Narendra Modi calls on BRICS to turn economic ambition into action through fewer trade barriers, stronger startups and more business partnerships.
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants BRICS to move past dialogue and start delivering results.
Addressing the BRICS Business Forum, the Indian prime minister set the bloc three concrete targets and a deadline: an annual scorecard.
“Can you prepare a report on removing the top 10 trade barriers among BRICS countries?
Can we support 100 BRICS startups every year to scale into other BRICS markets?
Can we develop 1,000 new partnerships among our businesses?” Modi asked.
“Let us transform BRICS’ ambition into action.”
Highlighting India’s commitment to global economic integration despite rising international trade barriers, Modi pointed to New Delhi’s expanding trade network, stating that India has executed Free Trade Agreements spanning nearly 40 countries over the past decade.
A prime case study is Malaysia-a key Asean member and official BRICS partner country-which highlights how New Delhi puts these pragmatic policies into practice.
Malaysia ranks as the 31st largest investor in India, contributing US$1.34 billion in Foreign Direct Investment between April 2000 and March 2026.
The bottom line: Modi’s casting India as BRICS’ steady hand, betting the bloc can deliver for the Global South without closing off from the rest of the world.
