BRICS MSME Forum 2025: India hosts first meet in Agra on June 19
Synopsis
India is convening the first-ever BRICS MSME Forum in Agra on 19 June 2025, pulling together 22 nations to tackle the finance gaps, technology deficits, and sustainability pressures facing small businesses globally. With India's MSMEs already driving nearly half the country's exports, the stakes for what emerges from these deliberations are anything but symbolic.
Key Takeaways
India's Ministry of MSME hosts the first BRICS MSME Forum and third SME Working Group meeting in Agra on 19 June 2025 .
The event brings together delegates from 22 BRICS member and partner nations .
India's MSME sector comprises over 8.6 crore enterprises , contributing 31.1% to GDP and 48.58% of national exports.
Key agenda tracks: access to finance , technology access , and sustainability-oriented MSME growth .
The forum will feature an MSME excellence exhibition and cross-country sharing of best practices and policy case studies.
India's Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises will host the inaugural BRICS MSME Forum and the third SME Working Group meeting in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on 19 June 2025, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from across 22 BRICS member and partner nations. The event is organised under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability', according to an official statement released on Thursday.
Who Is Attending and Why
The forum will draw senior government officials and private-sector delegates from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and India. The broad participation reflects the expanded BRICS grouping that now spans multiple continents and economic blocs.
Delegates will deliberate on strengthening global MSME ecosystems, fostering sustainability, and deepening international cooperation — issues that have gained urgency as supply-chain disruptions and climate pressures reshape small-business viability worldwide.
Programme and Key Agenda
The day-long programme will open with the inauguration of an exhibition showcasing MSME excellence. The third SME Working Group meeting of BRICS members will follow, centred on the sub-theme 'Building MSME Ecosystem — Sustainable Roots to Global Routes'.
Industry associations representing the private sector will hold parallel sessions on three focused tracks: access to finance for MSMEs, technology access for MSMEs, and growth of sustainability-oriented MSMEs. The structure signals a shift from broad declarations toward actionable policy exchange.
India's MSME Footprint
India's MSME sector comprises over 8.6 crore enterprises and is a structural pillar of the national economy. The sector contributes more than 31.1 per cent to GDP, accounts for 35.4 per cent of manufacturing output, and drives over 48.58 per cent of India's total exports, while employing millions across urban and rural geographies.
'From traditional artisans and rural enterprises to advanced manufacturing units and technology-driven businesses, India's MSME sector represents the true diversity and strength of the country's economy,' the official statement noted.
What the Forum Aims to Achieve
The BRICS SME Forum is expected to facilitate knowledge exchange, surface emerging opportunities, and build cross-border partnerships that can contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development. Participating countries will share best practices, policy experiences, and successful case studies to help build resilient, future-ready MSME ecosystems.
The event is also seen as reinforcing the collective commitment of BRICS nations to positioning MSMEs as key drivers of economic resilience and innovation in an increasingly interconnected global economy. Whether the forum produces binding cooperation frameworks or remains advisory will be closely watched by industry bodies.
Point of View
But the real question is whether Agra produces anything beyond a communiqué. The three agenda tracks — finance access, technology access, and sustainability — are precisely the areas where BRICS nations have historically talked more than delivered. India's own MSME sector, for all its headline numbers, still faces acute credit gaps and digital adoption lags; hosting this forum is an opportunity to table domestic pain points as a template for collective action. If the forum yields even a framework for mutual recognition of MSME certifications or a cross-border credit guarantee mechanism, it would mark a concrete step. Without that, it risks being a well-attended conversation that changes little on the ground.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BRICS MSME Forum being held in Agra?
The BRICS MSME Forum is the first-ever multilateral gathering of BRICS member and partner nations focused exclusively on small and medium enterprise policy, hosted by India's Ministry of MSME in Agra on 19 June 2025. It runs alongside the third BRICS SME Working Group meeting and covers finance, technology, and sustainability for MSMEs.
Which countries are participating in the BRICS MSME Forum 2025?
Twenty-two nations are represented, including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and India. The broad grouping reflects the expanded BRICS membership that now spans multiple continents.
What is India's MSME sector's contribution to the economy?
India's MSME sector comprises over 8.6 crore enterprises, contributing more than 31.1 per cent to GDP, 35.4 per cent of manufacturing output, and over 48.58 per cent of total exports. It is also one of the country's largest employers across both urban and rural areas.
What are the key discussion topics at the BRICS MSME Forum?
The forum's private-sector sessions will focus on three tracks: access to finance for MSMEs, technology access for MSMEs, and growth of sustainability-oriented MSMEs. Government delegates will also share best practices and policy case studies aimed at building resilient, future-ready MSME ecosystems.
Why is India hosting the BRICS MSME Forum in 2025?
India holds the BRICS chair for this cycle, making it the natural host for the inaugural MSME-focused forum. With over 8.6 crore enterprises and an MSME sector that drives nearly half of national exports, India is positioning itself as a model for MSME-led economic development within the BRICS grouping.
