India’s efforts of channelizing technology towards good and smart governance thus increasing transparency and accountability, were highlighted at the “5th meeting of BRICS Industry Ministers” virtual meeting under the chairship of India. India also expressed the desire to expand the horizon of New Development Bank (NDB) and resources be utilized for strengthening of social infrastructure besides promotion of Industrial sector. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Mr. Piyush Goyal.
India chose the theme of BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus for its Chairship, this year adopting the joint declaration. India said it has developed a vibrant and dynamic start-up ecosystem, leveraged existing platforms and digital technologies such as Aadhar and UPI payments for ensuring delivery of critical services to the last mile. Online systems like COWIN and digital vaccination certificates are being cited as success stories across the world today.
The BRICS industry ministers recognized the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade and industry. They complimented all the COVID warriors, our doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and scientists, across all the BRICS countries, for their selfless and tireless efforts in saving our lives. The ministers appreciated the need for adopting the emerging new technologies in a changing world and recognized it as an important tool for modernization and transformation of industry, promotion of inclusive economic growth, thus helping BRICS national economies to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
They reiterated their commitment to making efforts to foster an open, fair, and non-discriminatory trade environment, ensure greater participation in global value chains, promote digital inclusion, assess the implications, and encourage progressive, safe, equitable, and sustainable use of disruptive technologies for advancing growth.
The meeting concluded with the BRICS Industry Ministers reaffirming their commitment to work together as a group, complement the strengths of each other, share best practices and learn from weaknesses, and move ahead in a positive and constructive manner to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The industry ministers of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) H.E. Mr. Xiao Yaqing Minister of Industry & IT of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Mr. Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Carlos Da Costa, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy, Government of Federative Republic of Brazil and H.E. Mr. Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and delegates attended the virtual meeting.