also stressed the importance of diversified trade relationships.

For BRICS economies, diversification can reduce the risks created when countries or businesses become overly dependent on a limited number of suppliers or markets. Stronger intra-BRICS trade could therefore complement, rather than replace, broader global economic engagement.

The objective is to build an economic system that is more capable of absorbing shocks while remaining competitive and interconnected.

India Pushes Practical Economic Cooperation

India's economic agenda for BRICS has increasingly focused on practical cooperation, including trade facilitation, digital connectivity, supply-chain resilience and greater use of national capabilities.

The remarks by Jaishankar also complement Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal's call for BRICS nations to improve payment-system connectivity and expand trade using local currencies.

Together, the proposals underline India's effort to make BRICS economic cooperation more commercially useful for businesses rather than limiting it to broad political declarations.

BRICS Seeks Greater Economic Resilience

The discussions come at a time when BRICS is seeking a larger role in the global economic system.

Jaishankar's message was that greater self-reliance should translate into stronger productive capacity, economic activity and security while preserving the advantages of international connectivity.

For the expanded BRICS grouping, the challenge will be converting these broad objectives into practical mechanisms that can reduce trade friction, strengthen supply chains and encourage investment across member economies.

BRICS Can Boost Skill Development Through Best Practices

Abhishek Joshi — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:25:24 +0530

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.