Key Details
The 2nd BRICS SME Working Group meeting formed part of India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship agenda under the PartNIR framework, focusing on how member economies can improve technology access and workforce readiness for MSMEs.
Cooperation Dimension | BRICS 2026 MSME Agenda |
|---|---|
Meeting Platform | 2nd BRICS SME Working Group under PartNIR |
Core Theme | Enhancing Access to Technology for MSMEs |
Chairship Lead | Ministry of MSME (India) |
Priority Areas | Finance, technology access, sustainability |
Discussion Tracks | Technology commercialization and industry-ready skilling |
Strategic Goal | Improve MSME integration into regional and global value chains |
Institutional Roadmap | Three working-group meetings culminating in BRICS MSME Forum |
Summary
How India Is Using Its BRICS Chairship
Under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship, the Ministry of MSME convened the 2nd BRICS SME Working Group Meeting on May 26, 2026 under the PartNIR framework. Centered on “Enhancing Access to Technology for MSMEs,” the meeting brought together BRICS member representatives to identify cooperation pathways for improving small-business technology access and reducing digital disparities.
The Cooperation Priorities
India’s BRICS MSME agenda is organized around three priorities:
Access to institutional finance
Technology access and infrastructure sharing
Sustainability-oriented MSME growth
The Working Group forms part of a three-meeting roadmap led by India and is expected to culminate in the inaugural BRICS MSME Forum.
Technology and Skills as the Core Focus
Discussions focused on technology commercialization and industry-ready skilling for MSMEs. Member countries emphasized that stronger innovation ecosystems, digital inclusion, and workforce preparedness are essential to help smaller firms integrate into regional and global value chains rather than remain confined to local supplier roles.
What is the “BRICS PartNIR Track”?
The BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) is a specialized cooperation platform designed to help BRICS economies coordinate industrial modernization and technology adoption.
The framework focuses on areas such as digitalization, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and clean technologies, enabling member countries to share industrial policy models, technical expertise, and training systems. For MSMEs, PartNIR seeks to reduce technology barriers by promoting collaborative innovation and more accessible pathways to advanced industrial tools.
Policy Relevance
India’s leadership within the BRICS PartNIR framework reflects a growing use of multilateral partnerships to address domestic MSME technology and skilling gaps.
Accelerates Manufacturing Modernization: PartNIR cooperation can help Indian MSME clusters adopt advanced manufacturing technologies and digital production systems more rapidly.
Supports Global Value Chain Integration: Improving MSME technology readiness may help Indian suppliers meet international quality and digital-traceability standards required for global markets.
Strengthens Industry-Ready Workforce Development: Collaboration on technical skilling provides opportunities to align polytechnics, ITIs, and vocational systems with emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) requirements.
Expands Technology Cooperation Pathways: Engagement with BRICS partners may widen access to industrial software, technical knowledge, and alternative technology-transfer ecosystems.
Promotes Inclusive Digital Adoption: The focus on MSME digital inclusion complements domestic initiatives such as the Digital MSME Scheme, potentially widening access to digital tools among enterprises in tier-2 and tier-3 regions.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: Given the Working Group’s emphasis on technology adoption and workforce readiness, how can India use the upcoming BRICS MSME Forum to establish shared technology-testing platforms that allow MSMEs to evaluate and adapt industrial digital tools before large-scale deployment?
Follow the Full News Here: India Advances BRICS MSME Cooperation Under Its 2026 Chairship