India joins BRICS manufacturing initiative to boost innovation and MSMEs.

India has joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC), a UNIDO-backed initiative to boost manufacturing innovation and support MSMEs across BRICS nations. The move, formalized in New Delhi through a Trust Fund Agreement between India’s DPIIT and UNIDO, designates the National Productivity Council as India’s focal point. The effort aims to enhance productivity, promote Industry 4.0 adoption, and strengthen global market integration for Indian manufacturers. The expanded BRICS bloc now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia.