BRICS 2026 New Delhi Declaration: New Opportunities for Indian Businesses and Professionals
New Delhi, trinet NEWS, September 22:
The BRICS 2026 New Delhi Declaration is expected to have significant implications for businesses, markets and governance professionals, with a strong focus on MSME competitiveness, digital public infrastructure, climate finance, inclusive growth and sustainable development.
According to the document, BRICS declarations have traditionally been adopted unanimously. The New Delhi 2026 Declaration, structured across 140 paragraphs, is described as the longest declaration in BRICS history. It is also the first major BRICS document to place the ESG framework at the core of its agenda.
A key feature highlighted in the Declaration is the introduction by India of a BRICS Continuity and Implementation Mechanism, intended to facilitate the conversion of commitments made in the Declaration into policies for implementation.
### New Economic Architecture for Businesses
The Declaration stresses broader and more equitable participation of developing economies in global value chains. This could create opportunities for Indian companies in manufacturing, technology, services and cross-border supply chains.
Its focus on resilient value chains and interoperable standards also indicates that Indian businesses may increasingly operate within shared frameworks covering taxation, customs, competition, intellectual property and dispute resolution.
The MSME sector receives particular emphasis, with commitments relating to finance, digitalisation, industrial competencies and trade facilitation expected to open new avenues for small and medium enterprises.
### Focus on Technology and Cyber Resilience
The technology agenda outlined in the Declaration covers Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0, robotics, smart manufacturing, digital public infrastructure, scientific research and cybersecurity.
It also refers to shared digital infrastructure, including high-speed BRICS cable networks and coordinated cyber-resilience exercises in the financial sector.
For Indian corporates, areas such as cross-border data flows, digital operational resilience and cyber-incident governance are expected to become increasingly important at the board level.
### Sustainability and Climate Finance
Climate-related commitments occupy a prominent place in the Declaration. These include the BRICS Carbon Markets Partnership, renewable-energy cooperation, hydrogen ecosystems, critical minerals, circular-economy practices and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Indian companies operating in energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics and finance may consequently need to prepare for carbon-market participation, green-finance disclosures, climate-risk reporting and sector-specific sustainability standards.
### Inclusive Growth and Ethical Governance
The Declaration also places emphasis on inclusive and people-centred growth. Businesses may increasingly be assessed on their contribution to equitable development, supply-chain inclusion and participation of smaller enterprises.
It further highlights cooperation on anti-corruption, asset recovery and transparency. As economic and regulatory cooperation within BRICS deepens, expectations regarding internal controls, whistle-blower mechanisms, ethical governance and transparency are also expected to increase.
### Key Role for Corporate Professionals
The document notes that implementation of these commitments will require government intent, business investment and professional compliance guidance.
Professionals including Company Secretaries, Chartered Accountants and Cost Accountants are expected to play an important role. Company Secretaries in particular may have growing responsibilities relating to competition law, intellectual property protection, contractual structures, arbitration, digital governance and ESG reporting.
The New Delhi Declaration is presented as a blueprint for a new phase of economic cooperation, offering Indian corporates potential pathways in markets, capital, technology and sustainability. The article concludes that professionals with strong legal, regulatory and governance expertise could play an important role in guiding companies through this changing business environment.
— Mahadev Tirunagari, Practising Company Secretary
*Views expressed are personal and not those of ICSI.*
