Brazil’s Minister of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise and Small Business, Márcio França, highlighted the global significance of MSMEs, noting they comprise approximately 90% of businesses worldwide and contribute to over half of total employment.
In Brazil specifically, MSMEs account for 98% of all registered businesses and generate 75% of jobs. Under Brazil’s leadership, the new MSME working
group presented three foundational documents. The Terms of Reference outline the group’s internal structure, a consensus-based decision-making
process, communication strategies, and collaboration with other BRICS working groups.
In addition, the 2025-2030 Action Plan for MSMEs was
unveiled, setting a strategic roadmap for the sector’s development.
Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, emphasised the collective strength of BRICS nations, which together represent nearly half of the world’s population, 39% of
global GDP (in purchasing power parity), and 24% of iinternational trade.
The 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint statement and the approval of several key initiatives. These included the Terms of Reference for three new working groups-Smart
Manufacturing and Siasun Robot & Automation, Industrial Digital Transformation, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES)-as well as the SME Working Group’s Action Plan for 2025-2030.
BRICS industry ministers have launched a new working group dedicated to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMES). This announcement followed a meeting on May 21 in Brasilia.
This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution Innovation Base. During the meeting, the Chinese delegation shared progress and accomplishments made since the base’s
establishment and announced the launch of the BRICS Industrial Capability Center in China.
In parallel with the ministerial meeting, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in collaboration with Brazil’s Ministry of Public Service Management and Innovation, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade,
and Services, and the Ministry of Science and Technology, jointly hosted the BRICS High-Level Forum on Artificial Intelligence.
Additionally, the International Economic and Technical Cooperation Center of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology partnered with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Bureau to organise the
2025 International Cooperation Forum on Industrial Digital Transformation.
Xiong Jijun, representing China, held bilateral talks with Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, as well as with delegations from Russia, the United Arab Emirates,
Indonesia, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Discussions focused on enhancing industrial cooperation both within the BRICS framework and through individual bilateral engagements.
Participants in these events also included representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Brazil, various departments under China’s Ministry of Industry
and Information Technology, and the leadership of the BRICS Innovation Base.
This content was produced for the SA Brics Business Council.
