BRICS CCI WE Annual Summit & Felicitations 2024

With the emphasis on Women-Led Development in India’s G-20 Presidency and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of fostering inclusivity and driving positive change, BRICS CCI WE, the Women Empowerment vertical of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted its 4th Annual Summit and Felicitations 2024 on the theme-The Changing Narrative: Women Development to Women-led Development. BRICS CCI WE also unveiled a report, New Era of BRICS: Horizons in Tech and Business for Women Empowerment with special emphasis on the technology and entrepreneurship landscape for women across the BRICS countries. The vertical also hosted the Convocation of the first batch of women participants of the BRICS CCI WE Global Women Leadership Programme at the Summit.

The summit was graced by diplomats from the Embassies of Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Cuba, Costa Rica, Chile, Belarus, Gambia, Angola, Chad, Comoros, and Venezuela, among others. Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Padma Vibhushan Awardee, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha was the Chief Guest at the Summit. Ms. Shazia Ilmi, National Spokesperson of BJP, Swati Singh, Former Minister of State, (Ind. Charge) for Women and Child Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, Amb. Sanjay Bhattacharyya (Retd.), Former BRICS Sherpa and Secretary to Govt. of India and Mr. Ajay Chaudhary, IPS, Special Commissioner of Police In-Charge of Special Police Unit for Women & Children & Special Police Unit for North-East Region, New Delhi also addressed the gathering.

In her welcome address, Ms. Ruby Sinha, President, BRICS CCI WE said, “The transition from women development to women-led development signifies not just a change in narrative but a commitment to empowering half of our population. Women are no longer viewed as passive recipients of aid but as active agents of change, capable of leading and shaping their own development and that of their communities.”

The Chief Guest, Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Padma Vibhushan Awardee, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha in her address said, “Women’s leadership is indispensable in building a more equitable and prosperous society. The Summit catalyzes amplifying women’s voices and ensuring their active participation in all spheres of life.”

The Summit also honored extraordinary women who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women’s development. Ms. Poonam Dhillon – Actor, Entrepreneur and Politician was felicitated with the BRICS CCI WE Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award for her illustrious career which not only enriched the entertainment industry but also paved the way for women’s empowerment and leadership in diverse sectors.

Ms. Poonam Dhillon, Actor, Entrepreneur, and Politician said,” Empowering women is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity for sustainable development. By championing women-led initiatives, we can unlock untapped potential and pave the way for a more inclusive future.”

Smt. Raimati Ghiuria, Queen of Millets from Odisha, Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, Founder and Director of WISCOMP (Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace) and Ms. Latika Bhandari, Indian Taekwondo Athlete were felicitated as BRICS CCI WE Women Icon Trailblazers.

Dr. BBL Madhukar, Director General BRICS CCI said, “The 4th Annual Summit and Felicitations of BRICS CCI WE marks another milestone in our journey towards promoting women-led development. By harnessing the collective expertise and resources of the BRICS nations, we can create a more inclusive and equitable world for future generations.”

Ms. Shazia Ilmi, National Spokesperson, BJP also addressed the gathering. In her speech she highlighted that Women’s empowerment is at the heart of our collective progress. Through concerted efforts and policy interventions, we can create an enabling environment where every woman has the opportunity to fulfill her aspirations and contribute to society.

Mr. Sameep Shastri, Vice Chairman, BRICS CCI in his address said, “The Summit underscores the importance of women’s empowerment in shaping the narrative of development. As we strive for progress, it is imperative to create opportunities and support mechanisms that enable women to thrive as leaders and change-makers.”

Amb. Sanjay Bhattacharyya (Retd.), Former BRICS Sherpa and Secretary to Govt. of India stated, “The BRICS CCI WE Annual Summit underscores the significance of women’s leadership in driving socio-economic progress and fostering inclusive growth. Through collaborative efforts, we can harness the potential of women entrepreneurs and leaders to build a better future for all.”

Mr. Ajay Chaudhary, IPS, Special Commissioner of Police In-Charge of Special Police Unit for Women & Children & Special Police Unit for North-East Region, New Delhi said, “Ensuring the safety and security of women is paramount for their empowerment. By strengthening law enforcement mechanisms and promoting gender-sensitive policies, we can safeguard women’s rights and dignity.”

The Summit also recognized the achievements of emerging women entrepreneurs, both within and outside the BRICS CCI network such as Ms. Niti Batra, Director of Joy Travels Pvt. Ltd., Ms. Amrita V Chowdhury, Director of Gaia Smart Cities Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Ms. N J Anitha, Vice-President of SNJ Breweries Pvt. Ltd., Renu Sharma, CEO of Rajwarah Jewellers, Ms. Priti Bajaj, Co-founder, Art Life Gallery and Ms. Simmi Sood, Director, SILVERSEVEN Foundation for their exemplary contributions to entrepreneurship and innovation, fostering economic growth and empowerment.

The Summit was also attended by Mr.  Ashok Kr. Singh, Vice Chairman, BRICS CCI, Mr. Ruhail Ranjan, Director Finance, Ms. Shabana Nasim, Chief Patron, BRICS CCI WE, Mr. Ansh Virmani, Country Director, BRICS CCI-UAE Chapter, members of the Governing Body, Ms. Ankita Sachdeva, Jt. Director, BRICS CCI, members of the Governing Body and members of the Chamber.

