At an important juncture ahead of the upcoming BRICS Summit in India during India’s BRICS Presidency, the Global Trade & Technology Council of India (GTTCI) convened the India & BRICS+ Economic Relations Dialogue on 27 August 2026 in New Delhi. The dialogue brought together diplomats, international business representatives, GTTCI members and distinguished guests for an exchange of perspectives on trade, investment and future partnerships.
The dialogue assumed particular significance as India leads the BRICS Presidency in 2026, providing an important platform for stakeholders to reflect on the evolving role of BRICS and the opportunities for deeper economic engagement, business cooperation and international partnerships. The programme agenda centred on “Trade, Investment & Future Partnerships.”
In his welcome address, Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Founder President, GTTCI, highlighted the evolution of BRICS into a wider platform comprising 11 member countries and 10 partner countries, connecting economies across the Global South. He emphasised that BRICS can be viewed through five values — Business, Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability — and stressed the importance of translating dialogue into partnerships, investments, technology cooperation and opportunities for businesses and people.
The event witnessed the participation of diplomats from Egypt, Eritrea, Mauritania and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, including Mr. Song Bo, Counsellor, Embassy of China. Representatives of the international expatriate community, including those from Ethiopia and Germany, also participated in the dialogue, alongside GTTCI members and distinguished guests.
A key highlight of the programme was the keynote address by Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, Former Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India. In her remarks, Smt. Lekhi highlighted the relevance of India’s traditional food practices and spoke about how the Indian thali system, with its diversity of foods and nutritional components, could offer useful perspectives in addressing contemporary food security challenges. Her observations added a distinctive Indian perspective to the wider conversation on resilience and sustainability.
Representing Brazil, Mr. Roberto Carlos Papa, Agricultural Attaché, Embassy of Brazil in India, shared perspectives on agriculture and its importance in strengthening economic cooperation. His remarks highlighted the scope for greater engagement and collaboration in the agricultural sector between India and Brazil. The programme agenda specifically included Brazil’s perspective as part of the India & BRICS+ economic dialogue.
Amb. Dr. Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Advisor – GTTCI and Member, National Human Rights Commission, Government of India, appreciated GTTCI’s efforts in bringing together diplomatic missions, international stakeholders and the business community. His remarks recognised the Council’s continuing efforts to create platforms for meaningful international engagement and economic cooperation.
The programme also featured Mr. Evgeny Griva, Deputy Trade Commissioner of Russia, who presented a session on “Doing Business in India.” The presentation was subsequently presented by Dr. Gaurav Gupta to Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, highlighting the importance of facilitating greater understanding of the Indian business environment among international stakeholders.
Further strengthening the India–Russia business engagement, Mr. Shubham Gupta, Director, GTTCI, briefed participants about the upcoming Made in Russia Pavilion at the International Business Expo of INNOPROM, scheduled for 9–10 September. The pavilion will provide an opportunity for Russian enterprises and technology companies to engage with Indian and international business stakeholders.
The dialogue also saw active participation from GTTCI members and guests, including Shri Dhiraj Dhar Gupta Ji, Ms. Salma Sultan and Lion Anuj Agarwal, among other distinguished participants.
The programme concluded with an emphasis on the importance of sustained engagement between governments, diplomatic missions, businesses and institutions to build practical avenues for international trade, investment and technology cooperation.
The India & BRICS+ Economic Relations Dialogue reflected GTTCI’s continued commitment to providing a platform where diplomatic dialogue can translate into business opportunities, investment partnerships, technology collaboration and stronger economic relationships. Held at a significant moment during India’s BRICS Presidency and ahead of the BRICS Summit in India, the dialogue contributed to the broader conversation on building a more connected, resilient and cooperative global economy.
