New Delhi – India is gearing up to chair the BRICS group in 2026, and experts say it could be a turning point for the Global South’s push for a fairer world order.
The Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), joined by CUTS International, hosted a high‑level conference called “An Emerging BRICS Vision for the Global South.” Senior diplomats, policy makers, academics and think‑tank leaders gathered to talk about how the expanded BRICS Plus framework can shape a more balanced global system and boost South‑South cooperation.
“India’s upcoming chairmanship is a real chance to turn symbolic wins into real change,” said Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary for Economic Relations at the Ministry of External Affairs. He echoed Prime Minister Modi’s view that BRICS has moved beyond trade and now tackles the strategic and developmental goals of developing nations.
Dalela added that the next stage of BRICS must weave technology and trade policy tighter. “We should use our huge resource base to launch joint ventures in rare earth mining, renewable energy and green manufacturing,” he said.
Shishir Priyadarshi, President of the Chintan Research Foundation, welcomed delegates and stressed that BRICS isn’t an alternative world order, but a corrective mechanism that gives developing countries a seat at the table. “Full participation from governments, businesses and knowledge communities is essential to turn the BRICS vision into real projects,” he noted.
During the two key sessions, panels explored how BRICS Plus can strengthen financial resilience, offer new payment systems and boost collaboration on critical minerals, energy transition and frontier tech.
Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary at CUTS International, said the Global South is at an inflection point. “For the first time since the Non‑Aligned Movement, we have an institutional platform capable of influencing global trade, technology and finance rules.”
South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to India, Cedrick Crowley, highlighted BRICS’s role in proactive South‑South cooperation. “We need a new multilateral model – smart banks, shared trade, and joint investments – to help Africa and other developing regions thrive,” he said.
Former BRICS Sherpa Sanjay Bhattacharya called for a broader tech focus. “An inclusive, rules‑based BRICS Plus can stabilize a fractured world. We must translate intentions into joint investments, digital partnerships and shared innovation ecosystems,” he urged.
Ambassador Dammu Ravi, former MEA Secretary, emphasized that a BRICS strategy for energy transition and green hydrogen could reshape global supply chains. He argued a common currency is not necessarily Chinese yuan; a “Petro‑Yuan” co‑opting oil and gas could work.
He also warned that the next industrial revolution, driven by quantum physics, will make technological leadership critical. “2026 will decide which countries lead in the new era of innovation,” he said.
The conference highlighted that as India prepares to chair BRICS Plus, the country could set a new direction for the Global South, driving collective self‑reliance in finance, technology, energy and sustainable growth. The event underscored that the 2026 chairmanship offers a unique platform to turn strategic ambition into action and shape the future of global governance.
Source: ianslive
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