Eminent panelists engaged in insightful discussions on the theme of Women-led Development in India and elucidated on the Pillars of Women-led Development, including Education, Enterprise, Financial Literacy, and Leadership Mentoring. These included Dr. Kalpana Sharma, Former Additional Secretary to Lok Sabha- Parliament of India, Senior Advisor – BRICS CCI, Ms. Kanta Singh, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women India, Dr. Anuradha Agrawal, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ms. Gauri Jauhar, Executive Director, Energy Transition & Cleantech Consulting, S&P Global Commodity Insights, Mr. Ankit Jhamb, Honorary Advisor, BRICS CCI, Shweta Punj, Deputy Editor, Moneycontrol.com and Co-founder Whypoll, Mr. Gaurav Choudhury, Co-founder and CEO at Earshot Media, Mrs. Anita Makkar, Founder Principal, The HDFC School, Ms. Shormishtha Ghosh- Governing Body Member, BRICS CCI, Ms. Amrita V Chowdhury, Director-Gaia Smart Cities Solutions P Ltd. and Ms. Semenushkova Ekaterina, Founder, Atlas Social and Cultural Relations Development Centre.

The 4th Annual Summit of BRICS CCI WE concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing women’s leadership and catalyzing inclusive development globally.

Women diplomats from various geographies expressed the need for gender equality in global diplomatic roles at the inaugural BRICS CCI WE, Trailblazers Dialogues Roundtable on Global Women Diplomats: Breaking Barriers; Shaping Global Affairs held in the capital.

Historically, diplomacy has been the preserve of men. However, research shows that when women have a seat at the table, the odds of reducing instability and conflict improve significantly. The results of the 2023 Women in Diplomacy Index suggest that women remain underrepresented in ambassadorship positions across the world with only around 20% of all ambassadors being women in 2023. Between 1992 and 2019, women represented a mere 13 percent of negotiators, 6 percent of mediators, and 6 percent of signatories in peace processes worldwide. The numbers are even lower in conflict-affected states where women have been quasi-absent from peace processes. 

Delivering the welcome address, Ms. Ruby Sinha, President, BRICS CCI WE said, “While recognizing the indispensable contributions women have made to diplomacy throughout history, let us also collectively work towards a future where gender equality and women's empowerment are fully integrated into our diplomatic efforts.” ‘’These discussions are especially important in a year when India is spearheading the G20 dialogues with holistic and inclusive, women-led development being a key focus area,’’ she added.

The Roundtable saw the participation of Ambassador Bizunesh Meseret, Deputy Head Of Mission, Embassy of Ethiopia; Ms. Wathsala Amarasinghe, Minister Counsellor, High Commission of Sri Lanka; Ms. Hagar Spiro-Tal, First Secretary (Political), Embassy of Israel in India; Ms. Amaranta Vandeperre, Third Secretary and Counsel, Embassy of Chile; Ms. Jalpa Ratna, Chief of Field Services, United Nations Children's Fund. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Shormishtha Ghosh, Governing Body Member, BRICS CCI. 

Amb. Manju Seth (Retd.), The former Ambassador & Consul General of India delivered the valedictory address. 

The 3rd edition of BRICS CCI Annual Women Summit and Felicitations 2023 was organized on 4th March 2023 at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. An Initiative by BRICS CCI Women’s Vertical based on the theme: Women Shaping the Techade. It was indeed a very insightful event and was attended by a huge number of participants.

The theme for the event, "Women Shaping the Techade," was chosen in light of how incredible this decade has been in terms of technological innovation and how it has changed every element of human life. But without the participation of well-known female leaders who have influenced the way this world runs, this technical advancement could not even be conceived. The BRICS CCI WE is organizing this event to celebrate women from a variety of fields who have reshaped and envisioned their surroundings and serve as role models for the younger generation. 

The Summit felicitated some exceptional women who have played an important role in shaping the Techade and recognized the efforts of women entrepreneurs and leaders across various sectors. Smt. Aruna Sundarajan, Former Secretary, Dept. of Telecommunications was conferred with the lifetime achievement felicitation for her role in creating the world-class National Digital Communication Policy 2018 and formulating India’s 5G policy. 

Dr. Zoya Ali Rizvi - Deputy Commissioner at National Health Mission, Ministry of Health & Family Affairs, Government of India; Dr. (Smt) Chandrika Kaushik, Director General - Production Coordination & Services Interaction, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Dr. Rattan Deep Kaur Virk, Board Member, SEIROS and Ms. Prerna Jhunjhunwala- Founder - Creative Galileo were felicitated as Trailblazers.

The event also recognized the accomplishments of up-and-coming female entrepreneurs from the BRICS CCI network and beyond. These included Ms. Imaan Javan, Director of Operations, Suntuity Renewable Energy India LLP, Ms. Swati Mehta, Co-Founder & COO, Empyreal Galaxy Pvt. Ltd., Ms. Nargis Bhadra, Founder, Amani, Ms. Tarini Malhotra, Founder, Nai Subah Foundation, Dr. Priyanka Anuj Sidharth, Dental Surgeon, KosenRufu Dental Clinic and Ms. Himani Mishra, Managing Director, Brand Radiator.

Mr. Thabang Linus Kholumo, Charge d' Affaires, High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho, attended the summit. The occasion was also graced by the attendance of representatives from the American, Chinese, and Gambia embassies. At the Summit, Ms. Swati Maliwal, Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, gave the valedictory speech. Ms. Sonal Goel (IAS), Resident Commissioner, Tripura Bhavan, also addressed the gathering.