BRICS CONNECT To Focus On Skills, Jobs, Women In Workforce, Social Security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the second day of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 13, 2026. India is hosting the two-day gathering of the BRICS bloc in the national capital.

In his opening remarks, Modi said India’s presidency of BRICS had focused on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. He said the initiatives under these areas had sought to translate the bloc’s shared vision into cooperation.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi highlighted the need to expand BRICS cooperation beyond governments and involve different sections of society, including entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women and youth.

“Our endeavour has been to ensure that BRICS cooperation does not remain limited to governments alone,” Modi said in his speech.

What Is BRICS CONNECT

Modi said India had sought to make entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth and ordinary citizens active participants in the bloc’s cooperation. “Through BRICS CONNECT, we have promoted skills, employability, women in the workforce, social security, and capacity building,” he said.

The remarks place BRICS CONNECT in the broader context of expanding participation in BRICS cooperation beyond governments. Modi did not provide further details on individual programmes or timelines under the initiative in his opening remarks.

What Other Initiatives Did Modi Highlight?

Modi also highlighted initiatives covering start-ups, farmers, and small businesses in his remarks.

Under the Innovation pillar, he said the BRICS Incubator Network will connect start-ups and incubators with one another. India has also proposed the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to promote innovative and scalable solutions.

The remarks also covered the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture. Modi said the initiative will connect artificial intelligence, geospatial technology and digital public infrastructure with the needs of farmers.

For small businesses, Modi said India has initiated the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal. The portal is aimed at connecting small enterprises with knowledge, finance and new markets.

Modi also mentioned the BRICS Urban Mobility Hub, which has been established to facilitate the sharing of best practices among cities.

The initiatives were highlighted as part of the broader areas covered under India’s BRICS presidency.