BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum Held in Moscow

The BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum was held in Moscow on 2–4 June 2024 and attended by 300 delegates from 30 different countries. Forum participants discussed digital technologies, industry, food security, agriculture, the creative industries, the inclusive economy, ESG, and sustainable development. The business event took place as part of Russia’s Chairship of BRICS.

The opening ceremony was attended by Russia BRICS Sherpa and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Ryabkov, Chair of the Federation Council’s Eurasian Women’s Forum Council Galina Karelova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Russian Federation Rodrigo de Lima Baena Soares, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Russia Nazih Nagari, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Russia Kazem Jalali. The opening ceremony and the plenary session were moderated by Chairperson of the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance Anna Nesterova.

“The Forum occupies a significant place among the events of Russia’s Chairship. The Alliance continues to develop, hold various events, and has already achieved so much since it was first established in 2020. This event was an opportunity for BRICS representatives to meet with people from other friendly countries. The theme chosen by the organizers, ‘Creating the Future Together’, reflects prevailing trends in creative development. We will only be able to overcome the challenges facing the modern world and create a new world order that reflects the political and economic realities and aspirations of every state if everyone works together,” Ryabkov said.

One of the key events of the business programme was the launch of the BRICS Digital Platform for Women’s Entrepreneurship. Work on the digital solution kicked off in 2021 at the initiative of the Russian chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance. The platform is designed to make it easier for countries to find business partners, exchange experience, and interact on a cultural level. The socio-cultural context of each of the member countries was taken into account during the creation of the platform.

“The Unified Digital Platform of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance will streamline project work and integrate new participants seamlessly into the global women’s entrepreneurship business environment. We expect platform functionality to evolve as the number of female entrepreneurs participating in its development increases. In any case, the single window format will ensure the accessibility of quality information,” Nesterova said.

The platform will also provide information on support measures and important projects, such as the BRICS Women’s Startup Competition, announced as part of the business programme. Women entrepreneurs from BRICS member states are invited to apply for the contest on the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance website from 4 June to 31 July. 21 winners in 7 categories will be recognized in Moscow during the BRICS Business Forum in October 2024, with Competition jury members to be selected from the Alliance’s national chapters.

The growing number of practical tasks facing the Alliance has necessitated the development of strategic documents to lend structure to the work and clearly identify the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance’s main objectives.

The first international agreement signed at the Forum was the Regulation on the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, intended to clarify its structure and goals, ensure new member countries are integrated effectively, and increase the effectiveness of joint projects. The agreement was signed by the chairs of the Alliance’s national chapters.

Entrepreneurs and investors are showing increasing interest in the economic potential of BRICS and the diverse business practices of its member states, making it increasingly important to develop tools for communicating and exchanging information and experience. The BRICS Women’s Business Alliance has responded to the growing demand for business information by developing regional centres in countries outside the BRICS region.

The BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and the Association of Women in Energy of Kyrgyzstan signed a memorandum to open a regional office of the Women’s Business Alliance in Bishkek. It will be the first regional centre in the CIS and will further promote the integration of the BRICS and EAEU agendas.

The forum business agenda was particularly focused on the development of cooperation in inclusion and labour mobility, with a number of cooperation documents signed in this area.

The ‘Made in BRICS by Women’ exhibition, an event allowing women entrepreneurs from throughout BRICS to present products and services ranging from textiles and clothes to handicrafts, also opened its doors to forum guests and participants.

Sberbank is the general partner of the BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum. The Bank supports initiatives in women’s entrepreneurship and contributes to the establishment of an international business environment.

In the four years since the founding of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance in July 2020, it has managed to create an international community of women entrepreneurs, deepening cultural and economic ties between the members of the alliance.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.