Brics 2026: Can India turn economic cooperation into gains for businesses? Experts answer

As India hosts the Brics summit in New Delhi, one question matters to businesses: can the grouping turn its economic size into real opportunities for companies?

Brics brings together some of the world’s biggest emerging markets. For India, that creates the possibility of more exports, new investment, stronger supply chains and access to important raw materials.

But experts say the benefits will depend on what happens beyond summit declarations.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also stressed this point. Speaking at the Brics Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, he said the grouping must turn its economic potential into partnerships, opportunities and results for businesses.

“The strength of the Brics will be measured not only by the breadth of its agenda,” Jaishankar said. “It will also be measured by the partnerships that it enables, by the opportunities that it creates and by the results it delivers.”

His message comes as companies deal with disruptions to global trade caused by conflicts, climate events and changes in trade policies.

Easier trade could help Indian exporters

For Indian exporters, one of the biggest possible gains is better access to Brics markets.

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Gautam Khattar, Principal at Price Waterhouse and Co LLP, said stronger cooperation on trade, investment, payment systems and supply chains could help Indian businesses expand into other emerging markets.

“A key theme this year has been greater cooperation on trade, investment, payment systems and supply-chain resilience,” Khattar said.

He said better trade facilitation and payment connectivity could make cross-border business easier and reduce transaction costs for exporters.

That could be important for smaller companies, which often face higher costs and more difficulty when entering overseas markets.

Khattar, however, said the real impact would depend on whether Brics countries take steps that improve market access and remove barriers to trade and investment.

Jaishankar has also called for stronger supply chains, reliable logistics and predictable trade and investment rules.

In simple terms, businesses need to know that goods can move, payments can be made and rules will not change unexpectedly.

India can look beyond exports

The opportunity is not limited to selling more goods abroad.

Deeper economic ties could also help Indian companies find investment partners, suppliers, technology partners and new markets.

Jaishankar said sectors such as services, agriculture and agritech, digital services, MSMEs, startups and women-led businesses could see greater cooperation among Brics countries.

India has also been pushing closer links between startups and innovation ecosystems across the grouping.

The Brics incubator network and the Brics Startup Innovation Fund are among the initiatives aimed at supporting such cooperation.

Critical minerals are a major opportunity

Energy and critical minerals could offer another important opening for India.

Brics countries include some of the world’s major producers of oil, gas and critical minerals. India, meanwhile, is a large and growing consumer of energy and industrial raw materials.

Arman Puri, Director at Hindustan Power, said this makes Brics particularly important for the energy industry.

“Brics matters to an energy company because it brings the supply side and the demand side of the energy transition to the same table,” Puri said.

He said India should push for cooperation on critical-mineral processing, long-term supply agreements and financing for processing and other midstream capacity.

The aim would be to bring more of the value addition to India.

Puri also pointed to energy storage and electricity grids. He said existing cooperation should move towards joint projects, technical collaboration and greater compatibility between systems in member countries.

Biofuels are another area where India could benefit from cooperation with countries that already have large-scale experience in ethanol and biogas.

Payments could make a difference

Cross-border payments are another key issue for businesses.

Indian companies doing business with overseas partners can face costs and delays when moving money across borders. Better payment links between Brics countries could make trade easier.

For businesses, the immediate goal is not necessarily a common Brics currency. What matters more is whether companies can settle transactions more easily, quickly and cheaply.

Jaishankar has also highlighted digital technology, fintech, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing as areas where Brics economies could work together.

That could create opportunities for Indian technology and manufacturing companies, provided countries can also agree on standards, security and access.

The real test is implementation

For Brics, the challenge now is turning broad areas of cooperation into measures that businesses can actually use.

Jaishankar said business leaders should focus on three basic questions: where are the opportunities, what problems do companies face and what can governments do to address them?

That approach also reflects what businesses are asking for.

Khattar said the success of the summit should ultimately be judged by whether it makes doing business easier, improves trade and supports long-term growth.

Puri said India should use its Brics chairship to turn the grouping’s strength in resources and markets into supply chains and manufacturing capacity running through India.

That could mean more than a rise in exports. It could help India attract investment, build processing capacity, secure critical minerals and create new partnerships in energy and technology.

Brics has the markets and resources to create a bigger economic partnership. The question now is whether its members can turn that potential into practical gains for businesses.