India Pushes for Greater Global Trade Opportunities for Women-Led Businesses Through BRICS

India has called for stronger cooperation among BRICS countries to expand international trade opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises, with a focus on improving access to finance, markets, buyers and predictable business rules.

Speaking at the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (WBA) Women-Led Development Conference in New Delhi on September 9, 2026, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said BRICS countries should work together to make it easier for women entrepreneurs to participate in international trade.

The proposal comes as countries within the BRICS framework explore ways to strengthen trade and increase the participation of smaller businesses in global value chains.

Focus on Credit, Markets and Business Rules

Goyal identified three major challenges faced by entrepreneurs seeking to enter international markets: access to credit, access to buyers and markets, and predictable rules for doing business.

He called for greater cooperation between governments, banks, export-import institutions and business organisations to address these barriers, particularly for women-owned enterprises.

One proposal involves developing an invoice-discounting mechanism that could help smaller exporters obtain financing against invoices. Goyal urged the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and BRICS Business Council to ensure that such a mechanism reflects the financing requirements of women exporters.

The proposal builds on the Jaipur Consensus adopted during the BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting in August 2026. The consensus included work on a BRICS invoice-discounting mechanism and guiding principles for assessing export-oriented MSMEs based on factors beyond traditional collateral requirements.

Proposed Common BRICS Trade Platform

India has also backed the exploration of a common BRICS platform for international trade.

According to the government, such a platform could help businesses identify product requirements and potential buyers in other BRICS member countries. It could also allow financial intermediaries to participate and provide financing support to smaller businesses involved in cross-border trade.

For women entrepreneurs, greater visibility of products and access to international buyers could create additional opportunities to expand beyond domestic markets.

Goyal also called for women-owned businesses to participate more actively in international exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences, seminars and buyer-seller meetings organised across BRICS countries.

He suggested that BRICS countries consider sector-specific women-led business delegations. For example, women-owned textile companies from one member country could participate in a dedicated delegation to another BRICS market.

India Highlights Growth of Women-Led Enterprises

During his address, Goyal highlighted India’s experience with financial inclusion and women’s entrepreneurship.

According to figures presented by the minister, around 100 million rural women are now members of approximately nine million self-help groups, cooperatives or other groups involved in economic activities.

The number of women earning more than ₹1 lakh in personal annual income has also crossed 30 million, according to the figures cited by the government. These women are referred to as “Lakhpati Didis.”

The minister said India’s approach is increasingly focused on viewing women not only as beneficiaries of development programmes but also as entrepreneurs and participants in economic decision-making.

Women and Global Value Chains

The initiative also connects with the broader BRICS effort to increase participation of small businesses in international value chains.

At the BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur in August, member countries advanced a 2026–2030 action plan on global value chains and discussed initiatives designed to improve market access and economic cooperation.

Greater participation by women-owned businesses could allow entrepreneurs to access new customers, suppliers and business partnerships across BRICS economies.

The BRICS Women’s Business Alliance itself is a business mechanism focused on increasing women’s economic participation and cooperation among women-led businesses. Its work covers areas including health, innovative development, inclusive economy, creative industries, tourism, and food and environmental security.

Women’s Advancement Fund Proposed

India has also called for the proposed Women’s Advancement Fund to be converted into a concrete initiative.

The fund was highlighted in the Jaipur Consensus, with the broader objective of supporting women’s participation in economic activity and international business. Goyal said governments and business organisations should work toward making the proposal operational.

The minister also proposed that progress on women-led trade initiatives should be monitored annually, including participation in exhibitions, buyer-seller meetings and business delegations.

A Push Toward Women-Led Development

The latest proposals are part of India’s wider BRICS 2026 focus on women’s economic participation.

Earlier in July, the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting in Kochi welcomed initiatives including a BRICS Women Digital Repository of Best Practices and BRICS Women Digital Capacity Building Guidelines. These initiatives are intended to support knowledge sharing, institutional cooperation and digital capacity building among women across BRICS countries.

For women entrepreneurs, the combination of better access to finance, international buyers, digital tools and business networks could create additional pathways into cross-border trade.

The proposals will require cooperation between governments, financial institutions, business associations and women-led enterprises across BRICS countries. Their implementation and the extent to which they translate into actual trade opportunities will depend on subsequent agreements and programmes.

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